Holmes SSC By-Laws

Holmes SSC By-Laws
BYLAWS FOR THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL

ARTICLE I:  NAME OF COUNCIL

The name of this council shall be the Holmes Jr. High School Site Council (SSC).


	 
ARTICLE II: ROLE OF COUNCIL

The role of this council shall be to: 
1.  Develop and recommend the school improvement plan. 
2.	Have ongoing responsibility to review with the principal, teachers, other
school personnel, and pupils the implementation of the school improvement
program and to assess periodically the effectiveness of such program. 
3.	Annually review the school improvement plan, establish a new school
improvement budget, and if necessary make modifications in the plan to reflect
changing improvement needs and priorities. 
4.	Carry all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it in the Education
Code of the State of California and by the school district's governing body. 


ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Composition 
A.	The council shall be composed of: 
		1.	The principal or his/her designee (1). 
		2.	Representatives of the classroom teachers elected by the teachers at the
school. (4) 
		3.	A representative of other school personnel elected by other staff,
including counselors, librarian, and classified staff (1). 
	4.	Parent  representatives elected by the parent/guardians (3) 
	5.	Student representatives elected by the students of each grade level (3). 
	6.	An alternate shall be elected for each of the above-mentioned groups.  
B.	The council shall be constituted to ensure parity between (a) the
principal, classroom teachers, and other school personnel, and (b) equal numbers
of parent/guardians and students. 
C.	Classroom teachers shall comprise the majority of those representing school
staff. 
D.	The voting membership of this council shall not exceed 12. 
E.	Council members representing parent/guardians or pupils shall not be
employees of the school district. 

Section 2 - Term of Office
The general philosophy of SIP encourages a broad base of involvement. 
Changing membership within the council enables more people to participate. 
However, members are not specifically excluded from seeking another term. 
A.	The principal or his/her designee shall serve continuously. 
B.	Teacher representatives serve two-year terms.  Terms of members are staggered
so that during a given school year two members are in their first year and two
members are in their second year. 
C.	Other school personnel serve a two-year term. 
D.	Parent/guardian representatives serve two-year terms.  Terms are staggered so
that during a given school year one member is in a first year and two members
are in their second year.  The following year, two members will be in their
first year and one member will be in a second year.  In the event that the terms
of all parent/guardian representatives expire simultaneously, or that an elected
parent/guardian representative resigns, or that an elected parent/guardian
representative is terminated, the parent/guardian alternate will serve out the
un-expired, vacated term.
E.	Student representatives from each grade level serve a one-year term.  They
are encouraged to seek a second term. 
F.	All alternates will be elected for one-year terms. 


Section 3 - Election Procedure 
A.	The principal or his/her designee is automatically a member of the school
site council. 
B. 	Teacher representatives are nominated by the classroom teachers.  An
announcement of an opening on the Site Council will be placed in classroom
teachers' mailboxes.  Nominations will be received for two weeks.  Election will
be by written ballot placed in teachers' mailboxes.   
C.	The other school personnel representative is nominated by other staff. 
Nominations will be received for two weeks.  Election will be by written
ballot placed in mailboxes. 
	D.  Parent/guardian representatives are elected by the parent/guardians of
enrolled students.   Nominations are solicited through the school newsletter
and/or through the local newspaper.  Statements from the candidates are
available prior to balloting.  Balloting occurs at Back-to-School Night. 
	E.	A student representative for each grade level is elected by the student
body.   
	1.	The 7th grade representative is elected in the fall for the current school
year 
	2.	The 8th and 9th grade representatives are elected in the spring for the
following school year.   
	3.	The candidates for the student representative will 
	a.	Interview with members of the standing Site Council to ensure that the
council position is one in which they would be interested 
	b.	Submit a 100-word or less statement that that the student body will read
in order to make a decision.   
	4.	No speech will be required of the Student Site Council Representative
candidates. 
F.	The alternate for each of the above mentioned groups shall be elected by
the same process used to elect the voting member.  The alternate student will be
the 8th grade runner-up 

Section 4 - Time of Election for School Site Council Members 
Principal or his designee is automatically a member of the SSC. 
Teacher representatives are elected in the fall. 
Other school personnel representative is elected in the fall. 
Parent/guardian representatives are elected in the fall. 
Student Representatives:  7th grade representative is elected in the fall for
the current school year; the 8th and 9th grade representatives are elected in
the spring for the following school year.   
Alternates are elected at the same time as their regular council position is
elected. 
Term of office for site council members shall begin in September. 

Section 5 - Voting Rights 
Each member shall be entitled to one vote and may cast that vote on each
matter submitted to a vote of the council.  The elected alternates from each
representative group shall vote in the absence of that representative.  Absentee
ballots shall not be permitted.  Unless otherwise agreed to by vote of the
membership, all voting shall be done at a scheduled meeting. 

Section 6 - Termination of Membership 
A member shall no longer hold membership should he or she cease to be a resident
of the area or no longer meets the membership requirements under which he or she
was selected; e.g., a parent/guardian becomes employed by the district. 
(Membership shall automatically terminate for any member who is absent for three
consecutive regular meetings.  Exceptions may be approved by a vote of the
School Site Council. 

