Educational Excellence School Advisory Council

3021 Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School

The bylaws for this school were last modified on Sep. 10, 2009.

The bylaws are as follows:

BY-LAWS
Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School
Educational Excellence School Advisory Council

I. Purpose
The purpose of Jesse J. McCrary's Elementary School’s Educational Excellence School Advisory Council, hereinafter referred to as EESAC is to work together to ensure improved student achievement. One of the ways EESAC will do this is by preparing and evaluating the School Improvement Plan as required by the state of Florida Department of Education

II. Council Members
A. Composition
The council will consist of five teachers, one alternate teacher, six parents, one alternate parent, one student, one alternate student, one educational support employee, one alternate support employee, one business/community representative, one United Teacher’s of Dade (UTD) designated steward, and the Principal (or his/her designated representative). This is a total of eleven (11) voting members. With the exceptions of the Principal, the business/community representative, and the UTD designated steward, all council members shall be elected by their respective constituent groups by popular vote. Council members will be representative of the ethnic, racial, linguistic, and economic community served. By popular vote from each of the above mentioned constituent groups, the next in line for a council seat will be designated as an alternate council member. Alternate council members are encouraged to participate in council meetings and activities.

B. Eligibility
All teachers, student service personnel, and the media specialist employed by Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School (JJMES) are eligible to be elected as teacher representatives on the council. All other persons employed by JJMES, including paraprofessionals, and those whose duties require twenty (20) or more hours in each normal working week, are eligible to be elected as the education support employee representative. All parents or guardians responsible for a student enrolled in Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School are eligible to be elected as parent representatives, with the exception of those parents who are employed at Jesse J. McCrary.

C. Terms
The terms of office shall begin at the first meeting of the school year and end at the last meeting of the school year.

D. Responsibilities
Council members are expected to:
1. Attend all regular and special meetings.
2. Provide recommendations based on council decisions using consensus management in those areas that directly impact the delivery of educational programs and services; such as, curriculum, budget, discipline, technology, and professional development.
3. Communicate with constituents to collect data and opinions for decision making.
4. Report to constituents the actions taken by the council.
5. Consider the needs of all stakeholders when making decisions.
6. Develop plans to support section 229.591, F.S., Comprehensive Revision of Florida's System of School Improvement and Education Accountability goals, to include: readiness to start school, graduation rate, student performance, learning environment, school safety, teachers and staff, and parental involvement.

1. Any committee formed will operate as a subcommittee of the council. Committees that address issues related to the School Improvement Plan are appropriate. All committees must operate according to the Sunshine Rules, unless they are only fact-finding or gathering information.

III. Elections
A. Election Procedures
The council chairperson, or his/her designee, will conduct elections accordingly:
1. At a designated meeting of the school year, new members shall be elected by secret ballot as follows:
a. Teacher representatives shall be elected by teachers, counselors, and media specialists.
b. Education support employees shall be elected by education support employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week at our school.
2. Students in fifth grade shall be elected, by students in the fifth grade.
3. Parents shall be elected, by parents, through the PTA at Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School. This election will be held at the beginning of the school year at the first PTA meeting.
4. All newly elected council members shall assume their duties at the first regular meeting of the school year in which their term starts.
B. Term of Office
The normal term of office for elected council members (except parents and students) is three (3) years. Parents and students shall have terms of one (1) year. Interim vacancies will be filled by the consensus decision of the council pending the next annual election.

IV. Meetings
A. The regular meeting date, and place, of the council will be determined by the council during a regular or special meeting at the start of the school term. All meetings will be held every six weeks, unless otherwise determined by the council.
C. Council members should encourage their constituents to attend meetings. Non-council members may address issues they have submitted to the council Chairperson for inclusion on the meeting agenda.
D. Notice of all regular meetings must be received by the School Board’s Citizen Information Office (SBAB), and posted in the media center, faculty lounge, office at least five (5) days in advance of the meeting date.
E. Special Meetings
In addition to regularly scheduled meetings, the council Chairperson may call a special meeting following the same notification procedures as with regular meetings.
F. Cancellations
With the unanimous agreement of the council officers (chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary), the Chairperson may reschedule a meeting provided at least three (3) days advance notice is given to all council members.

V. Quorum
For the Chairperson to conduct official business, a quorum of 50% plus one (simple majority) of eligible voting members must be present. The quorum must include both teacher and parent representatives.

VI. Agenda
A. The Chairperson shall prepare and distribute the agenda for all regular and special meetings at least three days in advance. All EESAC members must receive at least two(2) days in advance in writing any matter scheduled to come before the council for a vote.
B. Council members may add items to any regular meeting agenda by contacting the Chairman, either by email or by letter, four (4) days in advance of the scheduled meeting.
C. Non-council members may propose an agenda item by contacting any council member, who would then contact the Chairperson of additions to the agenda.
D. The agenda may be amended at the meeting by a majority vote of the council members.


VII. Decisions/ Recommendations

All council decisions to initiate action will be made using the consensus management approach in which all stakeholders (council members of teachers, students, parents, support staff, administrators, and community) will identify priorities, make recommendations, and find solutions that will address the improvement of student achievement in a collaborative manner.

VIII. Minutes
Written minutes of each regular and special meeting shall be kept as an open, permanent record of the activities of the council. The minutes shall be recorded and kept online by the elected secretary of the council, or an alternate appointed by the Chairperson in the absence of the secretary. The minutes shall include the names of those in attendance and any actions taken by the council. The minutes shall be approved at the next regular meeting of the council, and an official copy kept online and must be approved within 5 days of the meeting file in the Media Center.

IX. Amendments
A. Proposals
Proposed amendments to these by-laws must be made to the chairperson, in writing, and will be placed on the agenda for a regular meeting date. At the appointed meeting, the proposed amendment(s) will be presented and discussed. In order for the amendment(s) to be changed, a simple majority vote of the council is required to bring the amendment to consideration for adoption.
B. Adopting
At the next subsequent council meeting, proposed amendments will be read again, discussed, and a vote will be taken. Amendments will become part of the by-laws through consensus of the council members.
C. Reviews
Council by-laws will be reviewed annually, at the first meeting of the school year, to familiarize the new members of the by-laws and to identify possible needed revisions.