Rules of Order and Procedure – School Community Council
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
CONDUCTING A MEETING
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 chair conducts the meetings, makes assignments, and requests reports on assignments. In the absence of the chair the vice-chair shall conduct meetings.
Meetings shall be conducted, and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53A-1a-108.1(10). Items on the agenda take priority over other discussions coming before the council. Council action will be taken by motions and voting with votes and motions recorded in the minutes.
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 and then, 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.
Attached is a chart that could be used if the council felt they would like to use additional motions of Parliamentary Procedure in their meetings.
Simple Motions of Parliamentary Procedure
| 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 tie vote is a lost vote.
- A main motion may be amended.
- Nominations can be closed by saying, “I move to close nominations.”
- Most motions are main motions.
- 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.
Election of the Chair and Vice-chair
After the school community council is seated each year, the school community council shall annually elect at the council’s first meeting a chair and vice-chair. The chair shall be elected from the parent members and the vice-chair shall be elected from the parent or school employee members, excluding the principal. The principal will conduct the election for chair and vice-chair, in that order, according to the following procedure: a) Members interested in either office may use the self-nomination process. Nominations may also be made by other council members. b) Voting shall be by regular voice vote by the school community council. A nominee must receive a majority vote of the council members present. Should no nominee receive a majority vote, further nominations may be made, and subsequent elections will be conducted by secret ballot until a nominee receives a majority. When a vacancy occurs in the office of chair or vice-chair for any reason, a replacement shall be elected for the unexpired term.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
The community council for Reading Elementary will be made up of between 6 and 9 members from our school community with a minimum of 4 parents and 2 staff members. We will maintain a majority of at least 2 more parents than staff members at all times. We will strive to have a representative group of parents from across our school boundaries.
Removal and Replacement
If a member of the council fails to attend three consecutive meetings without being excused in advance or fails to perform the duties of his/her office, the members of the council shall remove him/her from office and declare the position vacant. The position shall be filled by the regularly established election procedure.
Conflict of Interest
A member who has a personal or private interest in any proposed or pending matter which presents a conflict of interest will disclose such interest and will not vote unless the member’s participation is necessary to obtain a quorum or otherwise to enable the Council to act.
Resources (utah.gov)
