ARTICLE I: Name of Council Rio Americano High School Site Council Bylaws The name of this Council shall be the Rio Americano High School Site Council. ARTICLE II: Goal of the Council The goal of the Council shall be to support the mission, objectives and tactics of the Strategic Plan. ARTICLE III: Role and Responsibility of the Council The Strategic plan and budget shall be reviewed and recommended by the School Site Council. The School Site Council, following approval of a Strategic plan by the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education, shall have ongoing responsibility to review with the principal, teachers, and other school personnel the implementation of the Strategic Plan and to assess annually the effectiveness of such program. The Site Council, following annual review, will make necessary recommendations in the plan to reflect changing needs and priorities of the Rio Americano Student Body. The Council shall carry out all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it in the Education Code of the State of California and by the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education. ARTICLE IV: Membership of the Council Section I: Composition The needs and the resources of the Strategic Plan require that membership include broad representation of students, parents and staff, including all socioeconomic, ethnic and programmatic groups represented in the school. Representation on the Council shall be the principal, four teacher representatives (elected by teachers at the school), three parents of students attending the school (elected by such parents), three students (elected by students at the school), and one classified school employee (elected by other classified personnel at the school). The Council shall be constituted to ensure parity between a) the principal, teachers, and classified school personnel; and b) parents and students. Teachers shall comprise the majority of those persons representing the school staff. One parent, two teachers, three students, and one classified employee will be elected to serve as alternates and will be members of the Council and will be accorded all the rights of the regular members with the exception of voting. Council members representing parents may be employees within the San Juan Unified School District, but may not serve as a parent representative at the site of employment. 2014 1
Section II: Duties of Council Members It shall be the duty of all Council members to: 1. Attend all meetings or inform the alternate for that member s peer group when it is impossible to attend in person. Such alternates shall then have full voting privileges. 2. Accept positions as officers or subcommittee members when so appointed or elected unless unable to carry out the duties entailed. Section III: Size The School Site Council shall be composed of twelve members. The number of Council members shall not be altered except to reflect a change in the school size or to conform to regulations established by the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education. Section IV: Term or Office All elected members of the Council, except the students and all alternates, shall serve for a twoyear (2) term of office. All students and all alternates shall serve for a one-year (1) term of office. Section V: Election Procedures Council members, with the exception of the principal, will be elected by the end of the spring semester. Teachers will nominate/elect their representatives by ballots counted by the Chairperson and one council representative. Classified school personnel will nominate/elect their representative(s) by ballots counted by the Chairperson and the council representative. Parents will elect their Council representatives from a list of volunteer parent candidates. Parents will be elected by ballot distributed via the PTSA newsletter and counted by the Chairperson and one council representative. Parents will be notified of the election in a mailing sent out prior to the start of the school year. Two student at large representatives will be elected at the spring student elections. The student with the third highest votes becomes the alternate. In accordance with the Constitution of the Rio Americano High School Student Body, the Site Council representative from Student Government will be the Public Relations Liaison. In the absence of a Public Relations Liaison the Student Body President will be the Site Council representative from Student Government. Section VI: Voting Rights Whenever possible, School Site Council matters will be decided by a consensus of those present. However, any member of the Council may request a formal vote be taken on any issue before the Council. When a vote is necessary, each member shall be entitled to one vote and may cast that 2014 2
vote on each matter submitted to a vote. Members must be present to vote; no absentee ballots are permitted. The elected alternate shall vote in the absence of the representative. The School Site Council shall be required to formally vote for approval of the Strategic plan and budget. Section VII: Transfer of Membership Membership on the School Site Council is not transferable or assignable. Section VIII: Termination A member shall no longer hold membership should he or she no longer meet the membership requirements under which he or she was elected. Membership shall automatically terminate for any elected member who is absent from three consecutive meetings annually. The Council, by affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members, can suspend or expel a member whenever, in the judgment of the Council, the best interests of the Council or Strategic Plan would be served. Section IX: Resignation Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the School Site Council. Section X: Vacancy The duly elected alternate of the Site Council peer group in which the vacancy occurs must fill any vacancy on the Council. The person filling the vacancy will complete the term of office for which the person was elected. Section