BYLAWS OF THE SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR FOREST HILL COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

Transcription

1 BYLAWS OF THE SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR FOREST HILL COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL (A Title 1 School) Adopted January 31, 2005 Revised February 27, 2006 Revised November 6, 2006 Revised May 24, 2010 Revised September 27, 2012 Revised October 29, 2013 Revised October 14, 2014 Revised September 8, 2015 Article I. NAME OF ORGANIZATION. The name of this organization shall be: Forest Hill Community High (FHCH) School Advisory Council (SAC). Article II. PURPOSE AND FUNCTION. Section 1. Purposes. The SAC is a resource for the school and all its stakeholders. SAC s primary purposes are to develop a School Improvement Plan that will serve as a framework for school improvement, to oversee and to evaluate the implementation of that Plan, to revise that plan as needed, to assist in the preparation of FHCH s annual budget and see that disbursement of monies related to school improvement are consistent with the Plan. Section 2. Functions. The primary function of the SAC is to provide all of those served by FHCH an opportunity to be active participants in the assessment of needs, development of priorities, and identification and use of resources necessary to achieve the purpose of SAC. Specific SAC functions shall include the following: a) Develop and oversee the implementation of the School Improvement Plan. b) Enlist, promote, and support greater interaction between school and community. c) Provide input in matters concerning disbursement of school improvement funds and other monies related to school improvement, and to ensure that such expenditures are consistent with the School Improvement Plan. d) Consult with the peripheral constituency groups when making decisions concerning educational practices within the school. Article III. MEMBERSHIP. Section 1. Duties: It is the duty of each member to: timely attend meetings; actively participate in a manner to allow all members views to be respectfully and honestly heard in a timely and efficient manner; a) Serve as a SAC resource, including volunteering for committees and events; b) Represent the views of their constituency, though the principal shall represent the school;

2 Page 2 of 6 c) Develop feelings of trust and mutual regard among all members, teachers, students, the community and the staff; d) Act as a conduit for information to and from their constituency; e) Seek their constituencies support for SAC goals, purposes and decisions; f) Encouraging leadership from within the SAC; g) Strive to be a positive role model for the student body. Members may have additional duties, including: a) Principal. The principal shall provide information regarding the school educational plan and school finances, arrange for presentations of interest to the SAC and encourage leadership from within the SAC. b) Teachers and Staff. Teachers and support employee members shall make available specialized information about educational programs and innovative ideas. Section 2. Administration/Governance. The School Board is responsible for approving the composition of the SAC and may make appointments to SAC as necessary to bring the membership in compliance with relevant State Statutes, including requiring that a majority of the membership shall be non-school district employees. Section 3. Selection and Terms. SAC s membership shall be representative of the community served by FHCH, striving to reflect the racial, ethnic, and socio-economic composition of the student body, composed as follows: a) Ex Officio Members: i) FHCH Principal as provided for by law. ii) Student Government Association President, or his or her designee. b) Elected Members. Students, Teachers, Parents and Education Support Employees nominate and elect their representatives. Notices of elections shall be placed in a school publication distributed to all parents and students. The majority (50% + 1) of the members of the SAC shall be non- district employees. The racial composition of the SAC membership shall reflect the racial composition of the student body, as mandated by the district and state. The SAC shall actively recruit nominees to achieve such balance. The SAC membership shall not exceed 24 voting members. i) Students. The number of student representatives shall initially be determined by and the representatives shall be initially elected at the second regularly scheduled SAC meeting of the school year for a term of one year. ii) Teachers. The number of teacher representatives shall initially be determined by and the representatives shall be initially elected at the second regularly scheduled SAC meeting of the school year for a term of one year. iii) Parents. The number of parent representatives shall initially be determined by and the representatives shall be initially elected at the second regularly scheduled SAC meeting of the school year for a term of one year. iv) Education Support Employees. The number of education support employee representatives shall initially be determined by and the representatives shall be

