Como Park Senior High School Site Council
By-Laws
November 12, 2007
Article I
Name
Section 1.01. The name of this organization shall be the Como Park Senior High School Site Council, hereafter referred to as the Site Council or Council.
Article II
Vision and Mission
Section 2.01. Pursuant to District guidelines and policies, the Site Council will ensure that the School’s vision and mission and the Council’s By-Laws are attained.
Como Park Senior High School’s Vision Statement: As a community we stretch for the horizon to attain a diverse community bound together by our commitment to prepare our young people to become caring, productive citizens in a changing world.
Como Park Senior High School’s mission statement: To provide a rich learning environment that challenges and supports all students in finding and developing their own gifts and continuing the journey to reach their potential.
Section 2.02. The mission of the Como Park School Site Council is to ensure a rich learning environment that challenges and supports all students in finding and developing their own gifts and continuing the journey to reach their potential. As a community we stretch for the horizon to attain a diverse community bound together by our commitment to prepare our young people to become caring, productive citizens in a dynamic and changing world.
Section 2.03. The decision-making role of the Site Council will be appropriate to the group's advisory role in the school, will respect the roles and authority of the principal and committees and will evolve with the support of the school’s principal, staff, students and parents.
Article III
Members
Section 3.01. The Site Council’s membership will comply with Minnesota State Law and District Guidelines.
Section 3.02. The Site Council shall consist of 15 voting members. Family, student and community membership will represent the diversity of the school’s community. Staff membership will represent the diversity of the school’s community. Staff membership will be as diverse as possible while respecting the staff’s choice of which school committees they join. Staff and community have agreed upon the following membership composition.
1. 4 teachers
2. 4 parents/family members
3. 4 students
4. 1 non-licensed staff member
5. 1 community/business representative
6. principal (non-voting)
7. union steward
Section 3.03. The Site Council will have alternate members who may attend the meetings but may vote only when representing a missing member and assigned to that position by the Co-Chairs. There will be 2 parent/family member alternates, 4 student alternates and 2 teacher alternates.
Section 3.04. Site Council members are expected to regularly attend Site Council meetings and arrange for an alternate, or name a proxy for voting purposes.
Article IV
Terms of Office
Section 4.01. The usual minimum term length is two (2) years, with the exception of students who serve a one (1) year term. The Site Council may choose to accept a member who can commit to only one year.
Section 4.02. There is no maximum limit to length of service on the Council. However, when a member’s term expires, he/she must be re-elected/re-selected by the regular process.
Section 4.03. Terms of office will be staggered to provide membership continuity. In even-numbered years, two teachers, two parents/family members, and one business community representative will be selected. During odd-numbered years, two teachers, two parents/family members, and one non-certified staff member will be chosen. Students will be elected annually by the Student Council. The principal and union steward are automatically members.
Article V
Process for Selection of Members
Section 5.01. Nomination procedures shall encourage and facilitate open participation from all members of the staff, parents, students and community. The selection process will be announced annually, publicized and overseen by the Site Council. Selection shall be made in September of each year for open positions.
Section 5.02.
1. Teachers/Staff –A continuing staff Site Council Representative will collect nominations from the staff and hold an election,
2. Parents/Family Members- CPSHS Parent Group will elect new members
3. Community Members
4. Students- elected by Student Council membership
Article VI
Vacancies
Section 6.01. A voluntary resignation or three (3) consecutive absences of a Council member determine vacancies. After two consecutive absences, the member shall receive a phone call and written notice from a Council Co-Chair.
Section 6.02. In the event of a vacancy on the Council, the members of that constituent group shall meet and select someone to fill the vacancy until the next annual election/selection. At that time a member shall be elected/selected for the balance of the expired term.
Section 6.03. Any elected Site Council member shall be subject for removal from membership on the council for cause when at least three-fourths (75%) of the Council’s remaining members are in agreement.
Article VII
Officers
Section 7.01. The Site Council Officers will consist of three-Co-Chairs – one teacher/staff member, one parent/family member, and one student. The Council may also have members serve as Secretary or Treasurer.
