Once the plan is developed, you need to provide an opportunity, such as a meeting at the school or a community center, to allow the public and the school community an opportunity to review the plan and offer input. Then the plan is submitted to your District School Board for approval. The plan will be evaluated, updated and revised each year, so your school will have additional opportunities to incorporate new ideas or work on areas that were not a top priority this year. Each Fall, the school will distribute a report to the public on how well the school did last school year and what progress was made. Florida’s Open Government Law Florida government at all levels operates under the principle that the public has the right to know what its government is doing. Therefore, under the Florida Sunshine Law and the state public records law, work conducted by public officials on behalf of the citizens, and records of that work, must be available for inspection by any interested person. As a member of a School Advisory Council you are, in effect, doing work for the public, even if you are a volunteer. This means your SAC’s work, its plan, the information developed and/or used in writing the plan and your meetings all must be open and accessible to anyone who is interested, for whatever reason. The vast majority of public school records and actions, with few exceptions such as labor negotiations, student records and some personnel matters, have long been public under these laws. If you have special concerns or a specific question arises, your school principal should consult the school board attorney, who customarily handles these issues. The Sunshine Law aside, the basic philosophy of school improvement and accountability legislation would have us involve and inform all stakeholders as much as possible in the development of a school improvement plan. Your Partners in School Improvement Your School District: There are many resources to assist you and your SAC team members at the district school office in your county. The local county staff has a great deal of information and expertise
Once the plan is developed, you need to provide an opportunity, such as a meeting at the school or a community center, to allow the public and the school community an opportunity to review the plan and offer input. Then the plan is submitted to your District School Board for approval. The plan will be evaluated, updated and revised each year, so your school will have additional opportunities to incorporate new ideas or work on areas that were not a top priority this year. Each Fall, the school will distribute a report to the public on how well the school did last school year and what progress was made. Florida’s Open Government Law Florida government at all levels operates under the principle that the public has the right to know what its government is doing. Therefore, under the Florida Sunshine Law and the state public records law, work conducted by public officials on behalf of the citizens, and records of that work, must be available for inspection by any interested person. As a member of a School Advisory Council you are, in effect, doing work for the public, even if you are a volunteer. This means your SAC’s work, its plan, the information developed and/or used in writing the plan and your meetings all must be open and accessible to anyone who is interested, for whatever reason. The vast majority of public school records and actions, with few exceptions such as labor negotiations, student records and some personnel matters, have long been public under these laws. If you have special concerns or a specific question arises, your school principal should consult the school board attorney, who customarily handles these issues. The Sunshine Law aside, the basic philosophy of school improvement and accountability legislation would have us involve and inform all stakeholders as much as possible in the development of a school improvement plan. Your Partners in School Improvement Your School District: There are many resources to assist you and your SAC team members at the district school office in your county. The local county staff has a great deal of information and expertise