3 Page 3 of 6 initially elected at the second regularly scheduled SAC meeting of the school year for a term of one year. c) Appointed Members. Business and community members will be selected by the principal with the advice and consensus of members voting on the issue. Section 4. Vacancy. a) As required by Fla. Stat (1) (d) 4, the members may remove any member who has two unexcused consecutive absences from regular meetings. Excused absences shall be provided by the chairperson. b) In case of a vacancy, replacements shall be selected by the constituency which elected or appointed the person whose departure created the vacancy to serve until the end of the unexpired term; however, if a constituency fails to select a replacement, then the chairperson may appoint a replacement from that constituency who will serve until the constituency selects a replacement. Article IV. Section 1. MEETINGS. Call. a) There shall be a SAC meeting at least once per month August through May, except December. Normally, SAC meetings shall be held on the second Tuesday of each month, at 6:00 P.M - 7:00 P.M and sign in is at 5:30 P.M. b) The SAC chairperson, on occasion, may call a special meeting with proper seven day notification. Section 2. Notice. At least seven (7) days public notice shall be provided of meetings, however, in an emergency, notice shall be provided as practical. In addition to the general public notice of the meeting, a written notice regarding any matter to come before the SAC for a vote, shall be provided to SAC members at least three (3) business days in advance per Fla. Stat (1) 6 D (4). Section 3. Public. The general public and all those served by FHCH are welcome to attend meetings so long as they respect the decorum of the meeting, and may participate on issues heard at the meeting to the extent there is time. Section 4. Quorum. A quorum of a majority of voting members is required if any formal action is to be taken at a meeting. Section 5. Procedure. When practicable meetings shall proceed under Robert s Rules of Order, latest edition, decisions shall be by a consensus of the members. Article V. OFFICERS. Section 1. Identity. The officers of SAC shall be a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, an Education Support Employee, Student Government Representatives and a Historian.

4 Page 4 of 6 Section 2. Term. Officer terms shall begin immediately upon election at the last regular meeting of each school year and shall continue for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. Section 3. Election. Election of officers shall be by a secret ballot at the last regular meeting of the school year. Nominations shall be made for election no later than the regular meeting before the election and the nominees names shall be provided in the notice of meeting at which the election shall occur. Self-nomination is permitted. Write-in votes are not permitted, except when there are no advance nominations for an office. Section 4. Vacancy. If an office becomes vacant, then the vacancy shall be filled by election; however, a vacancy in chairperson shall be filled by the vice-chairperson. An officer may be removed with cause at any meeting. A replacement election shall be held as soon as possible at a regularly scheduled SAC meeting following a 30-day notice of the election to SAC members. Article VI. DUTIES OF THE SAC MEMBERS Section 1: Chairperson/ Co-Chairpersons Specifics include the following: a) The duties of Co-Chairpersons will be the same as a single Chairperson. b) A SAC chairperson creates the Agenda for all meetings. c) A SAC chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the SAC, and sees that the Agenda is followed at all meetings. d) A SAC chairperson shall appoint the chairperson of all SAC subcommittees. e) A SAC chairperson is an official member of all sub-committees. f) A SAC chairperson is responsible for verifying the quorum is met. g) A SAC chairperson must supply the school, and the SAC Historian, with the approved version of each meeting s minutes as approved by the committee. h) When School Improvement expenditure are voted on and approved, a SAC chairperson must sign the request as approved, and supply the original to the school s treasurer, and a copy of the signed document to the SAC Historian. Section 3: Historian The historian shall document the past and present, and future progress of the SAC and its subcommittees. The historian shall maintain the minutes of previous years, any anecdotal record, and the SAC archives. Section 4: Principal The principal shall provide information regarding the school educational plan. The role of the principal includes, through positive actions, the development of trust and mutual regard among the SAC, the community, and the staff. The principal arranges for presentations of interest to the SAC and encourages leadership from within the SAC. The principal s participation is encouraged all levels.

5 Page 5 of 6 Section 5: Faculty and School Staff Representatives The member of the school staff shall represent the views and interests of the total school staff. They will act as resources for the SAC by making available specialized information about educational programs, innovative ideas, and available resources. School staff representatives serve as a communication link between the SAC and the school staff, informing other of actions and activities of the SAC. Section 6: Parents, Business, and Community Representatives The parents, business, and community member of the SAC shall represent the views of the parents, citizens, and business and community organizations of the school community. They shall act as resources persons for the SAC in the areas of community related issues that affect the school and its students. They shall serve as a communications link between the SAC, business, community, and parent groups. Section 7: Student Representatives SAC student representatives shall serve as voting representatives of all students, relaying suggestions and recommendations from the student body and the student council to the SAC for consideration. Students shall be represented at all levels on appropriate committees, assist in securing support for programs dealing with issues that directly affect students, and serve as a link between the SAC and the student body. Article VII. COMMITTEES. Section 1. Purpose. Committees are formed to research specific areas that affect the organization. Committees shall report their findings and any recommendations to SAC. Section 1. Standing Committees. Standing committees shall address long-term, on-going issues, including the school improvement plan, fund-raising and grants. Section 2. Ad-hoc Committees. Ad-hoc committees shall address specific, short-term issues that are not appropriately addressed by a standing committee. Ad-hoc committees may be established at any regular meeting by the chairperson with the consent of SAC membership. Article VIII. AMENDMENTS. Amendments shall require a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Notice of the proposed amendment shall be 14 days prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon. Revision Statement Community High School on January 31, Community High School on February 27, 2006.

6 Page 6 of 6 Community High School on November 6, Community High School on May 24, Community High School on September 27, Community High School on October 29, Community High School on October 14, Community High School on September 8, SAC Chairperson