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Community Council

RULES OF ORDER AND PROCEDURE

Rules of Order and Procedure

This TEMPLATE is prepared to assist School Community Councils adopt Rules of Order and Procedure as required (53G-7-1203(9)).  The template should be reviewed and amended by councils to meet their needs or councils may develop their own.

Consider addressing how the council will notice for and conduct elections, including how to break a tie vote, how to hold an electronic meeting that is open to the public and declare a conflict of interest (if required by the school board).

ADOPTED BY THE Bloomington Hills COUNCIL  ON September 28th, 2023 

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.(required)

All meetings are open to the public and the public is welcome to attend. (required)

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. (required)

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. (required)

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. (best practice – example on https://www.schools.utah.gov/schoollandtrust/timelines

The council consists of the principal, ___1__ school employee(s) who is/are elected in even years, ___1__ school employee(s) who is/are elected in odd years,  and ___4__ parent members who is/are elected in even years, __4___parent members who is/are elected in odd years.   (Size of the council MUST BE ADOPTED BY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL and consistent with 53G-7-1202.  Elections are required to be staggered with half of the council elected each year.)

The chair conducts the meetings (required), makes assignments and requests reports on assignments.  In the absence of the chair the vice-chair shall conduct meetings. 

The council must have a quorum to vote (required).  A quorum is a majority of council members.

 To assure a quorum can be present, establish a process to remove and replace a member, as needed. (best practice) 

Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53G-7-1203(10).  Council actions will be taken by motions and voting with votes and motions recorded in the minutes. (required)

Simple Motions of Parliamentary Procedure

Used by some organizations to assist those new to the process

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 

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.  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.

  • 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 if procedure had 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. 

Schedules & Minutes

Meetings are held in the Principal’s office at Bloomington Hills Elementary.

Meeting Dates:

September 29,2023 at 10:00 am https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzGwHLmHGdCMcQBpgQxLdLVWdkTg?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

November 3, 2023 at 10:00 am

January 19, 2024 at 10:00 am

March 7,2024 at 10:00 am

April 19, 2024 at 10:00 am


**All meetings are open to the public & greater school community.

Council Responsibilities

  • Review school U-PASS data. U-PASS is a series of student tests.  Councils should review group results but individual data should not be shared. Other assessments may also be reviewed
  • Develop a School Improvement Plan
  • Develop a School LAND Trust Plan
  • Participate in the development of the Professional Development Plan
  • Develop a Child Access Routing Plan
  • Advise the school administration on local school issues
  • Provide an opportunity for issues of concern in the community to be presented to the school administration
  • Develop a Reading Achievement Plan

Council Members


          Elections for the Community Council take place each year in August. This is one of the many ways that we encourage our school community to become involved in the education process.


          Safety:

          Digital Citizenship:

          FYI

          Our School Community Council is primarily responsible for the creation of our School LAND Trust Plan. This plan is created annually by analyzing our school testing data to determine the greatest academic need. The money our school receives from the School LAND Trust fund is allocated according to our plan. Over the years our school has purchased technology to support student learning, books for our leveled library, math manipulatives, science materials, and we’ve been able to hire additional personnel to support targeted learning in small groups. Our school is grateful for the School LAND Trust program and the opportunity we have as a school to allocate the funds to support our targeted and specific needs. The Council assists with school improvement, and make decisions on how to best spend the Trust LANDS funding. More information regarding the work of the Council and the current plan can be found by visiting the School LAND Trust Website: School Land Trust

          Rules-and-Procedures

          TSSA & SLT PLAN: 2023-24 PLAN

          Trustland Funding – Summary

          Trustland funds are approved each year by the school’s community council members. Below are the past and current amounts.

          2019-202020-212021-222022-232023-24

          $55,475

          $

          $68,968

          $65,640

          $75,474.07