Section 7.02. Officers will be elected annually by the new Site Council membership, following its election/selection.
Article VIII
Quorum
Section 8.01. At each meeting, the presence of at least sixty-percent (60%) of the Council’s members/alternates shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 8.02. The Council shall strive for full attendance.
Article IX
Meetings
Section 9.01. All Site Council meetings are open to everyone, as stated in the Site Based Improvement Agreement. Guests will agree to follow the Council’s ground rules.
Section 9.02. At the meeting of the Site Council that follows the annual election/selection, meeting dates shall be established for the succeeding year. Dates will be published in each school newsletter and posted on the school’s web site. Other methods of publicizing may be utilized at the discretion of the Officers.
Section 9.03. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the principal, the Co-Chairs, or three or more Council members. Members will be notified, when possible, ten days in advance of the meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the Council members calling the special meeting to notify all members and to provide the agenda.
Section 9.04. Agendas
1. The Co-Chairs and Principal are responsible for preparing agendas for regular scheduled meetings.
2. Any Council member may suggest an agenda item by the due date established by the Council for submitting items.
3. Agendas will be approved by the Council at the beginning of each meeting.
Section 9.05. Anyone (staff member, student, parent/family member, community member) may present an issue to the Council in writing or during a meeting at the designated time. For each issue, the Co-Chairs and Principal will decide if it is a Council issue and/or it needs referral to an individual (e.g. Principal) or to another school committee or group. The Council can create a task force to address an issue not covered by existing committees. The issue’s sponsor can be invited to discuss the issue with the Council. All people who submit issues will receive a response and be told to whom their issue was referred.
Article X
Communication
Section 10.01. Members of the Site Council will ensure that there is two-way communication about Council activities with the people they directly or indirectly represent.
Section 10.02. The Site Council will use a variety of communication strategies, including but not limited to the following:
1. The school at large will receive general Council information through the school newsletter and the school website.
2. All staff will receive agendas before meetings. Parents and students will receive agendas through email and the school website. Copies will also be available in the office.
3. Minutes will go to all staff via email. Minutes or a summary will be in the school newsletter and on the School’s website.
4. A Site Council Action Plan (who will do what by when) will be recorded at each meeting and distributed to Council members.
5. A Site Based Improvement/Site Council Notebook will be available to everyone as a public resource book and archive and located by the principal secretary's desk.
Article XI
Committees
Section 11.01. To encourage greater participation and communication by all school staff, parents/family members, students and community, the Site Council shall create task-oriented ad hoc and standing committees as necessary, including any district recommended committees.
Section 11.02. The Site Council will work collaboratively with the school’s committees and parent organizations, in order to improve student achievement by developing the school’s effectiveness, efficiency, communication and collaboration. The Council and committees will report to each other and work together on projects.
Article XII
Decision Making
Section 12.01. The Site Council will work with respectful regard for the authority and responsibilities of school individuals, committees and groups. The Council will collaboratively problem solve with others when they are working on the same issue.
Section 12.02. Decisions will be made by consensus. If the Council determines that consensus cannot be reached, a vote will be taken. The percentage vote necessary for an issue to pass will usually be two-thirds (2/3).
Section 12.03. Each membership position will constitute one vote.
Section 12.04. Issues not passed may be referred back to the originator, to an existing committee, or to a short-term task force.
Section 15.05. The Site Council shall adhere to rules, regulations and policies of the Board of Education and the District, the laws of local, State and Federal Government and contractual agreements, unless an exemption has been granted from such rule, regulation, policy or agreement by the appropriate parties agencies. The Site Council shall demonstrate ethical practices in its operations.
Article XIII
Amendments to the By-Laws
Section 13.01. These By-Laws shall be adopted or amended/changed at any time by consensus of two-thirds (66%) of the full Site Council membership.
Section 13.02. These By-Laws shall be reviewed annually for amendments/changes.
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