XI: Alternates A Council member must notify a peer alternate of his/her expected absence. The presence of an alternate shall not relieve the elected member from the effect of the termination clause (Section VIII). The alternate will vote on any action requiring a vote of the Site Council members. ARTICLE V: Officers Section I: Officers The officers of the School Site Council shall be a chairperson, vice-chairperson, recording secretary and such other officers as the Council may deem desirable. Section II: Election and Term of Office The officers of the School Site Council shall be elected annually in the fall. The term of office shall be for one year and no member shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. Section III: Removal Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of all members of the School Site Council whenever, in the judgment of the Council, the best interests of the Council would be served 2014 3
thereby. Section IV: Vacancy A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise shall be filled by election by the members of the School Site Council for the unexpired portion of the term. Section V: Chairperson The chairperson may be any member of the Council. The chairperson will ensure that agendas and previously approved minutes are posted seventy-two (72) hours in advance of meetings, and to preside at all meetings of the School Site Council. The chairperson may sign letters, reports, and other communications of the School Site Council. In addition, the chairperson shall perform all duties as may be prescribed by the School Site Council from time to time. Section VI: Vice-Chairperson The vice-chairperson may be any member of the School Site Council. The duties of the vicechairperson shall be to represent the chairperson in assigned duties and to substitute for the chairperson during his or her absence. The vice-chairperson shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the chairperson. Section VII: Recording Secretary The recording secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, both regular and special, of the School Site Council and shall promptly transmit true and correct copies of the minutes of such meetings to the secretary. The secretary shall in general perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the office by the chairperson, or the School Site Council. ARTICLE VI: Committees Section I: Establishment of Special Committees The School Site Council may from time to time establish and abolish such special committees as it may deem necessary. No special committee may exercise the authority of the School Site Council. Section II: Membership Unless otherwise determined by the School Site Council in its decision to establish a committee, the chairperson of the School Site Council shall appoint members to the various committees. Section III: Term 2014 4
Each member of a committee shall continue as such for the term of his/her appointment and until his/her successor is appointed, unless the committee shall be sooner terminated or abolished, or unless such member shall cease to qualify as a member of the School Site Council. Section IV: Vacancy A vacancy in the membership of any committee may be filled by an appointment made in the same manner as provided in the case of the original appointment. ARTICLE VII: Meetings of the School Site Council Section I: Regular Meetings The School Site Council shall meet regularly each month. The date and time of the meetings shall be decided by majority vote of the Council at least one month before the first day of school. All persons within the community will be notified of Council meetings. All School Site Council meetings will be open to the public. Section II: Special Meetings Special meetings may be called by the chairperson, or by majority vote of the Council members. At least seventy-two (72) hours notice must be given to Council members and the public of any special meeting. Section III: Place of Meeting The School Site Council shall hold its regular monthly meetings and its special meetings in a facility provided by the school or the School Site Council and readily accessible to all members of the public, including handicapped persons. Section IV: Notice of Meetings Notice shall be given of regular meetings at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting. Any change in the established date, time, or location must be given special notice. All special meetings shall be publicized. Any required notice shall include the day, hour, and location of the meeting; and shall be delivered either personally, by phone, or by mail to each member not less than seventy-two (72) hours prior to the date of such meeting. Section V: Quorum The presence of seven members of the School Site Council shall be required in order to constitute a quorum necessary for the transaction of business. Section VI: Decisions of the School Site Council Decisions of the School Site Council shall be made by consensus or vote of a majority of its members in attendance, provided a quorum is in attendance. 2014 5
Section VII: Conduct of Meetings All regular and special meetings of the School Site Council shall be conducted in general accordance with Roberts Rules of Order and in a business-like, courteous manner. ARTICLE VIII: Budget Process Section I: Procedures 1. REQUEST FOR FUNDS forms will be available electronically or upon request through the Principal s secretary. 2. The budget request will not be considered unless all areas are completed and accurate. Vendor, date of quote, and costs must be correct so that an accurate budget can be established. 3. Staff members are encouraged to present their request to the Site Council and be prepared to answer any questions. 4. The Site Council will establish the annual budget allocation based on the site goals consistent with Strategic Plan objectives and tactics. ARTICLE IX: Amendments The above bylaws of the Site Council may be amended by a two-thirds affirmation vote of Council members at any meeting when a quorum is present. 2014 6