SHS Student Council Constitution

We are in the process of revising and updating our constitution. The updated constitution will be available for viewing by the end of the year. 

STUDENT COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

SANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL

(revised May 2011)

ARTICLE I

The name of this organization shall be the Student Council of Jesse O. Sanderson High School.

ARTICLE II

The purpose of this organization shall be to develop and practice good citizenship in the student body, to provide direction of school activities, and assist in the management of student concerns.

ARTICLE III

Section  I - The elected leadership of the student council shall consist of the Executive Council, all class council members, representatives of the student body and committee heads appointed by the Vice-Presidents.  Honorary and ex-officio members may be appointed by the executive council.

Section II - Membership shall be maintained in accordance with Wake County School Board Policy 6860, which reads:

Policy No. 6860 shall apply to students participating in the following activities in grades 7 – 12:

1. Athletics

2. Cheerleading

3. Marching Band, including majorette, flag corps, etc.

4. Student Council officers and/or executive council

Students participating in the activities above shall comply with the following eligibility requirements:

Academic Requirements:

1. Must have passed five subjects the previous semester

(NCHSAA) on a traditional calendar or three subjects each term on a 4x4 block schedule.  Note:  Summer school grades may be used as part of the minimum load.  WCPSS does not allow the year-end finals grades to override a deficiency in the second semester grades on a traditional calendar.

2. One of the five classes passed must be English on traditional or must be passed as one of the three when taken on 4x4 block. (WCPS).

3. Cumulative grade point average must be at least 1.50 (WCPS).

EXCEPTIONS:  (1) First semester freshmen do not have gpa’s.

                           (2) If cumulative gpa is less than 1.50 students

                                 may be eligible if

1. gpa for immediate preceding semester is at

least a 2.0.

2. student is on track towards graduation.

3. progress during current semester is at least a 2.0.

4. principal gives approval.

Attendance:

1. Must not have been absent more than the allowed number of days during the prior semester/term (NCHSAA).  These are daily attendance days.  Homeroom attendance records in the permanent files or inquiries directed to the school attendance office usually never answers questions regarding this issue.

2. Must have no more than five unexcused absences in any class during

the previous semester (WCPS).

3. Must have no more than five unexcused absences in any class during

the present semester (WCPS).

4. Must be present all day in order to practice or play that day.

Legitimately scheduled doctors’ appointments are exceptions.  Other

exceptions will require parental contact with the principal (WCPS).

5. May not play or practice during the time assigned to In-School

Suspension (WCPS).

Students participating in the activities listed above must be present for the entire school day unless excepted by a physician.

Students assigned to In-School Suspension programs shall not participate in the activities listed above during the assigned day.

Students participating in interscholastic athletics shall, in addition to the other provisions of Policy No. 6860, comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the NC High School Athletic Association and the State Board of Education.

Student Council Attendance Policy:

1. Students are allowed ONE excused absence and ONE unexcused

absence during one full school year.  An excused absence must be

excused by the advisor well in advance.  Failure to do so will result

in Section III.

2. In the Class Council you will be allowed TWO excused absences and

ONE unexcused absence.  Follow the same procedure as above.

Section III - Students may be removed from the council at the discretion of the

advisors and the administration.  Reasons for dismissal may include but 

                      not be limited to failure to fulfill the duties assigned to you, too many

                      absences, failure to meet required service hours, or by behavior      

                      unbecoming an elected leader.  Procedures for dismissal will be made

                      available to all members.  Students removed from council will have to sit 

out one year before attempting to run for council again.

Section IV - The Executive Council shall consist of a President, Co Vice

Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian and Historian.  

                     The President and the class council presidents will meet once a month.

Section V - Vacancies on the council may be filled in the following manner:

OFFICERS:  In the event that it is necessary to fill a vacated office prior to

the beginning of the school year for which that person has been elected to

serve, the next highest vote getter from original election results shall

assume office.  If the vacancies shall occur after the year is in progress,

the method for filling such shall be:  All offices shall be filled according to

the original voting results, with the exception of the President.  If only one

of the vice presidents is a senior, then that person shall assume the

position of President.  In any other situation the council will vote between

the vice presidents and the vice presidential position that is left open shall

be filled in accordance with the original voting results.

CLASS COUNCIL:  Vacancies will be filled by the next highest vote getter

from the original election results.

