LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
BYLAWS (SIAC)
ARTICLE I -- NAME AND ADDRESS
Lincoln Elementary School
930 South Sirrine
Mesa, Arizona 85210
ARTICLE II -- PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the Lincoln School Advisory Council (SIAC) is to serve an advisory
capacity to the principal for the purpose of improving the quality of education at the
school. It allows community members and staff to have a voice on issues, and also
provides the opportunity to work together to determine the best and most effective way of
allocating resources in order to deliver a sound educational program for Lincoln students
and to make a good school even better.
ARTICLE III -- BASIC POLICIES
A. The Lincoln School Advisory Council shall operate within current Arizona
Revised Statutes and the Mesa Public School District Policies and Procedures.
B. The SIAC will focus on overall school improvement
C. Membership in this organization shall be available without regard to race,
color, creed, religion, or national origin
D. SIAC will meet no less than six times per school year based on Governing
Board Policy.
ARTICLE IV -- MEMBERSHIP
A. Membership: The School Advisory Council shall be comprised of at least five
staff members, at least three-five parents/guardians and the principal for a total of
11 members.
B. Staff membership would include: 4 certificated and 1 support staff member.
The location, department, or grade level makes no difference in regard to
membership.
C. Members shall serve for one year.
D. The SIAC can appoint members to the council in the event that a group is not
well represented.
ARTICLE V -- ELECTION OF MEMBERSHIP
A. The Staff membership: Staff elections shall take place at the second staff
meeting via self-nominations or nomination.
B. The Parent Membership: The Parent Membership shall be elected at the first
PTO meeting of the school year via self-nominations or nomination.
C. Filling Vacancies: In the event that a vacancy occurs prior to the term
expiring, the vacancy shall be publicized in the school newsletter and the staff
newsletter asking for self nominations. The Council shall approve and appoint the
new member. The new member shall serve until the end of the current year.
ARTICLE VI -- ROLES OF THE MEMBERSHIP
All members are considered equal. The SIAC will strive to make decisions by
consensus.
1. The principal
a. The principal shall act as the facilitator for the meetings.
b. The principal shall advise the council on such topics as policies,
regulations, standards, and objectives.
c. The principal shall prepare the agenda using input from the council.
d. The principal or designee shall communicate with the remaining
council regarding meeting times, minutes, and other business for the
council.
e. The principal shall have veto power in the event there is a violation of
Arizona Revised Statutes, Mesa Public School District Policies and
Procedures or will not serve in the best interest of the school or students.
2. The Recorder:
a. The recorder shall be a voluntary member of the council. The recorder
may be a different person at each meeting and shall be determined at the
council meeting.
b. The recorder shall take notes of the meeting. The notes will be given to
the principal who shall have them distributed to the members in a timely
manner.
ARTICLE VII -- MEETINGS
A. Regular Meetings:
1. The Council shall hold a minimum of six meetings per year.
2. The Council shall determine at the first meeting of each year, what the
schedule of meetings shall be for that year. This shall include meeting
time, place and frequency.
3. At the first meeting of the year, the SIAC shall determine the yearly
agenda or needs for the year. The SIAC shall recognize that other items
may be added to the agenda as the year progresses.
B. Quorums:
1. A quorum shall be five members.
2. If a quorum is not in attendance at a meeting and a decision must be
made, the members shall consider:
a. tabling the motion
b. voting by proxy when absent members’ wishes are known by a
member who is present or
c. voting by phone call
3. The SIAC will strive to make decisions by consensus.
ARTICLE IX -- RELATIONSHIP WITH PTO
A. The Lincoln School Advisory Council and Parent Council are separate entities
which shall support one another. Their goal is to benefit the children.
ARTICLE X -- EVALUATION
Some type of systematic evaluation process will be developed yearly by each
SIAC to obtain feedback and comments from the school community