Community Council

2023/2024 Community Council Dates and Times

Normal meeting location: Stewart Elementary Conference Room.
Any changes will be noted in the agenda. 

Assessment's School Improvement Plan
      -Scroll to the bottom of the page click 'Stewart Elementary'.
    
 

 

Serving on the School's Community Council

Serving on our School Community Council is a wonderful way for parents and teachers to contribute and help improve academic performance at our school. The school receives an annual dividend from the school trust lands. Our council decides how these funds will be used.

This year our school received approximately $74,769.00 from the School LAND Trust Program! The council reviews and prepares other academic plans for our students each year. All plans are reviewed for final approval by our school board.

Councils also act in an advisory capacity to school and school district administrations. As a council member you address issues such as school safety, digital citizenship, and other school specific concerns raised by the community. You work as a liaison between the community and school administrators.

How to get involved?

Any member of the public is invited to attend a School Community Council Meeting although the ability to comment may be limited by the Council Chair in order to respect time constraints. Council members have made their contact information available for the community to contact them at any time, regarding any concerns.

Public elections are held annually to fill any vacancies on the School Community Council.

Watch for information regarding the elections to be posted here in spring or summer. Elections are held at the beginning of the school year. Candidates will be asked to complete an application and provide a short bio to be posted online. Voting will then take place online via the myDSD portal. Those with the highest percentage of votes will be appointed to fill the vacant spots. If any ties occur the principal will flip a coin to determine the winner. Notification of the election and voting on myDSD will be sent via email to all parents in the community.

Additionally, there may be occasional vacancies during the year that are filled by appointment by the remaining members of the Council. If a vacancy occurs, notice of the vacancy and an application form for those interested in serving will be posted here.

Watch for information on School Community Council elections to be posted here.

 

 

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. However, the ability to comment may be limited by the Council Chair in order to respect time constraints. Anyone participating in side-conversations during Council discussion may be asked to leave the meeting to ensure a respectful environment for discussion.

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, 1 school employee who is elected in even years, 1 school employee who is elected in odd years, and 5 parent members, 2 of whom are elected in even years and 3 in odd years.  In the event there is a tie vote in an election, the principal shall flip a coin to determine the outcome. 

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.

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 feels they would like to use additional motions of Parliamentary Procedure in their meetings.

• 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.

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 appointment by the remaining members of the Council.

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 immediately and will not vote unless the member’s participation is necessary to obtain a quorum or otherwise to enable the Council to act. 

Utah School Land Trust Site