Bylaws of the School Advisory Council

Pine Island Academy

Approved: 9/23/2025

Article I

General

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be: The Pine Island Academy Advisory Council. In these bylaws, the Pine Island Academy Advisory Council may be referred to as the “council” or “SAC.”

Section 2: The provisions of Florida law and rules of the St. Johns County School Board, now existing or hereafter adopted, governing School Advisory Councils, are incorporated by reference.

Section 3: To the extent that an inconsistency exists now or in the future between these guidelines and any rule or regulation of the St. Johns County School Board or any Florida law concerning School Advisory Councils, such rule, regulation, or law shall control.

Article II

Purpose and Function

Section 1: The School Advisory Council (SAC) is a resource for the school, its staff, parents and principal.

Section 2: The primary function of the SAC is to provide all the stakeholders an opportunity to be active participants in the assessment of needs, development of priorities, and identification and use of resources.

Specific functions include, but may not be limited to, the following:

1.     Assist in the preparation and evaluation of the School Improvement Plan required pursuant to .1001.42 (18).

2.     Assist in the preparation/review of the Annual School Budget per FS 1008.385 (1). A portion of funds provided in the annual General Appropriations Act for use by school Advisory councils must be used for implementing the school improvement plan.

3.     Enlist, promote, and support greater interaction between school and all stakeholders.

4.     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.

5.     Perform other functions as requested by the principal.

Section 3: The School Advisory Council is a resource to the school and the principal. The term “advisory” is intended to mean 1) inquiring, 2) informing, 3) suggesting, 4) recommending, and 5) evaluating.

Section 4: The School Advisory Council, since it is advisory only, has some limitations. 1) It may not dictate School Board or local school center policy, and 2) it must deal with issues rather than a particular person, whether they are administrators, teachers, students, citizens, or parents.

Article III

Representation and Membership

In accordance with Florida Statute 1001.452, which outlines the establishment of SACs, the following sections are established:

Section 1: The membership shall be representative of the student body and community served by the school. The SAC shall have an appropriately balanced number of teachers, parents, support employees,

business and community members.

Section 2: The majority (51%) of the members of the SAC shall be non-school employees.

Section 3: The SAC membership shall be comprised of an appropriately balanced number of teachers, education support employees, parents, and other business and community citizens who are representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school.

Article IV

Membership Selection

Section 1: The SAC membership shall be constituted as follows:

a)    Teachers shall be elected by teachers.

b)    Parents shall be elected by parents.

c)     Education support employees shall be elected by education support employees.

d)    Business and community members will be selected by procedures established by the district school board that include means of ensuring wide notice of vacancies and of taking input on possible members from local businesses and the community at large.

e)     Replacement members shall be nominated by the principal and chairperson(s) with approval of the council by a majority vote.

f)     The principal is automatically a voting member.

There will be notifications of SAC vacancies and elections communicated through the school’s web site and other various methods at the beginning of the school year.

Section 2: Elections shall be held in September in conjunction with the first meeting.

Section 3: Each parent of Pine Island Academy’s School will be notified of SAC elections in accordance with Fla. Stat. § 286.011, “Public meetings and records; public inspection.” aka “Sunshine Law”.

Section 4: The first meeting of the SAC will be held in September.

Article V

Tenure

Section 1: SAC members will serve a one-year term and will have the opportunity to be re-elected each school year (including office positions: chair(s), secretary, and treasurer). 

Section 2: No member may miss more than two (2) unexcused consecutive SAC meetings. Members must notify the SAC Chair or Principal prior to a meeting in order to be excused.  As required by Fla. Stat. § 1001.452(1)(d)4, in the event of two unexcused consecutive absences from a properly noticed SAC meeting, the person’s membership will cease, and the SAC Chairperson shall arrange for the replacement of the member by election as specified in Membership Selection, and such individuals will fill the remainder of the terms to which they were elected.

Section 3: In the event a member resigns or is not eligible to be a member of the SAC, the Chairperson and Principal may appoint an appropriate member to the council for the remainder of the school year.

