Article I Name

The name of this organization shall be the Highlands Elementary School Advisory Council.

Article II Purpose

To work cooperatively with the school and the community so as to continually promote and improve the communications and the understanding between the two in the interests of providing the best possible physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual atmosphere and environment for the school and for the people of the community.

Article III Policy

To operate at all times in full accord with the laws, regulations, and policies of the State of Florida, the City of Jacksonville, and the Duval County School Board.

Article IV Membership

For the purposes of these By-Laws, the following definitions should apply:

Section 1. Definitions

1. Parent

A “Parent” is any person who on the date of a committee election is the parent or guardian of a student enrolled at Highlands Elementary School.

2. Community Members

A “Community Member” shall be defined as any person eighteen years of age or over who is not a student or member of the faculty/staff of Highlands Elementary School.

Section 2. Committee Membership. 51% of the SAC membership shall be non-school employees.

Membership categories shall be as follows:

1. Parents

To be elected by parents of the students attending Highlands Elementary School.

2. Business/Community Members

To be appointed by Principal after discussion with the SAC team.

3. Faculty

To be elected by faculty.

4. Administration

The school principal shall be a member of the committee.

Section 3. Election Procedures

1. Parent members and Business/Community members shall be elected at any SAC meeting when openings occur. Persons shall assume membership on the committee as of the date elected.

Notice of all Parent elections shall be posted at least two weeks prior to said meeting.

2. Faculty members shall be elected at a faculty meeting when openings occur. They will assume memberships as of the date elected.

Notice of faculty elections shall be posted in said Faculty Meeting Agenda prior to any election.

Section 4. Term of Office

1. The regular term of membership shall be two years. Members may be re-elected. Faculty/staff members may serve one year at a time and may be re-elected.

Section 5. Voting Rights

1. Elections to the Committee

Only those persons who meet the definition of a parent or Business/Community member may vote in the committee elections.

2. Within the Committee

Each committee member shall be entitled to one vote and may cast that vote on each matter submitted to the committee.

Section 6. Termination of Membership

1. A committee member shall no longer hold membership should he/she terminate their relationship with the group from which they represent: however, this provision shall not apply to the parent of a student who continues to attend Highlands Elementary School.

2. Members must maintain regular attendance at SAC meetings. If a member must be absent, they should inform the Chairman or Principal in advance. Any member who has (2) consecutive unexcused absences will be considered for a replacement.

Section 7. Transfer of Membership

Membership on this committee is not transferrable.

Section 8. Vacancies

Vacancies from causes other than expiration of a term shall be filled by the group in question. This will be accomplished by a vote at the next SAC or faculty meeting depending on the category of the vacancy.

Article V Officers

The officers of the committee shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Recording Secretary (Principal’s Secretary). These officers shall be elected at the June meeting for the upcoming school year. They shall serve for a period of one year or until their successors are elected. Vacancies which occur among the officers may be filled in by the Committee at its next regular meeting providing that at least two weeks’ notification has been given to all members that the vacancy exists.

Article VI Duties of Officers

1. The Chairman should preside at all meetings of the committee and perform all other duties ordinarily pertaining to the office.

2. The Vice-Chairman shall act as an aide to the Chairman and perform the duties of the Chairman in his/her absence.

3. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of attendance and minutes of each meeting, handle committee correspondence, notify members of all meetings, and perform other duties as delegated. Minutes will be posted within 3 days of meetings.

Article VII Executive Committee

This consists of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Recording Secretary, and the Principal. They shall be empowered to act in an emergency with its actions subject to ratification at the next special or regular SAC meeting.

Article VIII Meetings

The Committee shall hold a minimum of eight (8) meetings in a year, with the time, date, and place to be decided by the Chairman and Principal and approved by the Committee. Notification of the yearly schedule of meetings shall be duly publicized by the end of August each year. Meetings will be scheduled at various times in order to accommodate parents, students, teachers, businesspersons, and members of the community.

Article IX Meeting Agendas

Items for the meeting agendas should be submitted to the Principal or the Chairman at least one (1) week prior to scheduled meetings. Three (3) days prior to the scheduled meetings an agenda will be posted in the main office and sent to SAC members.

Article X Quorum

A quorum will be determined by half of the membership minus any excused members, but not less than five (5).

Article XI Parliamentary Authority

The current edition of Robert’s rules of order shall govern the Committee in all cases where they are not in conflict with these by-laws.

Article XII Amendments

These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting in the Committee by a two-thirds vote of those present, provided such amendments are mailed to all Committee members at least two weeks prior to such meeting.

Article XIII Ratification

These by-laws shall be declared adopted when passed by two-thirds of the members of the Committee.