Community Council

School Land Trust

OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED FOR PARENTS:

Our Community Council is an organized group of parents and teachers who meet monthly to discuss the State Trustlands Funding, the School Improvement Plan (90 Day plan), as well as the successes and needs of the school.

Do you want to have a voice and help improve your child's school? Do you want to influence and have a vote in how thousands of dollars of School LAND Trust Funds are spent at your child's school? Do you want to know how they are doing and what needs to improve? At the beginning of each school year parent seats are elected and you are invited to apply at the Dugway Schools Office.

Your student will know that education is important to you when you get involved. You will have input into programs and policies and expenditures at Dugway Schools. You will gain new insight into the education process.

 

Parents and stakeholders of each school are encouraged to be involved with the school community council

Improved student success and wellbeing for ALL students.

Engaged parent representation in decision making will allow for greater equity. A diverse pool of parent viewpoints helps bridge cultural gaps.

Successful parent Involvement on school community councils happens when:

1. Parents and stakeholders understand how they can influence school and student improvement.

2. Parents and stakeholders are willing to work together with the school for continual improvement.

3. Engaged Parents and stakeholders encourage others to get involved.

 

Rules of Order and Procedure

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 you represent are included in discussions

·         Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable

·         Act with integrity

 

Rules of Procedure:

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, will be posted on the school website and made available in the main office. The agenda will include the date, time and location of the meeting.

 

Minutes will be kept of all meetings, prepared in draft format for approval at the next scheduled meeting.

 

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

 

The council consists of the principal, 2 school employee(s) who is/are elected in even years , and 5 parent members, half of whom are elected in even years and half in odd years. In the event there is a tie vote in an election, the principal shall flip a coin to determine the outcome. (Size of the council should be determined by the council, but councils are required to consist of the principal, at least one school employee, and at least four parents with a two-parent majority on the council. Elections are required to be staggered)

 

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 council must have a quorum to vote. A quorum is equal to 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.

 

The council must determine a procedure for a council member to disclose a conflict of interest if required by the local school board.

 

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.

 

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

 

 

A 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.

 

·         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 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.