ARTICLE IV

Section I - Officers of this organization shall be President, Co  Vice

                      Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian

                      and  Parliamentarian.  Members shall be all elected officers, class council

members, student representatives, and committee chairpersons.

Section II - Duties of officers and member:

PRESIDENT – To conduct student council meetings and executive council

meetings with the cooperation and advise of the other officers and the

council advisor.

To appoint, with the cooperation of the Vice Presidents and the council

advisor, any committee chairpersons.

To plan and distribute meeting agendas to all members.

To serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.

To represent the school in all official capacities.

CO-VICE PRESIDENTS – To assume the role of president in his absence.

To coordinate communication with faculty.

SECRETARY – To record and distribute appropriately minutes of all

student council and executive council meetings.

To assume responsibility for all council correspondence.

To maintain an accurate record of school activities directly related to

student council.

To coordinate the work of the Communications and Publicity Committee.

TREASURER – To organize financial transactions of the council.

To keep accurate records of the council’s financial status.

To make a financial report at all meetings.

To file a financial report with the council secretary.

To coordinate fund raising projects.

HISTORIAN – To keep accurate records of student council events.

To coordinate the student council scrapbook for Honor Council.

To attend district and state conventions.

PARLIMENTARIAN – To maintain order at all meetings.

To count and record all votes at all meetings.

To supervise all council elections.

To coordinate the work of the Elections and Constitution Committee.

CLASS COUNCILS – To report to their class and councils regarding

student council activities.

To bring class concerns and opinions to the council.

To plan activities for class councils.

To coordinate fund raising efforts for their classes.

To carry out school activities assigned to each class.

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS – To organize committee activities and

submit ideas to the executive council for approval.

To report to the full council on the committee’s activities.

ARTICLE V

Section I - ELECTIONS AND CONSTITUTION – Organize and supervise school

elections; evaluate annually the student council constitution and provide

suggestions for revision as needed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICITY – To provide publicity for council

activities and ensure a positive atmosphere of public relations.

Section II - New committees may be formed by the president and executive as

needed.

Section III - Committee Chairpersons and members will serve a term of one school

year.  All chairpersons are subject to recall by the executive council.

Section IV - Every effort shall be made for committee structure to include 

representatives from all classes and to include some representation non-

elected students.

ARTICLE VI

Section I - Election Process – Elections will take place in the spring of each school

year, with the exception of the incoming class who will elect their council

in the fall after they are enrolled at Sanderson.

The order of elections will be:

Executive Council

Class Council

Students may sign up by self-nomination for all positions.  All students are

eligible to vote in any election provided they meet criteria established by

the executive council.  This does not include spring elections for executive

council where seniors are not eligible due to pending graduation. 

 Students running for council must be in good standing with administration 

and faculty.  Students who have been suspended or have other serious 

infractions must appeal to the advisor committee in order to be eligible to 

run for any council.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – All students who are enrolled at Sanderson High

School and who are in accordance with the regulations stated in this

constitution and issued at the time of elections may run for executive

council office.  The candidates for President must be rising seniors with at

least one year of student council, prior leadership experience on a

different club activity, and letters of recommendation from the advisor and

another teacher.  All other offices may be filled by any student having at

least one year of active student council participation with the recom-

mendation of their class council advisors.  Students must have a 75%

                      approval rating from the faculty.

CLASS COUNCIL – There will be 14 students elected to the class council 

at each grade level.  The students elected to class council will elect 

among themselves a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a 

Treasurer, a Historian, and a Parliamentarian.  In order to vote for class 

                      council officers, 2/3 of the council must be present at the meeting in which 

                      the elections are held.  Students must have a 75% approval rating from 

                      the faculty.  Advisors will determine the number of service hours required 

                      for each semester/term.  If service hour requirements are not met the 

                      student will not be eligible to run for any student council position the 

                      following year.  Students currently on a class council must have the 

                      recommendation of their class council advisors.

APPOINTEES – Students who run for class council and do not receive

enough votes to be elected may serve as appointees.  Appointees ARE

eligible to run for a class office and to vote in class or full council meetings

that year.  Student representatives may be chosen at the discretion

of the advisors.

Students must meet the eligibility requirements as stated in Article III.

Section II - The elections committee is responsible for setting all regulations for each

election.  The candidates are responsible for being aware of the 

regulations that affect them and may be disqualified if all regulations are 

not met.  Other elections such as Homecoming court, Winterfest court, 

and Prom courts will be determined by how students are registered in 

WCPSS system according to birth certificate.