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|  | | | | What are EXPO Site Council's By-laws? | | BY-LAWS
EXPO FOR EXCELLENCE
SCHOOL BASED SHARED DECISION MAKING COUNCIL
Approved May 6, 1999
Amendments: March 2000
ARTICLE I
NAME
This organization will be named EXPO for Excellence School Based Shared Decision Making Council and also will be referred to as EXPO School Council or the Council.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Expo School Council was formed to carry out the school’s decision to operate within the philosophy of school based shared decision making. EXPO School Council is a representative decision-making body committed to the development of a common philosophy and vision to support the educational and social needs of all Expo learners. The Council will facilitate problem solving by all stakeholders within the school and in the community, and will sustain a multicultural, gender fair and disability-aware environment that promotes learning.
ARTICLE III
OPERATING PHILOSOPHY
The purpose of the EXPO School Council will be carried out in a manner that recognizes three fundamental realities: (1) that State Law and school district regulation mandate that the principal has ultimate authority for the operation of the school; (2) that the principal is obligated by school district regulation to adhere to the concept of school based shared decision making; and (3) that the EXPO School Council has a formal, legal Site-Based Agreement with the school district defining the authority of the School Council and the school district. EXPO School Council and the principal will work cooperatively to encourage decision-making by stakeholders at as local a level as possible within the school environment. EXPO School Council will seek to concentrate its attention upon significant matters affecting the basic philosophical tenets of the school.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERS
Voting members of the EXPO School Council shall include representation from:
1. STAFF: Principal, union steward, educators representing the kindergarten, primary, and intermediate families of learners, and other employees in the building.
2. PARENTS: Intended to represent the various families of learners, and obtain participation reflecting cultural diversity, special needs, and gender balance.
3. Membership shall be 18 voting members, and shall include nine (9) Expo parents and nine (9) Expo staff representing the following groups:
- One EXPO School Principal
- One staff representative from the Garden
- One staff representative from the Primary Grades
- One staff representative from the Intermediate Grades
- One staff representative from Support Services
- One staff representative from Resources (including resource specialists, LD, ESL, and Special Education)
- One staff representative from Discovery Club / Staff at large
- One representative from the Union
ARTICLE V
TERMS OF OFFICE
Members of the EXPO School Council shall serve for three years with 1/3 of the membership elected each year. A member may also fill the balance of a three year term of a member resigning prior to the completion of their full term. Members may not be reelected for at least one year after the expiration of their term. A term of membership begins at the beginning of the Council meeting in the first June following election, and ends immediately prior to the beginning of the June Council meeting three years later. This article does not apply to the principal, whose term shall be continuous.
ARTICLE VI
PROCESS FOR SELECTING MEMBERS
Nomination procedures shall be announced, publicized and executed by the EXPO School Council in a manner that encourages open participation from all stakeholders, (Staff, parents, and community members). Nominations will be opened in March. Each stakeholder group shall elect their own representative(s) by the end of May, except that representatives from the community will be solicited by the EXPO School Council, and shall be approved upon consensus vote at the May EXPO School Council meeting. For purposes of these by-laws, persons serving in the Early Speech and Language Program and Discovery Club are considered EXPO community members.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS
EXPO School Council shall be served by two-chairs, at least one whom must be a parent of an EXPO learner, and by a treasurer and a secretary. Only members having completed one full year of membership may serve as officers, and only members beginning their second year of membership are eligible for election to co-chair. However, the Council may appoint a treasurer who is not a member of the Council if none of the members accepts the position. Officers shall be elected by the voting members of the Council at the June Council meeting following the Council’s annual election of members at the preceding May Council meeting. The co-chairs shall preside over meetings, serve as an advisory resource for consultation with the principal as needed, solicit and receive committee reports on a regular basis and with the Operations Committee, shall set meeting agendas, make referrals to committees or other school resources as defined by the scope of the Operations Committee. The treasurer shall maintain the budget of the Council, supervise the accounting of School Council funds, and authorize disbursement of those funds as directed by the Council. The secretary shall compile and distribute meeting minutes, and shall oversee communication between the Council and the school community.
Co-chairs shall serve a term of two years, and those terms shall be staggered to insure continuity. All other officers shall serve one year terms, subject to re-election.
ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES
The EXPO School Council maintains the following standing committees: (1) Curriculum: (2) Community Connections, Marketing, and Communications; (3) Finance and Budget; (4) Funding and School Activities; (5) Facilities; (6) Operations. On at least an annual basis, the Council shall designate the chair or co-chairs of its standing committees, shall determine and review the focus of and charge(s) to each standing committee, and monitor the activities of those committees. The Council shall also appoint task-oriented and ad hoc committees as necessary to undertake tasks designated by the Council. Committees are accountable to the EXPO School Council on a regular basis.
Membership on EXPO School Council is not required to serve as a member or chair of any committee but at least one member of School Council shall sit on each committee to serve as liaison between the committee and School Council.
ARTICLE IX
DECISION MAKING
Issues for consideration by the EXPO School Council shall be determined by the Operations Committee. The co-chairs shall utilize appropriate procedures designed to solicit from all stakeholders issues to be considered by the Council. Where the Operations Committee agrees that an issue presented to them should not be considered by School Council, they shall refer the party proposing the issue to a committee or other school resource for assistance. Except when other methods are required by these by-laws and providing a quorum is in existence, decisions of the Council may be reached by an affirmative vote of a simple majority of members of the Council. Once a decision is reached by the above steps, it is the responsibility of the Council members to support the decision though it may not be everyone’s first choice.
ARTICLE X
MEETINGS
Site Council shall hold at least one regularly scheduled monthly meeting throughout the year including summer at a time and location determined by the Council. Notice of meetings shall be sent to members, staff and parents. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the principal or the co-chairs.
The agenda for a meeting shall be determined by the co-chairs no later than one week before the next scheduled meeting. Any party wishing to submit an issue to be considered for placement on the agenda for a meeting must do so in the manner prescribed by the co-chairs prior to the time in which the agenda for that meeting is required to be set. Co-chairs shall have the authority to place a matter on the agenda as needed.
ARTICLE XI
QUORUM
A quorum of members must be present to conduct business. A quorum consists of 50% of the members, and no less than three parent members and three staff members.
ARTICLE XII
VACANCIES
In the event of a vacancy on the EXPO School Council, the remaining members shall elect someone to fill the vacancy until the next annual election, at which time a member shall be elected for the balance of the unexpired term. Any person named or elected to fill a vacancy for less than one year shall not be considered to have served a year of membership.
In the event of a vacancy in an officer position, the Council shall elect a member to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of office.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
Proposed changes in the by-laws must be submitted to the EXPO School Council at a regular meeting, and a vote on the proposed amendment may not be taken until at least the next regular Council meeting. Any proposed amendment must be communicated to stakeholders between the meeting at which the amendment it proposed and the meeting at which the vote will be taken. These by-laws shall be adopted or amended by vote of 75% of Council members, and any requirement of these by-laws can be waived by the same vote as is required for amendment.
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SCBYLAWS.pdf
Approved on May 6, 1999 & amended March 2000
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