The Pleasant Valley High School Student Government Constitution

Transcription

1 The Pleasant Valley High School Student Government Constitution WE THE STUDENTS of the Pleasant Valley High School of Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania in order to represent student interests to the faculty and staff; promote leadership and support class governments; encourage participation in clubs and activities that benefit students academically, culturally, socially, and physically; and to foster the growth of school unity and spirit do hereby establish this Constitution for the Pleasant Valley High School Student Government Association. Article 1: Student Government Association Section 1: Name and Composition The Pleasant Valley High School Student Government Association, hereinafter referred to as SGA, shall consist of the executive officers elected at-large by all classes located within the High School building. The executive officers shall be: the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Section 2: Qualifications and Elections No person shall serve as an elected officer of SGA who shall not be a full-time student within the high school building and posess an academic and disciplinary record of good standing. In order to qualify as a candidate or to serve as an officer requires approval and verification of academic and discipline records by the High School Principal and/or designee. Failure to meet academic standards and disciplinary guidelines may result in disqualification and such a determination will be made by the Principal and/or designee. In the event of disqualification after an election has taken place the runner-up for the disputed office will be appointed to the position. No student shall serve as President or Vice President of SGA who shall not be classified as a member of the senior or junior class at the beginning of the academic year following the election. No student shall serve as Secretary or Treasurer of SGA who shall not be classified as a member of the sophomore, junior, or senior class at the beginning of the academic year following the election. Elections for SGA Officers shall occur at the end of the academic year, during the same time period in which class officers are elected, and on a date and time stipulated by the Student Government Association Advisor, SGA President, and the High School Principal and/or designee.

2 Section 3: Inauguration and terms of office All SGA officers shall assume their office following the high school commencement ceremony of the year in which they were elected. SGA officers will serve a term of one year before they must stand election and there shall be no limits on the number of terms any SGA officer may serve. Section 4: SGA President The executive power of the Pleasant Valley High School SGA shall be vested in a President and who shall serve a term of one academic year. The SGA President will serve the entire student body and act as Student Representative to the Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education. As Student Representative, the President is required to attend one Board of Education each month and deliver a report regarding student concerns and the SGA agenda provided support and approval has been granted by the High School Principal and/or designee. The SGA President is responsible for preparing the agenda for meetings with SGA officers, the Principal, other class officers, and other student representative bodies as the SGA officers may prescribe for the express purpose of promoting cooperation and support among the classes; organizing school-wide events including, but not limited to, homecoming, spirit week, and the high school pep rally. Before assuming office the President shall take the following oath of office: I, (name), do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Pleasant Valley High School Student Government Association and will to the best of my ability adhere to the Student Government Constitution, promote and maintain academic integrity, leadership, scholarship, and service to my school and community. I so affirm. Section 5: SGA Vice President The role of the Vice President shall be to assist the President in fulfilling the obligations of office as well as keeping track of SGA events and publicity for events. In the event of the President s absence or if the President is unable to discharge the responsibilities and duties of his or her office, such responsibilities and duties shall devolve upon the Vice President. Section 6: SGA Secretary The Secretary shall assist the President and Vice president, keep the official attendance at all meetings, maintain a written record of all meetings, print and distribute minutes following each meeting to the advisor and officers, and assist in planning and preparing school events.

