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:
Athletics
Cheerleading
Marching Band, including majorette, flag corps, etc.
Student Council officers and/or executive council
Students participating in the activities above shall comply with the following eligibility requirements:
Academic Requirements:
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.
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).
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
gpa for immediate preceding semester is at
least a 2.0.
student is on track towards graduation.
progress during current semester is at least a 2.0.
principal gives approval.
Attendance:
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.
Must have no more than five unexcused absences in any class during
the previous semester (WCPS).
Must have no more than five unexcused absences in any class during
the present semester (WCPS).
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).
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:
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.
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.