School Advisory Council (SAC)
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School Advisory Council (SAC)
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Each advisory council shall perform functions prescribed by regulations of the district school board. However, no advisory council shall have any of the powers and duties now reserved by law to the district school board. Each School Advisory Council (SAC) shall assist in the preparation and evaluation of the School Improvement Plan required pursuant to s. 1001.42(18).If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact Patti Saldarriaga at (561) 357-7667.
FAQ
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Who should be a member of the School Advisory Council?
Section 1001.452(1)(a), Florida Statutes (F.S.) states: A majority of the members of each school advisory council must be persons who are not employed by the school district. Each advisory council shall be composed of the principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers, education support employees, students, parents, and other business and community citizens who are representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school. Career center and high school advisory councils shall include students, and middle and junior high school advisory councils may include students. School advisory councils of career centers. -
What is the scope of the Sunshine Law?
Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law, s. 286.011, F.S., commonly referred to as the Sunshine Law and provides a right of access to governmental proceedings of public boards or commissions at both the state and local levels. The law is equally applicable to elected and appointed boards and applies to any gathering of two or more members of the same board to discuss some matter which will foreseeably come before that board for action. Members-elect to such boards or commissions are also subject to the Sunshine Law, even though they have not yet taken office. There are three basic requirements of s. 286.011, F.S.:
- Meetings of public boards or commissions must be open to the public;
- Reasonable notice of such meetings must be given; and
- Minutes of the meetings must be taken and promptly recorded.
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Are students considered District or non-District members?
FDOE Response: “Students are considered non-District members.” -
Can we use secret ballots for SAC elections?
FDOE Response: “No, secret ballots are never allowed because all activities that take place at a SAC meeting are subject to Open Government Law and Sunshine Law.” -
Where can I find information about SAC member attendance rules?
Our Bylaws should indicate the rules and procedures for replacing SAC members. The School Advisory Council will replace any member who has two consecutive unexcused absences (as determined by the SAC Chair) from SAC meetings scheduled according to the procedures in the bylaws. -
What is a Quorum?
A majority (50% + 1) of the voting members of the council shall constitute a quorum. A quorum must be present before a vote may be taken.
