Maeser Elementary School Community Council Bylaws Article I Name The name of this council shall be the Maeser Elementary School Community Council, hereinafter referred to as the Community Council. Article II Objective The School Community Council is authorized by Utah 53A-1a-108. The purpose of this council is to assist Maeser Elementary School in fulfilling the requirements of the above statute. The law states Each public school, in consultation with its local school board, shall establish a school community council at the school building level. The council provides an opportunity for members of the school community to participate in the collaborative decision making process to build an effective school. Section 1: Core Duties In accordance with the above named statute, the following tasks are to be performed by the Community Council: 1. Create a school improvement plan. 2. Create the school s LAND Trust Program and plan. 3. Assist in creating and implementing a staff professional development plan. 4. Create a reading achievement plan. 5. Advise and make recommendations to administrators at Maeser Elementary, Uintah School District and the Uintah School District Board of Education, or others regarding a. Maeser Elementary School and/or its programs. b. Uintah School District programs. c. A child safe access routing plan for approaching or leaving the school. d. Other issues relating to the community environment for students. Section 2: Other Duties The council may function in an advisory capacity in other areas as determined by the administration of Maeser Elementary or by the Uintah School District. Article III Organization Section 1: Membership Eligibility The following are eligible to serve as members of the Community Council: 1. A parent or guardian of a student who attends the school or who will be or was enrolled at the school at any time during the parent s or guardian s initial term of office may serve as a parent or guardian member of the council. 2. An employee of Maeser Elementary School may serve as an employee member of the council.
Maeser Elementary Community Council Bylaws 2 3. The school principal serves as an ex officio member with full voting privileges. Section 2: Membership The Community Council shall consist of the following: 1. Seven (7) parent or guardian members meeting the eligibility described in Section 1.1. A. Parent or guardian members are elected by the parents or guardians of all students enrolled in Maeser Elementary at the time the election is held. B. It is intended that no more than one parent or guardian of any student serve as a council member at a given time. C. Employees of Maeser Elementary cannot serve as parent members on the council. 2. Two (2) employee members meeting the eligibility described in Section 1.2. A. Employee members are elected by staff members employed by Maeser Elementary at the time the election is held. 3. The school principal. 4. Elected council members may serve up to three successive terms. 5. The term of office for an elected council member is two (2) years from the date the election was held. Section 3: Officers The council shall elect officers annually by a majority vote during the first Community Council meeting held after school community council elections each September. Officers shall consist of the following: 1. A Chair with the following responsibilities: A. Call and conduct council meetings or appoint someone else to conduct. B. Set meeting agendas. C. Act as council signatory. D. Notify Uintah School District of changes in council membership. 2. A Vice-chair who assists the chair and assumes the duties of the chair in his/her absence. 3. A secretary with the following responsibilities: A. Record and keep the roll and minutes of official meetings. B. Keep custody of council records. C. Conduct council correspondence. 4. Officers serve for a one year term of office, beginning with the first meeting held after school Community Council elections each September. 5. The chair must be a parent or guardian member. The vice-chair may be either a parent/guardian member or an employee member of the council excluding the principal. 6. If an officer position becomes vacant, the council shall fill the vacancy at the next meeting following the notice of vacancy. Section 4: Operations The council is in session at a meeting when a quorum is present and operates under the following rules: 1. A quorum shall consist of at least six (6) council members. 2. All meetings are open to the public. 3. The agenda for each upcoming meeting with draft minutes of the prior meeting will be made available to all council members at least one week in advance.
Maeser Elementary Community Council Bylaws 3 4. Minutes will be kept of all meetings, prepared in draft format for approval at the next scheduled meeting. 5. Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53A-1a-108.1(9)(i). 6. An action proposed to be taken by the council is stated as a motion. 7. Such motions require a second by a council member who did not make the motion. 8. Discussion on the motion will be opened and members will be recognized by the chair as appropriate. When discussion appears to be complete the chair may call for a vote on the motion. 9. If a council member calls the previous question (a motion to end discussion): A. A second is required. B. Without further discussion the chair calls for a vote that must pass by a 2/3 majority of council members present in the meeting. C. If the vote on the previous question fails the chair will open further discussion of the original motion. D. If the motion to call the previous question passes, the chair will immediately call for a vote on the original motion. 10. Additional simple motions of parliamentary procedure will be utilized as shown in the chart below: Second Can Be Vote Motion Debatable Comment Required Amended Required Adjourn yes no no majority Amend a yes yes yes majority Motion Close Nominations yes no yes 2/3 majority Main Motion yes yes yes majority Point of Order Previous Question no no no yes no no ruled on by the chair 2/3 majority Reconsider yes yes no majority Withdrawal of Motion 11. A tie vote is deemed a lost vote. no no no majority Most motions fall into this category (Main motions may be amended) Offered if there is some question as to whether procedure has been correctly followed To stop debate and force a vote May only be made by one who originally voted on the prevailing side Made by the same person who made the original motion
Maeser Elementary Community Council Bylaws 4 Section 4: Committee or Task Force The council may create a committee or a task force to advise the council or develop plans under Article 2; however, any action taken by such group must be approved by the council. Section 5: Amendments 1. The Bylaws may be amended by a two third majority of the council. 2. Written amendments must be submitted to all council members at least one week in advance of any vote taken to approve such amendments. Article IV Elections Section 1: Members Council members, except the principal, shall be elected by majority vote in a secret ballot as outlined in Utah 53A-1a-108. Section 2: Timing of Elections Elections for the parent or guardian members of a school community council shall: 1. Begin within the first 30 days of the school year. 2. Extend for a period of at least three consecutive school days. 3. End no later than 35 days after the first day of the school year. Section 3: Notice of Elections The principal of the school, or the principal's designee, shall provide notice of the available community council positions to school employees, parents, and guardians at least 10 days before the date that voting commences for the elections held under section 2. The notice shall include: 1. The dates and times of the elections. 2. A list of council positions that are up for election. 3. Instructions for becoming a candidate for a community council position. Article V Council Vacancies Vacancies in the council shall be filled as follows. Section 1: Resignations Vacancies created by the resignation of a sitting council member will be filled by a majority vote of the respective class of council members. 1. Parent members will be nominated and replaced by a majority vote of the parent members on the council. 2. Employee members will be nominated and replaced by a majority vote of the staff members on the council 3. Such appointment of members shall be done in an open council meeting.
Maeser Elementary Community Council Bylaws 5 Section 2: Positions unfilled after an election Vacancies on the council resulting from unfilled positions at the conclusion of a regularly scheduled election will be filled by a majority vote of the respective class of council members. 1. Parent members will be nominated and replaced by a majority vote of the parent members on the council. 2. Employee members will be nominated and replaced by a majority vote of the staff members on the council 3. Such appointment of members shall be done in an open council meeting. Revised 11/21/2013