The bylaws for this school were last reviewed or modified on Sep. 18, 2024.

The bylaws are as follows:

6741-PONCE DE LEON MIDDLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

BYLAWS

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Ponce de Leon Middle School Educational Excellence School Advisory Council is to ensure the successful implementation of the School Improvement Process. The Council will prepare and evaluate the School Improvement Process for compliance with Florida State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.09981 and legally binding agreements on the purpose and operation of the Council.

A. COUNCIL MEMBERS

1. Composition

The Ponce de Leon Middle School Educational Excellence School Advisory Council shall be made up of five teachers (and two alternates), six parents (and one alternate), one education support employee (and one alternate), two business/community representatives, the UTD steward (or designee), student government association president (and one alternate), and the principal (or designee). With the exception of the principal, the business/community representatives, and the UTD steward, all other members shall be elected by their constituent groups. Teachers, parents, students, and education support employees shall also elect an alternate representative (teachers will have two). The alternate student representative on the Council will be the student government association vice president. The Council will be representative of the ethnic, racial, linguistic, disabled, and economic community served by Ponce de Leon Middle School.

2. Eligibility

All teachers, student services personnel, and the media specialist employed by the school are eligible to be elected teacher representatives to the Council. All other persons employed by the school, including paraprofessionals, and those who are not defined as instructional or administrative personnel and whose duties require 20 or more hours in each normal working week are eligible to be elected as the education support employee representative. All parents, guardians, or significant others responsible for a child enrolled in Ponce de Leon Middle School are eligible to be elected as parent representatives, with the exception of those parents who are also employed at Ponce de Leon Middle School.

3. Terms of Office

a. Principal-incumbent-no term limit
b. UTD Steward-incumbent-no term limit
c. Teachers-a period of approximately three years, corresponding to the teacher contract or the
remaining time of that contract and beginning with election by their constituent group
d. Parents-one year, beginning with election by their constituent group
e. Education Support Employee-one year, beginning with election by their constituent group
f. Student-one year, beginning with the election of the student government association President
g. Business/Community Representative-one year from the date of appointment

4. Responsibilities

a. Council members are expected to:

1. attend all regular and special meetings.
2. communicate with constituents to collect data and opinions for decision making.
3. report to constituents the actions taken by the Council.
4. consider the needs of all students when making decisions.
*Any member who has two consecutive unexcused absences from council meetings.
shall be considered as resigned. The member shall be replaced following election/selection procedures as stated in these bylaws.

b. Alternates are expected to:

1. attend all regular and special meetings when notified that they are needed to act for their constituent Council members who are unable to attend.
2. follow the requirements as listed above for Council members when acting on their behalf.

B. ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS

1. Teacher Elections

Teacher elections shall be conducted by the UTD Steward during a noticed faculty meeting at the end of each school year, as needed. Participants shall be notified five days in advance of the election. The notice of the faculty meeting will state that a purpose of the meeting is to elect teacher representatives to the Educational Excellence School Advisory Council. Nominations for the vacant positions can be taken from the floor. The alternate teacher representative shall become the representative if a vacancy occurs. Elections may be held at other times to fill other vacancies.

2. Parent Elections

Parent elections shall be conducted at the beginning of the school year by the PTSA. Parents shall be notified no less than five days in advance of the election. Every effort should be made to provide all parents with the opportunity to participate. The representatives from the previous school year will serve until an election is held. The alternate parent representative shall become the representative if a vacancy occurs. Elections may be held at other times to fill other vacancies.

3. Education Support Employee Elections

Education Support Employee elections shall be conducted by the Principal and the UTD Steward at the beginning of the school year. The representative from the previous school year will serve until an election is held. The Alternate Education Support Employee shall become the representative if a vacancy occurs.

4. Student Elections

Student representative elections shall be conducted by the faculty member responsible for student elections. The student shall be elected at the end of the school year, while the student is in the seventh grade, to serve as an eighth grader in the following school year.

