Attend council meetings on time and be prepared
Make decisions with the needs of students as the main objective
Listen to and value diverse opinions
Be sure the opinions of those you represent are included in discussions
Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable
Act with integrity
All meetings are open to the public and the public is welcome to attend.
The agenda of each upcoming meeting with draft minutes of the prior meeting will be made available to all council members at least one week in advance, will be posted on the school website and made available in the main office.
Minutes will be kept of all meetings, prepared in draft format for approval at the next scheduled meeting.
The council will prepare a timeline for the school year that includes due dates for all required reporting and other activities/tasks that the council agrees to assume or participate in. The timeline will assist in preparation of agendas to be sure the council accomplishes their work in a timely manner.
The council consists of the principal, school employees, and parent members, half of whom are elected in even years and half in odd years. In the event there is a tie vote in an election, the principal shall flip a coin to determine the outcome.
The chair conducts the meetings, makes assignments and requests reports on assignments. In the absence of the chair the vice-chair shall conduct meetings. Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53A-1a-108.1(9)(i).
If a parent member is absent from two consecutive meetings, the chair will notify the member that if the member does not attend the next meeting, the council will consider the seat vacant and the remaining parent members will appoint a parent to fill the unexpired term.
Items on the agenda take priority over other discussions coming before the council. Council action will be taken by motions and voting with votes and motions recorded in the minutes.
The council must determine a procedure for a council member to disclose a conflict of interest if required by the local school board.
A motion (or an action to be taken by the council) is stated as a motion. Someone else on the council “seconds” the motion indicating that at least one other person on the council feels the motion is worthy of discussion. Then the council members may provide input and discussion as called upon by the chair. When discussion seems complete the chair may call for a vote on the motion. Or when a member of the council “calls the previous question” (a motion to end discussion of the first motion), a second is required and then, without discussion the chair calls for a vote that must pass by 2/3. If the vote on the previous question fails the council goes back to discussing the first motion. If the motion to call the previous question passes, the chair directly calls for a vote on the first motion. A vote to call the previous question is usually used to move business along.
Date rules were approved by the Council: 9/20/2021