School Site Council By-Laws

 

San Diego Unified School District
Finance Division
Strategic Planning for Student Achievement Department
SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL BYLAWS
2022-23
ARTICLE I
Duties of the School Site Council


The School Site Council of ___Carson Elementary STEAM Magnet__ School, hereinafter
referred to as the council, shall carry out the following duties:
● Obtain recommendations for, and review of, the proposed School Plan for Student
Achievement (SPSA) from all school advisory committees.
● Develop and approve the SPSA and related categorical expenditures in accordance with all state and federal laws and district regulations.
● Recommend the SPSA and categorical expenditures to the SDUSD Board of Education for approval.
● Provide ongoing review of the implementation of the SPSA with the principal, teachers, and other school staff members.
● Make modifications to the SPSA whenever the need arises.
● Submit the modified SPSA for district approval whenever a material change (as defined in district governing board policy) is made in planned activities or related categorical expenditures.
● Regularly evaluate the progress made toward school goals to raise the academic
achievement of all students.
● Carry out all other duties assigned to the council by the SDUSD Board of Education and by state law.

ARTICLE II Members

Section A: Composition* (EC 65000)
The council shall be composed of the following members, the principal, [classroom] teachers elected by other [classroom] teachers, other school personnel elected by other school personnel, parents elected by other parents, in secondary schools students elected by the entire student body,
and community members elected by such parents. Classroom teachers are the majority on the school staff side. Each member has equal voting rights.

ELEMENTARY MODEL
Parents/Community Members 50%
School Staff 50%
● Parents must have a child currently enrolled in the
school.
● Parents/community members not
employed at the school site.
● Principal (automatic member)
● Minimum of three (3) Classroom Teachers
● Minimum of one (1) Other School Personnel
(certificated or classified)
Classroom teachers must be in the majority
Minimum of five (5) Minimum of five (5)

SECONDARY MODEL
Parents/Community/Student Members 50%
School Staff 50%
● Parents must have a child currently enrolled in the
school.
● Parents/community members not employed at the
school site.
● Students must be currently enrolled in the school
and shall be elected by the entire student body.
● Nomination forms will be made available to
students. All students nominated by their peers
MUST accept the nomination prior to their name
being placed on the official ballot.
● Once the official ballot has been
created, the currently enrolled students
will vote for student members.
● Principal (automatic member)
● Minimum of three (3) Classroom Teachers
● Minimum of one (1) Other School Personnel
(certificated or classified)
Classroom teachers must be in the majority.
Minimum of five (5) Minimum of five (5)
The principal is responsible for the elections of staff members.

At the elementary level, the council shall be constituted to ensure parity. Half of the
membership shall be (a) principal (1), classroom teachers (3) and other school personnel (1); and half shall be (b) parents, or other community members elected by the parents (5). The council make up is no fewer than 10 members*.
At the secondary level, the council shall be constituted to ensure parity. Half of the membership shall be (a) principal (1), classroom teachers (3) and other school personnel (1); and half shall be (b) parents or community members elected by the parents, and students elected by the entire
student body (5). All students are eligible to run for the SSC student office. The council will be  made up of no fewer than 10 members*. Middle schools and alternative schools may select either the Elementary or Secondary Model (EC 33133-[9] [c]]).
Parent Members A parent is a person who is a mother, father, or legal guardian of a student attending a particular school, but not employed at the school attended by such student. Council members chosen to represent parents may be employees of the school district so long as they are not employed at the school site (EC 65000 [2] [d]).
Classroom Teacher Members
A classroom teacher is an employee of the school whose duties require him/her to provide direct instruction to pupils for the full time he/she is employed and has a student roster.
Other School Personnel - Other school personnel is defined as a person who does not provide direct instruction to pupils for the full time for which he/she is employed. This category may include classified staff, non-classroom teachers, and administrative staff other than the principal.
Student Representatives (Secondary Model)
Any student enrolled at the school with which the council is affiliated is eligible for election as a student representative.
Community Members (Examples to choose from can include)
A community member, defined as an adult who resides or spends the major portion of each workday within the attendance area of the school. A community member is neither a student at the school, a parent, a member of the staff, administration, or classified staff of the school with which the council is affiliated nor a community member within the district boundaries.
The council shall be composed of 10 members (Elementary Model) or 10 members (Secondary Model) members, selected by their peers, as follows:
✓ Classroom teachers (must be the majority of staff composition)
✓ Other school personnel
✓ Principal (ex officio member)
✓ Parents or community members
✓ Students (secondary)

No subcategory representation is allowed. (English Learner (EL), Gate and Talented Education (GATE), Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), San Diego Education Association (SDEA), Site Governance Team (SGT), K-1, 2-3, etc.)
The school principal shall be an ex officio member of the council. The principal or his/her designee shall attend all SSC meetings; however, only the principal may vote on actions.
Council members chosen to represent parents may be employees of the school district as long as they are not employed at the school site.

Section B: Term of Office
Council members shall be elected for two-year terms. Half, or the nearest approximation
thereof, of each representative group, shall be elected during odd years, and the remaining number of elected members during even years. At the council's first regular meeting, each
member’s current term of office is recorded in the minutes of the first SSC meeting for the current school year.

Section C: Voting Rights
Each member of the council is entitled to one vote and may cast that vote on any matter submitted to a vote of the council. SSC alternate members are not allowed to vote in the absence of a voting member. Absentee (proxy) and any electronic votes shall not be permitted.

Section D: Termination of Membership
The council may, by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all its members, suspend or expel a member for the following reasons,
● The member can no longer uphold the duties for which elected.
● The (parent) member no longer has a student enrolled at the school.
● Automatic termination for unexcused absences from three consecutive meetings (written warning to be given after the second missed meeting (optional).
Any elected member may terminate his or her membership by submitting a written letter of resignation to the council chairperson.