5. Business/Community Representatives

One business/community representative shall be appointed by the principal. The additional business/community representative shall be appointed by the Council.

C. MEETINGS

All meetings shall be open to the public and shall not be held in any facility or location which discriminates on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, origin, disability, sexual orientation, or economic status or which operates in such a manner as to unreasonably restrict access to such a facility.

1. Regular Meetings

Regular meetings will begin at 4:00 p.m. and conclude at 5:00 p.m., unless by consensus, the Council agrees to extend or shorten the time of the meeting, at a location selected by the council in accordance with bylaw and notice requirements. Meetings will be accessible in-person on campus or via Zoom for those unable to attend physically due to constraints. Meetings will be conducted the last Wednesday of each month (with a minimum of four meetings per academic school year).

2. Special Meetings

In the event that a special meeting is needed, the principal, chair, or a majority of council members may call a meeting, with proper notice.

3. Meeting Cancellation

A regular council meeting may be canceled by the principal, chair, or majority of council members.

D. QUORUM

A majority of the voting members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. The quorum must include teacher and parent representatives, as well as the principal or her/his designee and the UTD steward or her/his designated alternate. A quorum must be present before a vote may be taken. In the event the principal, chair, and union steward agree to the need for an electronic vote the council has the ability to use this measure.

E. AGENDA

All EESAC members must receive at least 3 days advance notice in writing of any matter that is scheduled to come before the Council for a vote.

1. The chair shall prepare and distribute the agenda for all regular and special meetings.

2. Adding to the Agenda
a. Council members may add items to any regular meeting agenda by contacting the chairperson in advance of the meeting.
b. Non-council members may propose an agenda item by contacting a Council member.
c. The agenda may be amended at the meeting by majority vote.
d. Previous agenda items not covered shall be part of the next meeting's agenda.

F. OFFICERS

Each year, at the first Council meeting, the Council shall elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and a Recording Secretary. Officers shall serve a term of one year. Elections may be held at any time to fill a vacancy.

G. CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING

The primary method of decision making shall be by consensus. If, after reasonable efforts to reach consensus, an impasse is reached, a two-thirds vote of the voting members present is required to reach a decision.

H. MINUTES

Minutes shall be kept for all meetings of the EESAC. 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. Copies of the approved minutes shall be maintained by the school as a public record. In addition, a copy of the minutes of every meeting as of July 1, 2002, will be posted electronically by the school on the internet.

I. INPUT FROM NON-COUNCIL MEMBERS

Those who attend the council meetings shall be provided an opportunity to discuss issues under consideration in any of the following ways:

1. Recognition by the Chairperson.
2. By majority vote of the members present.
3. Speakers may make limited presentations commencing at the conclusion of the regular agenda.

J. COMMITTEES

Standing and Ad Hoc committees can be formed at any time by appointment by the Chairperson or a majority vote of members present at any meeting. Each committee must include at least one parent and one teacher representative. A council member shall chair each committee. Non-council members may serve on committees.


K. AMENDMENTS

1. These bylaws can be amended by placing an item on the agenda specifying the portion of the bylaws to be amended and through the decision-making process is described in these bylaws under Section L. Consensus Decision Making.

2. Notwithstanding any provisions for these bylaws, they shall be construed to conform to, and to incorporate, any legislation, rules, regulations, or legally binding agreements which refer to and control the operation of this Council.

M. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

If a point in question has not been properly addressed by the bylaws of the council, the council will refer to Robert's Rules of Order, revised in conducting the meetings and business as needed. Specific Authority: 230.22 (2) F.S. Law Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: 229.58(1)(a) F.S.

School Board Rules 6Gx13-4A-1.01, 6Gx13-4A-1.32, and 6Gx13-5D-1.10 prohibit harassment and/or discrimination against an employee or student on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, political beliefs, marital status, age, sexual orientation, social and family background, linguistic preference, or disability.