of School Advisory Council Members

Roles and Responsibilities

You Are Very Important to the Success of Our

School!

School Advisory Council

Your participation as a member is one of the most important functions you will perform for the school. As a School Advisory Council Member, you will learn about complicated issues that impact student success.

Participation

Revised to be a Resource for SAC MeetingsTraining WorksheetMembership and Election InformationRoles and Responsibilities Data DesegregationMeeting InformationContact Information

Available in SpanishAvailable in Haitian Creole

SAC Handbook

Training worksheetPlease complete page 1 as we move through

the information in this PowerPoint.

Answers are provided at the end of this PowerPoint

Answers are provided on the Polk County Schools web site.

SAC Handbook

Membership of the SAC is approved by the school board.

51% of the members must be parents, students, and community members.

The term of office for each member shall be determined by each school advisory council and is reflected in the by laws.

The racial, ethnic, and economic diversity of the student population MUST be represented on the SAC

Membership

Parents People whose children attend the school Parents elect parentsTeachers and support staffTeachers and support staff may not

serve as parents at the school where they teach

Teachers elect teachersSupport staff elect support staff 

Elected Members

 StudentsRequired at the high school and

vocational technical levelStudent membership is encouraged in

middle and elementary schoolsStudents elect studentsCommunity• Appointed by principal with input from

the SAC

Elected & Appointed Members

The principal shall determine the size of the council and make certain the membership of the council reflects the ethnic, racial and social economic characteristics of the student population.

The principal may appoint additional members to achieve the appropriate representation.

Membership

All Members Should Be Able to Explain the Process by Which, and

Date Upon Which They Were Elected.

Can You Explain How You Were

Elected?

The principal will inform the school community that nominations to the school’s advisory council are invited. ( Include parents of upcoming students.)

The invitation for nomination must clearly note a deadline, membership categories and the process (time, date, event) by which the vote shall be taken.

After elections have taken place, the principal shall submit the list of members to the school board, which includes name and ethnic/racial category.

Election Process

Documentation of the nomination and election process will be maintained at the school as a public record. Council membership is approved by the school board every fall.

Vacancies in any membership category during the year may be filled by principal appointment. The principal will inform the accountability office of any replaced members.

Election Process (continued)

Must be written and approved by SAC members and a copy must be kept at your

school, along with the SAC Membership Form

Bylaws

In 2002, legislative action amended Statute 229.58 to require School Advisory Councils to adopt bylaws. Each school advisory council shall adopt bylaws establishing procedures for their specific SAC membership.

A generic template is located on the Polk County School Board Accountability site.

Legislation

A quorum must be present before a vote may be taken by the School Advisory Council.

A majority of the membership of the Council constitutes a quorum.

Example: If there are 30 members listed on the SAC membership list… a quorum is 51% or 16 members.

Bylaws: Requiring a Quorum

At least 3-days advance notice, in writing, is required to all members of the Advisory Council of any matter that is scheduled to come before the council for a vote.

Members may not participate in any private communications about an issue coming up for a vote.

Bylaws: 3 Day Notice

Vote on September 

12

Meetings need to be scheduled when parents, students, teachers, businesspersons, and members of the community can attend.

Bylaws: Scheduling of Meetings

Replacement of any member who has two unexcused consecutive absences from a school advisory council meeting is required according to the procedures in the bylaws.

Bylaws: Replacing Members

The law requires that all minutes be promptly recorded.

All votes taken must be legally documented; however, roll call votes do not have to be taken. Sound recordings may be made but are not required.

Minutes are to be kept in a place accessible by the public.

Bylaws: Recording meetings

School Improvement Plan and

Staff Development

Roles and Responsibilities

MembersEvaluate the School Improvement PlanDetermine School Improvement

PrioritiesPublicize the School Improvement PlanSupport ongoing School Improvement

updatesAssist in the decision making process

and approval of expenditures of School Lottery Funds as well as review the School Budget.

