GVA SAC Elections
Article V
Appointments and Elections
A. Date for Electing, Appointing or Designating Members. Election, Appointment, or Designation of members shall occur no sooner than 30 days before the end of a school year, nor later than 30 days after the start of a school year
B. Election of Teacher Member(s). The election of the teacher member shall occur at a teacher staff meeting or similar forum no sooner than 30 days before the end of
a school year nor later than 30 days after the start of a school year. All licensed professionals who provide instruction at the school or who have an office at the school will be invited to attend. Nominations will be taken from the floor during the meeting. Any teacher may nominate himself or herself or another teacher. If there are more teachers nominated than the number of vacancies, a written ballot may be used.
a school year nor later than 30 days after the start of a school year. All licensed professionals who provide instruction at the school or who have an office at the school will be invited to attend. Nominations will be taken from the floor during the meeting. Any teacher may nominate himself or herself or another teacher. If there are more teachers nominated than the number of vacancies, a written ballot may be used.
C. Appointment of Community Member. A community representative shall be appointed to the SAC by the principal of the school no sooner than 30 days before the end of a school year nor later than 30 days after the start of a school year or as soon as practical after a vacancy.
D. Election of Parent or Legal Guardian Members.
- Notice of Election. The notice of election shall occur by means of the school newsletter or similar format, and will include notice of the deadline for submission of nominations. The notice will allow at least two weeks for submitting nominations and conducting the election.
- Nominations. Any parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled in the school may nominate himself or herself and/or nominate another parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled in the school. Nominations shall be submitted in writing to the principal of the school or the SAC Chairperson.
- Determining an Election. If the number of candidates is equal to the number of open SAC positions, an election is not required if the nomination process outlined above (Article V, Sections D-1 and D-2) has been followed.
- Conducting the Election. Only parents or legal guardians of a student enrolled in the school will be permitted to vote. The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) receiving the most votes shall be elected; provided, however, that only one parent/guardian voting member may be a District employee or relative of a District employee. There are three primary ways to conduct the election of the parent/guardian members, as follows:
- “Back to school night” or similar forum: written ballots shall be used and shall have a signature line and a printed name line to enable the school to verify eligibility and avoid duplicates;
- Mail-in ballot: Included in the school newsletter or similar format. The mail-in ballots shall have a signature line and a printed name line to enable the school to verify eligibility and avoid duplicates.
- Electronic, email, school website: Electronic methods are appropriate, if the method used can assure only one vote per person.
E. Reflection of the school populations. The school principal and other members of SAC shall encourage persons who reflect the student populations that are significantly represented within the school to seek election to the committee, with the exception that individuals should not be encouraged to seek election to the committee because of their race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, or transgender status. However, it is permissible for principals to encourage individuals to seek election on the basis that such individuals reflect student populations who (a) are eligible for free and reduced lunch; (b) are English language learners; (c) are migrant children; (d) are identified as children with disabilities; or (e) are identified as gifted children.
F. Good faith efforts. If, after making good-faith efforts, a principal or an organization of parents, teachers, and students is unable to find a sufficient number of persons who are willing to serve on the SAC, the principal, with advice from the organization of parents, teachers, and students, may establish an alternative membership plan or method of appointment for the SAC, which shall reflect the membership and method of selection specified herein as much as practical.