Section E: Transfer of Membership
Membership on the council may not be assigned or transferred.
Section F: Vacancy
Any vacancy on the council occurring during the term of a duly elected member shall be filled by:
a. SSC appointment of the candidate from the original election who obtained the next highest  number of votes.

ARTICLE III
Elections of Council Members
● The school principal is a standing member of the council
● Elections for each membership category must be conducted separately and may not be on the same ballot.
● Classroom teacher elections will be held in September:
− The classroom teacher membership will be elected into rotational positions for two
years.
− Nominations and elections are conducted by classroom teachers.
− Only classroom teachers vote for classroom teachers.
● “Other” school personnel elections will be held in September.
− The “other” staff membership will be elected into rotational positions for two years.
− Nominations and elections are conducted by “other” school personnel.
− Only “other” school personnel vote for “other” school personnel. Classroom
teachers are not allowed to vote for this membership category.
● Parent/Community Member representative elections will be conducted in September.
− Nominations and elections will be conducted by the school office staff.
− Announcement of the nominations will be included in the May, June, and
September issues of the school newsletter, via school messenger, and school
website. The announcement will also be posted on the school marquee.
− Nominations will be accepted in September.
− Only parent members can vote for parent/community members
• Student representative elections will be conducted in September.
− All students are eligible for student member positions. The entire student body will
have the opportunity to participate in student elections.
− During the month of September, nomination forms will be made available to
students.

− All students nominated by their peers MUST accept the nomination prior to their
name being placed on the official ballot.
− Once the official ballot has been created, the currently enrolled students will vote
for student members.
− The students who receive the most votes will be the student members; the student
receiving the next highest number of votes will be the student alternate.
− Only students vote for student members.
All election ballots and result records will be maintained at the school site for five (5) years.


ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section A: Officers
The officers of the council shall be a chairperson, vice/co-chairperson, secretary, and other officers the council may deem desirable.
The chairperson shall:
● Collaborate with the principal in developing agendas and reviewing minutes prior to
posting.
● Preside at all meetings of the council.
● Sign all letters, reports, and other communications of the council.
● Perform all duties incident to the office of the chairperson.
● Have other such duties as are prescribed by the council.
The vice/co-chairperson shall:
● Represent the chairperson in assigned duties.
● Substitute for the chairperson in his/her absence.
The secretary shall:
● Keep minutes of all regular and special meetings of the council.
● Transmit true and correct copies of the minutes of such meetings to members of the
council and the school website.
● Provide all notices in accordance with these bylaws.
● Keep a register of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of each member of the council, the chairperson of school advisory committees, and others with whom the
council has regular dealings, as furnished by those persons.
● Perform other such duties as assigned by the chairperson or the council.

● The SSC can designate a non-SSC staff member to be secretary as long as the
person does not participate during the meeting such as making motions and voting.
Section B: Election and Terms of Office
The officers shall be elected annually, at the first meeting of the council, and shall serve for one year, or until each successor has been elected.
Section C: Removal of Officers Any officer may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of all the members.

Section D: Vacancy
A vacancy in any office shall be filled at the earliest opportunity by a special election of the council, for the remaining portion of the term of office.

ARTICLE V
Committees
Section A: Sub-committees
The council may establish and abolish sub-committees of their own membership to perform duties as shall be prescribed by the council. At least one member representing classroom teachers and one member representing parents shall make up the sub-committee. No sub-committee may exercise the authority of the council.
Section B: Terms of Office
The council shall determine the terms of office for members of a committee. A two-year term is optimal.
Section C: Rules
Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these bylaws or rules adopted by the council, or policies of the district governing board.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings of the Council
Section A: Meetings
The council shall meet regularly on the _____ school day of each month. Special meetings of the council may be called by the chairperson or by a majority vote of the council.
Section B: Place of Meetings
The council shall hold its regular meetings at a facility provided by the school, unless such facility that is accessible to the public, including handicapped persons, is unavailable. Alternate meeting places may be determined by the chairperson or by a majority vote of the council.

Section C: Notice of Meetings

1. Written public notice of all meetings shall be given at least 72 hours in advance of the
meeting.
2. Changes in the established date, time, or location shall be given special notice.
3. All meetings shall be publicized in the following venues:
Website, public display in the office, on public display outside of the school office, and
notify all stakeholders via school communication (school messenger, communication app,
etc.).
4. All required notices shall be delivered to council and committee members no less than 72 hours, and no more than three days in advance of the meeting, personally, or by mail or via email.
Section D: Quorum
The act of the majority of the members present shall be the act of the council, provided a quorum is in attendance, and no decision may otherwise be attributed to the council. A majority of the members of the council (50 percent plus 1) shall constitute a quorum.
No actions may be taken unless a quorum has been established.
Section E: Conduct of Meetings
Meetings of the council shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of order established by the California Education Code Section 35147 [c] [1] (Greene Act). The district recommends the use of Robert’s Rules of Order or an adaptation thereof approved by the council.
Section F: Meetings Open to the Public
All meetings of the council, and of committees established by the council, shall be open to the public. Notice of such meetings shall be provided in accordance with Section C of this article.
Public input may occur on any item on the current agenda, with prior notification to the chair, not to exceed three (3) minutes per speaker. Per the Greene Act, open public comment must occur
before agenda items have been discussed, and can also (optional) take place before the meeting is adjourned.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
An amendment of these Bylaws may be made at any regular meeting of the council by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present. Written notice of the proposed amendment must be submitted to council members at least three days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be considered for adoption.

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