RULES OF ORDER & PROCEDURE

Sevier School District / South Sevier Middle School

Adopted by the Council on  10/01/2024, reviewed annually

To promote ethical behavior and civil discourse, each council member shall: 

• 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 

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. (School Land Trust Video will be shared, School Land Trust Training Video Link )

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 due dates for all required reporting and other activities/tasks that the council agrees to assume or participate in.  The timeline will assist in the preparation of agendas to be sure the council accomplishes its work in a timely manner. 

South Sevier Middle School Community Council will determine the number of meetings needed to accomplish the work each year. The first meeting will be held by October 15th each year. 

The council shall establish a timeline for the election, including notifying the election at least ten days in advance of it taking place.  

Parents will be notified of the option to serve on South Sevier Middle School’s Community Council no later than the last week of August each school year. Parents will be made aware of the opportunity to serve on South Sevier Middle School’s Community Council through a notice on the school's public calendar, and interest forms will be sent home the last Monday of each August.  The interest forms will be due back to the school office no later than the Friday following the first Tuesday of September. Ballots will be prepared and sent home the following Monday.  Elections will be open for 10 school days beginning the day ballots are sent home. Parents/guardians may cast their vote using the ballot that will be sent home, or they may stop by the school and cast their vote in the office. 

The council consists of the principal, an ex officio voting member, 1school employee(s), who is/are elected in even years, 1 school employee(s) who is/are elected in odd years,  and 3 parent members who are/are elected in even years, 3 parent members who are/are elected in odd years.  The council will consist of a two-parent majority. 

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.  

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. 

Simple Motions of Parliamentary Procedure 

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 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 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.

• A tie vote is a lost vote.

• Most motions are main motions.  A main motion may be amended.

• A point of order is offered when there is some question of whether the procedure has been followed correctly.

• 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.

• 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.

• A person who made the motion may withdraw the same motion.