Boise-Eliot/Humboldt Site Council

By-Laws (1/18/14)

I. Mission of the Site Council

The mission of the Boise-Eliot/Humboldt Site Council is to provide leadership, direction and support toward the improvement of the student performance and school climate. The scope of the work of the Council is in the following areas:

• Engage the school community in analyzing how students are performing.
• Ensure that the Plan goals address the key areas for improvement.
• Approve and monitor the plan to ensure that the work outlined is being accomplished and it is achieving its goals and District requirements.
• Communicate with and include members of the school community in school improvement.
• Ensure that staff development activities support the Plan.
• Advocate for equity for all students.
• Track and/or keep informed of grants.

The Council will not concern itself with administrative issues related to personnel or day-to-day operations.

The Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century states that: "There shall be established at each school a 21st Century Schools Council. The 21st Century Schools Council, however, shall not interfere with the duties, responsibilities, and rights of the duly elected school boards.

 

II. Membership and Terms of Membership

A. Membership

The Council shall be composed of teachers, parents or guardians of students in the school, community members, the principal or his/her designee, and classified district personnel. The Council may also include persons identified by the school community as having particular benefit for the school, such as community members.

The membership shall be composed of the following stakeholders:

Half of the members shall be teachers comprised of both primary and secondary teachers elected by the teaching staff of the school.

Half of the members shall be parents/guardians of students attending the school and may, if demand requires, be elected by parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school by ballot.

At least one person shall be a classified employee and may, if demand requires, be elected by the classified employees of the school.

One member shall be the principal of the building or the designee of the principal.

Community representatives may be recruited for Council membership and approved by consensus of the Council members.

B. Term of Office

Starting in the 2009-10 school year, the term of office for all members, excluding the principal, shall be two years. There may be a rotation of one half of the members annually. The membership will be August through July of the following year, with positions recruited no later than September 15th of each year.

C. Vacancies

A position left facant for any reason may be filled by a member of the same stakeholder group.

The facilitator may contact any member who is absent for more than two consecutive meetings or more than four meetings in a school year to discuss the member's continuing interest in the Council.

D. Public Meetings Law

The Council is subject to the Public Meetings Law of the State of Oregon and will abide by that law.

III. Roles

 Council roles will consist of a facilitator, co-facilitator, recorder, and timekeeper. Additional roles may be created upon consensus of the Council.

A. Facilitator

The facilitator is elected by the Council for a one year term in mid-September. The duties of the chair include:

• Overseeing the operation of the council.
• Representing the Council and acting as a point of contact.
• Establishing the meeting agenda in consultation with the Council members and the principal.
• Facilitating the council meeting.
• Assisting the council in following its operational agreements.

B. Co-Facilitator

The co-facilitator is elected for a one-year term and fills in for the chair.

C. Recorder

The recorder records, disseminates, and maintains Council minutes.

D. Timekeeper

The timekeeper maintains the timing of eadh agenda item at Council meetings.

IV. Procedures

A. Meetings

Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of the month during the regular school year as scheduled by the Council or as otherwise agreed upon by the members.

Meeting Agreements - Council agrees to:

• Commit to consistent and timely attendance.
• Be honest, supportive, trustworthy, respectful, and value each other's opinions and position.
• Focus on the situation, issue, or behavior; not the person.
• Set a tentative agenda at the end of each meeting. At the beginning of each meeting clearly state the agenda and desired meeting outcomes.
• Participate and make room for others to participate.
• Begin and end the meetings on time.
• Check meeting process and operating agreements periodically.
• Keep updated and accurate minutes and records.
• Be responsible for informing the Council facilitator if he or she cannot attend a meeting and providing them with tasks/information that the team needs to function as planned.
• Create a list of issues for potential discussion on future agendas.
• Stay engaged
• Experience discomfort.
• Speak your truth.
• Expect/Accept non-closure.

B. Decision Making

Council shall use consensus decions making on items requiring action. Consensus means that all Council members can  support the cecision of the Council. Members agree that they will not work against any decision made by consensus. When making decision the Council will clearly summarize the decision to be made and use a variety of tools to determine the level of support.

(In accordance with PAT/PPS contract, prior to implementation of a decision, it will be communcated in writing to the bargaining unit members at the school site. Once a decision has been reached it shall be implemented by all at the site. If requested by 25% of the bargaining unit members, the pending decision shall be put to a vote of the bargaining unit members.)

C. Work Plan

The Council will develop an annual work plan at the beginning of the school year that outlines the major tasks to be accomplished during the year.

D. Communication and Record Keeping

The Council shall keep records of all meetings. Meeting records/minutes shall be provided to each Council member, staff, and faculty member and posted. A copy of all Council minutes will be kept in a notebook in the library.

E. Orientation

The facilitator will assure orientation of new members. The orientation will consist of a review of the Council's by-laws, work plan, and Plan, as well as the relvant information.

V. Amendments

Any proposed amentments to these by-laws shall be presented to the Council in writing at a regularly scheduled meeting where at least 2/3 members are present. The by-laws will be reviewed annually by the Council.

VI. Compliance

The Council shall recognize and observe all laws, regulation, district policies, collective bargaining, and other agreements in its operations.

Maintaining all Council records.