3 Section 7: SGA Treasurer The SGA Treasurer shall assist the President, Vice President, and Secretary, keep an updated record of all deposits and debits for the SGA account, provide a monthly balance sheet and assist the other officers in planning and preparing school events. Section 8: Meetings SGA officers are required to meet at least once a month and meetings will be open to the members of the student body. A regular meeting schedule will be set by the advisor and officers and attendance is mandatory for all officers. If an officer is unable to attend a meeting a written excuse is required for each absence on or before the date of the meeting. Article 2: Class Officers Section 1: Composition, Qualifications, and Elections Each class will elect a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. No person shall serve as an elected class officer who shall not be a full-time student within the high school building, a member of the graduating class for which he or she is seeking to represent, and possess an academic and disciplinary record of good standing. In order to qualify as a candidate or to serve as an officer requires approval and verification of academic and discipline records by the High School Principal and/or designee. Failure to meet academic standards and disciplinary guidelines may result in disqualification and such a determination will be made by the Principal and/or designee. In the event of disqualification after an election has taken place the runner-up for the disputed office will be appointed to the position. Elections for Class Officers shall occur at the end of the academic year, during the same time period in which Student Government officers are elected, and on a date and time stipulated by the Student Government Association Advisor, SGA President, and the High School Principal and/or designee. Section 2: Inauguration and terms of office All class officers shall assume their office following the high school commencement ceremony of the year in which they were elected. Class officers will serve a term of one year before they must stand election and there shall be no limits on the number of terms an elected class officer may serve. Section 3: Roles and responsibilities of Class Officers Roles and responsibilities shall be assigned by the advisor to the officers in a manner that best fits the needs of each class. The manner in which responsibilities are assigned to SGA officers may be used as a general guideline for all classes.

4 Section 4: Meetings Class officers are required to meet at least once a month and meetings will be open to the members of the class. Attendance is mandatory for all class officers. Rules regarding attendance at class meetings are to be determined by the faculty advisor. Article 3: Campaigns and Elections The manner and time frame in which campaigns and elections shall be held will be decided by the High School Principal or designee and the SGA advisor. All elections will be organized and run by SGA and supervised by the SGA advisor. All students are expressly forbidden from counting ballots. Article 4: Impeachment for SGA and Class Officers Section 1: Probation and Removal from Office At the suggestion of the faculty advisor and approval of the High School Principal, any elected officer may be placed on probation for failure to adhere to the attendance, academic, and disciplinary guidelines established in this Constitution. Attendance If an officer is placed on an attendance contract or is in danger of credit denial as a result of attendance issues, the student will be placed on probation for one marking period or the remainder of the current marking period. At the end of the probationary period, the SGA advisor, and the High School Principal or designee will review the student s attendance record and determine if the student is eligible to remain an officer. Meeting Attendance If an officer fails to attend three or more meetings without an approved absence note, the student will be placed on probation for one month. At the end of the probationary period, if the student s attendance and participation in meetings and events does not improve he or she may be removed from office. Procedures and policies for removal of class officers due to poor meeting attendance should be determined by each class and the faculty advisor. Academics If any officer s grade point average or grade in any course falls below the standard of good standing, they will be placed on probation. In the event of probation, the officer in question will have to improve his or her academic standing by the end of the current marking period. Following the probationary period, if no improvement is made the Principal and faculty advisor may remove the student from office. Discipline Disciplinary infractions resulting in an in-school suspension, and depending on the severity of the infraction as defined and determined by the PVHS principal or designee, may result in the officer being placed on probation for one marking period or the remainder of the current marking period. At the end of the probationary period, the SGA advisor and the High School Principal or designee will review the student s disciplinary record and determine if the student is eligible to remain an officer. Disciplinary infractions resulting in an out-of-school suspension will result in immediate removal from office.

5 Principal s Prerogative The high school principal, acting alone, may remove any elected officer for any academic and/or disciplinary reasons. In the event of removal due to academic or disciplinary infractions all proceedings will be kept confidential. Officers will be informed of the results at the discretion of the Principal and faculty advisor. Section 2: Succession of Officers In the event that an officer resigns, is removed, or disqualified after an election but before the new academic year begins, the runner up for that office shall assume the office. If an officer resigns, is removed, or disqualified after the academic year has begun, the line of succession shall proceed in the following manner: 1. President 2. Vice President 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer If the President is removed the Vice President will become President, the Secretary will become Vice President and the Treasurer will become Secretary. The job of treasurer will be assumed by the other officers and that office will be filled when elections are held at the end of the year. If the Vice President is removed the Secretary will become Vice President and the Treasurer will become Secretary. The job of treasurer will be assumed by the other officers and that office will be filled when elections are held at the end of the year. If the Secretary is removed the Treasurer will become Secretary. The job of treasurer will be assumed by the other officers and that office will be filled when elections are held at the end of the year. If the Treasurer is removed from office the job will be assumed by the other officers and that office will be filled when elections are held at the end of the year.