RULES OF ORDER & PROCEDURE
Sevier School District / North Sevier Middle School
Adopted by the Council on 9/11/24
Expectation of Members:
● Attend council meetings on time and prepared
● Make decisions with the needs of students as the main objective
● Listen to and value diverse opinions
● Be sure the opinions of those the council represents are included in discussions
● Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable
● Act with integrity
Election of Council Members & Election Timeline:
• Elections will be in the Fall of the current school year.
• Notice of Election with candidate forms sent via US mail to each student’s house and posted on website at least 10 days prior to potential election window.
• Any parent/grandparent who wishes to participate on the council will turn in their candidate form by date listed on said form (the school day before election window).
• If needed, election window shall run 1 calendar week.
• Ballots will be sent home with students and need to be returned to voting box in main office. This will also be advertised via available message systems to parents. If applicable, two persons on council will count returned ballots.
Council Make-up:
• The council consists of the principal, an ex officio voting member, 1 school employee, who is/are elected in even years and 2 parent members who are elected in even years, 2 parent members who are elected in odd years.
• When a full council is not seated in the election or a seat is vacated, the parent members of the council shall appoint members to fill unfilled parent positions and school employee members shall appoint school employee members.
• The council shall elect a chair from the parent members and a vice-chair from the parent or school employee members at the first meeting of the year after the council is seated each year. A principal cannot hold office.
• The chair conducts the meetings, makes assignments, and requests reports on assignments. In the absence of the chair, the vice-chair shall conduct meetings. The chair may delegate responsibilities to other council members.
• The council must have a quorum to vote. A quorum is a majority of council members.
• 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.
• Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53G-7-1203. Council actions will be taken by motions and voting with votes and motions recorded in the minutes.
Rules of Procedure:
• Council members will receive training to understand the responsibilities of the council. Council members receive training before preparing and taking action on School LAND Trust Plans and reports.
• 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 and will be posted on the school website. The agenda will include the date, time, and location of the meeting, and any proposed action items.
• Written minutes will be kept of all meetings, prepared in draft format for approval at the next scheduled meeting. Approved minutes will be retained for three years.
• The council will prepare a timeline for the school year that includes dates for all upcoming meetings in order to complete all required reporting and other activities/tasks that the council needs to participate in.
• Agenda will be completed by Chair or appointed designee. It will be sent to all members, at least, one week in advance along with “draft” notes from previous meeting to approve.
• Public is always welcomed at meetings. If a public member attends, they will be asked at the beginning of the meeting if they have comments they would like to make. They will have 2 minutes to make these at designated time on agenda. They must be present at the beginning of the meeting to be able to make said comments.
• The council will use a simplified parliamentary procedure as described below. Chart is for reference.
o A motion is an action to be taken by the council and is stated as a motion. Someone else on the council “seconds” the motion indicating 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 the 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. 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.
o A tie vote is a lost vote.
o Most motions are main motions. A main motion may be amended.
o A point of order is offered when there is some question if the procedure has been followed correctly.
o To stop debate or discussion on a motion and force the vote a member would say, “I move the previous question.” This requires a second and a 2/3 vote.
o Hasty action may be corrected by use of the motion to reconsider. This motion may be made only by one who voted on the prevailing side.
Simple Motions of Parliamentary Procedure
Motion Does it require a 2nd? Is it debatable? Can it be amended? Is a vote required?
Adjourn yes no no majority
Amend a motion yes yes yes majority
Close nominations yes no yes 2/3
Main motion yes yes yes majority
Point of Order no no no ruled on by chair
Previous Question yes no no 2/3
Reconsider yes yes no majority
Withdrawal of motion no no no majority
Council Assignments:
• Prepare/Update School Improvement Plan (SIP) Includes:
o Professional Development Plan
o Reading Achievement Plan
o School LAND Trust Plan
o Digital Citizenship Plan (This plan is entirely created, approved and implemented at the school level, unless one or more councils determine they want to involve other schools in a community-based event.)
• Review the annual report provided by the district and school administration about how student devices are filtered, monitored, and supervised, the management systems used, protocol for reporting breaches, education currently provided to students and parents about safe use of the internet. The report should include what administrators see as the greatest threats and opportunities for students related to interaction with the internet.
o Councils discuss the report and any portions where the council might positively improve internet safety and use by students. Councils should consider student opportunities related to constructive and proactive internet use. If areas are identified for action, the council would prepare and action plan as part of the annual Digital Citizenship Plan. The annual plan will include how students will receive annual training about safe use of the internet. The annual plan will include how parents will be offered training about how to talk to their students about safe use of the internet.