Roles and Responsibilities

ChairSchedules SAC meetingsSets Agenda with PrincipalSends Meeting Notice, including

agenda, two (2) weeks prior to meetingFacilitates meetingDetermines strategy for making plans

available

Roles and Responsibilities

Principal (is a SAC member) Stays abreast of legislation

governing School Advisory CouncilsFacilitates election process stated in by-

lawsProvides testing, behavior, discipline and

attendance data to the SACSeeks input from staff and the SAC on

School Improvement Plan, School Budget, and Lottery Money

Leads revision, implementation, and evaluation of the School Improvement Plan

Roles and Responsibilities

District Superintendent and Staff

Provide training and technical assistance to local schools in the planning, implementation and evaluation of School Improvement Plan

Reviews School Improvement Plans and submits to school board for approval

Monitors legislated elementsProvide district data to SAC to support

School Improvement Plan

Roles and Responsibilities

School Board MembersApproves SAC Membership for each

schoolReviews and approves annual School

Improvement PlansDevelops policies and procedures in

response to Florida Statutes

Roles and Responsibilities

Additional Information

 The public has the right to observe School Advisory

Council meetings. They may speak only at designated

times. They must submit a written request at least 7

days before the SAC Meeting. They may not vote.

Public Input

No

SAC are required by law to meet at least 4 times a year

Set dates and times of meetings for the entire school year by consensus of membership

Members give membership roster to each member; including phone number, email, and home address

Members sign in every meeting

Meeting Requirements

School Advisory Councils approve the decision to apply for the Five Star School Award.

In order to qualify for the Five Star School Award, the SAC must: • Schedule eight full meetings • Each member must attend 50% or more of the

meetings • Overall average attendance at SAC meetings

must equal 80% or more• The Five Star School Application can be found

at: All Public Folders/Community Relations/Community Involvement/Award Application.

Five Star School – SAC Role

Elect a DAC Member and Alternative

Each school site must have two DAC representatives

Will meet with District and bring information back to your SAC

Provide information to the DistrictMeet 4 times a year as needed

District Advisory Council

All Stakeholders should know their school’s grade.

What is Your School’s Grade?

All Stakeholders should know if their school made AYP.

Did your School Make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)?

All Stakeholders should have a copy of the SIP and know what the main goals

are for their school.

What are the main goals of your School Improvement Plan?

All Stakeholders should know their school’s Mission and Vision and it should be posted at your school.

What is Your School’s Mission /

Vision?

Agenda Items for future SAC Meetings:• AYP• School Grade• School Improvement Plan updates• Progress Monitoring updates• Mid year Narrative Report• FCAT Results

Remember … Participation is

the

to

1. School Advisory Councils are mandated by Florida State Legislature. (inside cover)

2. 51% of the Council must be parents, students and community members. (pg 2)

3. SAC represents the socio-economical makeup of the Student /School Community population. (inside cover)

4. The principal is a member of the SAC and has 1 vote. (inside cover)

5. I was elected to the SAC on_____________________.6. Two reports that SAC members use to determine

School Improvement Plan goals and objectives are School Grade and AYP. (pg 7)

7. The three subjects used to calculate your school grade are Reading , Math and Writing. (pg 7)

8. The principal facilitates an election process that creates a balanced SAC. (pg 3)

9. The School Board approves School Advisory Council memberships and School Improvement Plans. (pg 6)

Answers to Training Worksheet

10. A majority of the listed members constitutes a quorum and must be present for a vote to be taken. (pg 4)

11. Members are required to receive 3 days advance notice in writing on any agenda item that will come up for a vote. (pg 4)

12. Members are replaced if they miss 2 consecutive meetings without an excuse. (pg 4)

13. SAC members must vote on District Discretionary Lottery Funds, School Recognition Funds and Five Star Schools. (pg 5)

14. SAC members receive a(an) agenda and meeting minutes prior to each meeting. (pg 9)

15. Minutes and the School Improvement Plan are kept for public access. (pg 11)

16. The public can speak to the SAC if they submit a written request to the chair and principal 7 days prior to the meeting. (pg 10)

17. The membership of a School Advisory Council must reflect the ethnic, racial and social economic characteristics of the student population. (pg 2)

18. Members should expect to be given 2 weeks advance notice of SAC meetings. (pg 9)

19. Members may not participate in any private communication about issues that are coming up for a vote. (pg 11)

Answers to Training Worksheet

Department of AccountabilityDonna Lee Buckner – Senior Coordinator of Accountability

Polk County Schoolsdonna.buckner@polk-fl.net 534-0717