What is
the role of the Educational Excellence School Advisory
Council (EESAC)?
The EESAC
is the sole body responsible for final decision-making at
the school relating to the implementation of school
improvement and accountability. The EESAC must assist in
the preparation and evaluation of the School Performance
Excellence Plan (School PEP), must assist the principal in
the development of the annual budget, must make decisions
regarding the use of funds allocated by the Florida
Legislature to the school advisory councils (known in
Miami-Dade County Public Schools as Educational Excellence
School Advisory Councils), and, with staff, must decide on
the use of School Recognition Funds awarded to the school.
Can a
principal amend the School PEP without the input of the
members of the EESAC?
All
decisions regarding the School PEP must be approved by the
EESAC.
When are
EESAC elections conducted?
Elections
are held annually to fill vacancies that have occurred in
the EESAC membership. Additional elections may be needed
during the school year to fill other unforeseen vacancies
or to replace members who have two consecutive unexcused
absences. The process for conducting elections must be
outlined in the bylaws.
How long
are the terms of those elected?
The length
of terms is a decision made by the EESAC and included in
the bylaws.
Who
conducts the elections?
It is the
responsibility of the EESAC chair to oversee all EESAC
elections. The election of teachers will be conducted by
the UTD steward. The election of parents must be
conducted in a manner that allows all parents in the
school to participate. If this election is held in
conjunction with a PTA meeting, it must be clearly
identified as a school election held immediately prior to
or immediately following the PTA meeting.
How are
parents and staff notified about upcoming elections?
Staff is
notified following in-school communication procedures.
Prior notice must be given for all elections. Election of
parents must adhere to the requirements of the Florida
Government-in-the-Sunshine Law, with appropriate
notification sent to all parents at least five working
days in advance of the election.
Why are
bylaws important?
Bylaws
support state law, school board rule, and teacher contract
requirements. In addition, they clarify both the
requirements and the unique features of the individual
EESAC. Bylaws have the force of law and must be adhered
to.
What
should bylaws include?
Bylaws
should address the purpose of the EESAC; membership,
election and member replacement procedures; the duties of
members; the role of alternates; quorum requirements;
where and when meetings will be held; agenda preparation
and distribution; the selection and role of officers; how
minutes will be kept and maintained; and the process for
amendments. See School Board Rule 6Gx13- 1B-1.031
for a bylaws guide.
How often
should bylaws be reviewed for necessary modifications?
Bylaws
should be reviewed annually or more often, as necessary.
Who should
review the bylaws?
It is
recommended that EESACs have a standing bylaws committee
to review the bylaws on a regular basis and make
recommendations for change. Decisions about amendments
are made by the EESAC, following the existing bylaws
procedures. The district may review bylaws to assure
compliance with state statutes.
What is
the role of the EESAC as it relates to the budget?
The EESAC
must assist the principal in the development of the
school’s budget.
Who should
be trained in the budget?
All
members of the EESAC or a subcommittee identified by the
EESAC should receive budget training.
Who should
do the budget training?
The
training may be provided by the principal, by another
competent administrator, by the school’s budget analyst,
or by an EESAC member.
Who can
request budget training?
Any member
of the EESAC can make this request.
How are
alternates determined?
There must
be at least one alternate teacher, one alternate parent,
one alternate education support employee, and one
alternate student. Each of these must be elected by
his/her constituent group.
If there
is a vacancy on the EESAC, does the alternate assume that
position or is a new election conducted?
This is an
EESAC decision and must be outlined in the bylaws.
Can every
member of the EESAC have an alternate?
It is
recommended that more than one alternate be elected so
that the EESAC will have a full and balanced participation
by all stakeholder groups. It is possible to have an
alternate for every member, if this is the decision of the
EESAC and it is stated in the bylaws.
Is the
Assistant Principal (AP) the automatic alternate of the
principal?
The AP is
not considered the alternate of the principal unless the
EESAC has received a waiver from the EESAC Support
Committee to list the assistant principal in the alternate
position. The principal is a required member. When he or
she is unavoidably absent, the alternate will have full
decision making rights and responsibilities.
Can the
EESAC request other changes to its membership?
Yes, a
request for a waiver for a variation in composition may be
submitted to the EESAC Support Committee, along with a
copy of the minutes from the meeting at which this request
is approved.
Who
creates the agenda?
The
process for developing the agenda is to be outlined in the
bylaws. It is the responsibility of the chair to prepare
and distribute the agenda.
How do
interested parties have items placed on the agenda?
The
process for members and non-members to submit agenda items
is part of the overall agenda development process which is
included in the bylaws.
When and
to whom must the agenda be provided?
The agenda
must be distributed to all EESAC members at least
three days in advance of the meeting; the agenda may
be posted along with the meeting notice for all interested
parties;
Who writes
the minutes of the meetings?
The EESAC
may elect one of its members to be the Recording
Secretary, or a staff member may be asked to prepare the
minutes on behalf of the EESAC.
Who
receives copies of the minutes?
Minutes
must be distributed to all members of the EESAC. They
must also be posted online. Minutes are a public record
which must be accessible to any person who requests to
review them.
When and
how must minutes be made available?
Once the
EESAC has approved the minutes from a previous meeting,
those minutes must also be verified online. From that
moment, they will be accessible to the public on the
Internet. The official copy of the minutes which is
maintained by the school must also be made available as
soon as the minutes have been approved. They may be made
available in the office, the media center, or some other
public area of the school. If someone requests a copy,
the school may charge 15 cents per page to reproduce the
minutes.
If there
are EESAC funds remaining at the end of the year, can they
be carried over to the following year?
Yes,
although the intent of the Legislature is for the funds to
be used during the school year in which they are awarded.
Can the
funds be used to pay EESAC members’ stipends?
The
Florida Attorney General has written an Opinion that EESAC
funds may not be used to pay a stipend to a member since
this is not a “project or program.”
How does
the Florida Sunshine Law apply to EESACs?
EESAC
meetings are public meetings and must be open to the
public. They must be advertised and must be held in a
facility which does not discriminate. Members of the
public must be provided an opportunity to speak to the
EESAC. The minutes of the EESAC and other documents are
public records which must be maintained and made available
to the public. No members of the EESAC may discuss with
one another items which will be considered by the EESAC
unless they have publicly advertised their intention to
have this discussion.
Where can
I get a copy of the Sunshine Law?
The law is
available online at
https://legal.firn.edu/sunshine/general.htm.
For more
information about EESACs, please visit the
EESAC website.