Section 7 - Transfer of Membership 
Membership in the school site council is not transferable or assignable. 

Section 8 - Resignation 
Any member may resign by filing a written resignation to the site council
chairperson. Any vacancy on the council shall be filled by the elected alternate
for that position.  The alternate will finish the term of office of the person
whose place is being taken, and a new alternate will be elected when
appropriate. 

Section 9 - Duties of Council Members 
	A.	Council members shall attend all meetings or let the elected alternate
know when it is impossible to attend in person.  Such alternates have full
voting privileges when the regular council member is not in attendance. 
Alternates attend all regular site council meetings. 
	B.	Council members are to accept positions as officers or subcommittee
members when so appointed or elected unless unable to carry out the duties
entailed. 
 	 
 
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

Section 1 - Officers 
The officers of the school site council shall be a chairperson,
co/vice-chairperson, secretary, and such other officers as the council may
deem desirable. 

Section 2 - Election and Term of Office 
The officers of the school site council shall be elected annually and shall
serve for one year or until each successor has been elected. 

Section 3 - Removal 
Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of all members sitting on the
school site council whenever, in the judgment of the council, the best interests
of the council would be served thereby. 

Section 4 - Vacancy 
Any vacancy in any office shall be filled by a special election by the school
site council for the un-expired portion of the term. 

Section 5 - Time of Election of Officers and Replacement of Officers 
Officers for SSC shall be elected and take office at the first meeting of the
school year. 

Section 6 - Chairperson 
The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the school site council and may
sign all letters, reports, and other communications of the school site council. 
(The chairperson will get the agenda to SSC members forty-eight hours before a
meeting.)  In addition, the chairperson shall perform all duties incident to the
office of chairperson and such other duties as may be prescribed by the site
council from time to time. 

Section 7 - Vice Chairperson 
The duties of the vice-chairperson shall be to represent the chairperson in
assigned duties and to substitute for one chairperson during his or her absence,
and the vice-chairperson shall perform such other duties as from time to time
may be assigned by the chairperson or by the school site council. 

Section 8 - Secretary 
	A.	The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the SSC meetings,
both regular and special and shall promptly transmit to each of the members
and to school district official copies of the minutes; see that all notices
are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by laws; be
custodian of the school site council records; keep a register of the address and
telephone numbers of the SSC; and, in general, perform all duties incident to
the office of the secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned to the office by the chairperson or by the school site council.   
	B.	Should both the chairperson and the vice-chairperson be unavailable, the
secretary shall preside at the SSC meeting. 
 
ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES

Section 1 - Standing and Special Committees 
The school site council may from time to time establish and abolish standing
or special committees as it may deem desirable.  No standing or special
committee may exercise the authority of the school site council. 

Section 2 - Membership 
Unless otherwise determined by the SSC in its decision to establish a committee,
the chairperson of the SSC shall appoint members to the various committees. 

Section 3 - Term of Office 
Each member of a committee shall continue as such for the term of his
appointment and until his or her successor is appointed, unless the committee
shall be sooner terminated or abolished, or unless such a member shall cease
to qualify as a member thereof. 

Section 4 - Rules 
Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with
these bylaws or with rules adopted by the SSC or with policies of the
governing board. 

Section 5 - Quorum 
Unless otherwise provided in the decision of the SSC designating a committee,
a majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority
of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the
act of the committee. 

Section 6 - Vacancy 
A vacancy in the membership of any committee may be filled by an appointment
made in the same manner as provided in the case of the original appointment. 
 
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS OF THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL

Section 1 - Regular Meetings 
School Site council shall meet a minimum of once per month during the regular
school year, except by a vote of the council. 

Section 2 - Special Meetings 
Special Meetings may be called by the chairperson or by majority vote of the
SSC. 

Section 3 - Place of Meetings 
The school site council shall hold its regular meetings and its special meetings
in a facility provided by the school and readily accessible by all members of
the public, including handicapped persons.   

Section 4 - Notice of Meetings 
Public notice of regular and special meetings shall be posted at least
seventy-two hours in advance of the meeting.  Notice must include the date, time
and location of the meeting and contain an agenda describing each item of
business to be discussed or acted upon. 

Section 5 – Decision of the School Site Council 
All decisions of the SSC shall be made only after an affirmative vote of a
majority of its members in attendance, provided a quorum is in attendance. 

Section 6 – Quorum 
A quorum of the school site council shall be four school employees (one of
whom shall be the principal or his designee), two parent/guardian
representatives, and two students. 

Section 7 – Amendment 
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership. 	

Section 8—Conduct of Meetings 
All regular and special meetings of the SSC shall follow Roberts Rules of
Order or an appropriate adaptation thereof.  Council or committee members may
act only on items posted on the agenda unless, by a unanimous vote of those
present, the members find there is a need to act immediately on a matter that
came to the attention of the council or committee after posting the agenda. 

Section 9—Meetings Open to the Public 
All regular and special meetings of the school site council and of its
standing or special committees shall be open at all times to the public.  Any
member of the public may address the council or committee during the meeting
on any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the council or committee. 



Revised 5/13/04