Article VI

Meetings

All SAC meetings shall be held in accordance with Florida Statutes § 286.011 – “Public meetings and records; public inspection.” At a minimum, the Sunshine Law requires reasonable public notice of three (3) days; openness of SAC meetings to the general public, in a location accessible to the public; and taking minutes of the meeting, which must be made available for public inspection following the meeting. This public notice is in addition to the minimum three (3) days’ advance written notice required by Fla. Stat. § 1001.452(1)(d)2 to all SAC members regarding any matter scheduled to come before the SAC for a vote.

Section 1: The first meeting of the SAC will be held in September.

Section 2: There shall be a council meeting at least eight times per year. The actual day and time shall be

determined by the SAC members during the first regular meeting of the year to accommodate their schedules.

Section 3: The schedule of the SAC meetings for the year shall be decided upon by the members at the first regular SAC meeting of the school year. As required by Fla. Stat. § 1001.452(1)(d)3, SAC meetings must be scheduled when parents, teachers, businesspersons, and members of the community can attend.

Section 4: An agenda will be developed Three (3) days in advance in writing to all members of the advisory council of any matter that is scheduled to come before the council for a vote. 

Section 5: A quorum is required to be present before a vote may be taken by the school advisory council. A majority of the membership (50% +1) constitutes a quorum.

Section 6: Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, Principal or by notice of any three (3) members in writing to the Chairperson.

Section 7: Subcommittees will be formed as needed as determined by the principal.

Article VII

Officers

Section 1: The officers of this Council shall be a chairperson or co-chairpersons, a secretary, and a treasurer.  In the event of a vacancy in a Council office during an existing term, the vacancy will be filled by SAC member election.

Duties of Officers

Section 1: Chairperson. — The chairperson [and co-chairperson] shall preside at all meetings of the Council.

Section 2: Secretary. — The secretary shall keep minutes [available to the public per Fla. Stat. § 286.011] of the meetings and shall be responsible for such correspondence as is delegated to him/her by the chairperson. The secretary shall also document activities, decisions, and attendance of the Council and its committees for accountability. The School Board will maintain a record of minutes of all SAC meetings, as required by Fla. Stat. § 1001.452(1)(d)5.

Section 3: Treasurer. — The treasurer maintains SAC’s financial reports in efforts to maintain transparency of revenues and expenditures to both the SAC and general school community.

Duties of Members

Section 1: Principal. — The principal shall provide information regarding the school educational plan, including the school budget. The role of the principal includes the development, through positive actions, of feelings 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 Council.

Section 2: Faculty and School Staff Representative. — The members 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 others of actions and activities of the Council.

Section 3: Parents, Business, and Community Representatives. — The parent, business, and community members of the SAC shall represent the view of the parents, citizens, and business and community organizations of the school community. They shall act as resource 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.

Article VIII

Voting Body

The SAC is the formal council that is responsible for voting upon and implementing the decisions for the

organization. The SAC will be comprised of an elected membership and will require a quorum if any formal action is to be taken, as required by Fla. Stat. § 1001.452(1)(d)1. A quorum is a majority (50% + 1) of the SAC membership. As required by Fla. Stat. § 1001.452(1)(d)2, all SAC members will receive at least three (3) days’ notice, in writing, including an agenda.

Section 1: Committees. — Committees are formed to research and make recommendations regarding specific areas that affect the organization. Committees may be constituted in several configurations.

Article IX

Rules of Order

Section 1: SAC decisions shall be reached by consensus or vote of the members. (See Consensus, Section 1)

Section 2: The SAC will operate under Parliamentary Procedures such as Robert’s Rules of Order.

Consensus

Section 1: A vote will be the primary decision-making method to be used by the SAC.

Section 2: Consensus will be the primary decision-making method to be used by the SAC. Consensus is reached when all members understand the decision, will support it, and are willing to implement the decision.

Section 3: Quorum must be established at the beginning of each meeting for a vote to take place. 51% of the voting members present must approve or disapprove any actions requested.

Article XI

Amendments

Section 1: The bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the SAC committee by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. Written notice to the members of the proposed amendment shall be at least three (3) days prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon. A quorum is required at any meeting for action to be taken.

Section 2: The SAC and/or its committee shall review annually, and when appropriate, recommend revisions of the SAC Bylaws annually. The adoption of revised bylaws shall follow the procedure for amendments.

Section 3: The SAC will follow all District policies, State rules, and State statutes in conducting its business.