Bylaws of Solorio Elementary School

School Site Council

The following model bylaws are provided by the Etiwanda School District for school site councils to consider for adoption.  The proposed model bylaws comply with all relevant provisions of the California Education Code and California Code of Regulations.  Any proposed changes to the model bylaws are subject to approval by the Etiwanda School District to ensure continued compliance with the requirements of the California Education Code and California Code of Regulations.  Proposed bylaws and any proposed revisions must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for District review and approval. 

Should any provision of a school site council's bylaws need further revision to comply with the requirements of the California Education Code, California Code of Regulations or for the purpose of clarity, the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction will notify the School Site Council Chairperson and the school principal in writing.

ARTICLE I
PURPOSE

The purpose of the Solorio Elementary School Site Council, hereinafter referred to as the school site council, shall be to: 

  • Annually review and upgrade the Single Plan for Student Achievement, including the proposed expenditure of funds allocated to the school for categorical programs.

     

  • Measure the effectiveness of current improvement strategies at the school by analyzing student performance based on state and local data, identifying significant low performance among all student groups, and analyzing instructional programs to determine program areas that need to be addressed in order to raise performance of student groups not meeting academic standards.

     

  • Seek input from other school advisory committees, as appropriate.

     

  • Reaffirm or revise school goals to serve as a basis for school improvement activities and expenditures.

     

  • Revise improvement strategies and expenditures by specifying actions to be taken, dates by which actions are to be started and completed, expenditures needed to implement the action, the funding source, anticipated annual performance growth for each student group, and the means that will be used to evaluate progress toward each goal.

     

  • Approve and recommend the Single Plan for Student Achievement to the Etiwanda School District Board of Trustees.

     

  • Carry out all other duties assigned to the school site council by the district governing board and by state law.

ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS

Unless otherwise required by context and/or law, words used in these rules are understood to have the following meaning: 

  • “Parents” shall be defined as "a person who is the mother, father, or legal guardian, or one acting in loco parentis of a pupil attending the particular school but who is not employed at the school attended by such pupil.”

     

     

     

  • “Classroom teacher” shall be defined as an “employee of the district employed in a position requiring certification qualifications and whose duties require him to teach pupils of the district for at least one full instructional period each schoolday for which the employee is employed.”

     

     

     

  • “Other school staff” shall be defined as a “person who works directly and on a regular basis with pupils, including administrative employees, pupil services employees and classified employees.

     

     

     

  • "Community member" shall be defined as a “person who is neither in the employment of the school district, nor the parent or guardian of a pupil attending the participating school.”

     

     

     

  • “Employed at this school” shall be defined as employed by the Etiwanda School District and assigned office space on the campus of Solorio Elementary School.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERS

Section A: Composition

To ensure parity, the school site council shall be composed of 10 members.  The school site council will be comprised, as follows: 

  • 5 parents and/or community members elected by parents;

     

     

     

  • 3 classroom teachers elected by teachers;

     

     

     

  • Principal of the Solorio Elementary School; and

     

     

     

  • 1 other school staff member elected by other school staff members.

Elected parent representatives may be employees of the school district so long as they are not employed at this school.

The school site council shall name 2 parent or community member alternates who were the next highest vote-getters in the election by parents.

The school site council shall name 1 classroom teacher alternate who was the next highest vote-getter in the election by teachers.

Section B: Elections of Members

Elections shall be held by secret ballot.  Nominations for candidates may be made by peer group or by self-nomination.  Each year, the Principal of Solorio Elementary School shall disseminate information to the school community detailing the election date and nomination deadline.

Each parent shall have one vote in the election of parent members.

Section C: Term of Office

A school site council member shall be elected for a 2-year term.  Half, or the nearest approximation thereof, of each representative group shall be elected during odd numbered years, and the remaining number elected during even numbered years.  At the first regular meeting of the school site council, each member’s current term of office shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.  No member may serve for more than two consecutive terms. At the conclusion of a member’s term, at least one year shall elapse before such member may be selected to a new term. 

The Principal of Solorio Elementary School shall be a permanent member of the school site council.

In the event that no other person (parent or staff member) is willing to serve on the council at the conclusion of a member’s term, the above conditions may be waved.  However, all parents and/or staff members must be informed of the opening and provided an opportunity to be elected by members of their peer group.  When there is at least one new person interested in becoming a council member, a member at the end of his/her term may NOT be reelected to the council in accordance with the above terms. 

Section D: Voting Rights

Each member is entitled to one vote and may cast that vote on any matter submitted to a vote of the school site council.  Absentee ballots shall not be permitted.

Section E: Termination of Membership

Any elected member may terminate his or her membership by submitting a written letter of resignation to the school site council chairperson.

The school site council may, by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all its members, suspend or expel a member if it is determined that the member is no longer fulfilling the duties for which he or she was elected.

The membership of a school site council member shall automatically terminate for the following reasons: 

  • The parent member no longer resides in Solorio Elementary School attendance boundaries.

     

  • The member has had 3 consecutive unexcused absences from meetings.  The member will be provided a written warning after 2 consecutive unexcused absences from meetings.

Section E: Transfer of Membership

Membership on the school site council may not be assigned or transferred.

Section F: Vacancy

Any vacancy on the school site council occurring during the term of a duly elected member upon resignation or termination of a membership shall be filled by the chairperson appointing an alternate to complete the term.  If no alternate is available, a special election of the school site council will be held at the earliest opportunity for the remaining term of the office.

ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

Section A: Officers

The officers of the school site council shall be a chairperson, vice-chairperson, recording secretary and other officers the school site council may deem desirable.

The CHAIRPERSON shall:

  • Preside at all meetings of the school site council according to these bylaws.

  • Sign all letters, reports and other communications of the school site council.

  • Perform all duties incidental to the office of the chairperson.

  • Prepare agenda in conjunction with the SSC committee members.

  • Settle any disputes over the meaning of the bylaws according to the Brown Act (Government Code section 54950 et seq.) and any parliamentary rules adopted by the School Site Council as approved by the Etiwanda School District.

  • Have other such duties as are prescribed by the school site council.

The VICE-CHAIRPERSON shall:

  • Represent the chairperson in assigned duties.

  • Substitute for the chairperson in his or her absence.

  • Perform other duties as assigned by chairperson.

The RECORDING SECRETARY shall:

  • Keep minutes of all regular and special meetings of the school site council.

  • Provide all notices in accordance with these bylaws.

  • Be custodian of the records of the school site council.

  • In the absence of the chairperson and vice-chairperson, substitute for the chairperson.

  • Perform other such duties as are assigned by the chairperson or the school site council.

The PRINCIPAL shall:

  • Provide guidance, input and information to the school site council.

  • Keep a register of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of each member of the school site council, the chairpersons of school advisory committees, and others with whom the school site council has regular dealings, as furnished by those persons.

  • Perform other such duties as assigned by the chairperson or the school site council.

Section B: Election and Terms of Office

The officers shall be elected annually at the first meeting the school year of the school site council and shall serve for one year, or until each successor has been elected.  No member shall hold the same office more than two years in succession.  At the conclusion of a member’s term, at least one year shall elapse before such member may be selected to a new term. 

In the event that no other person (parent or staff member) is willing to serve on the council at the conclusion of a member’s term, the above conditions may be waved.  However, all parents and/or staff members must be informed of the opening and provided an opportunity to be elected by members of their peer group.  When there is at least one new person interested in becoming a council member, a member at the end of his/her term may NOT be reelected to the council in accordance with the above terms. 

Section C: Removal of Officers

Officers may be removed from office for cause or no reason whatsoever by two-thirds vote of all the members.

Section D: Vacancy

The chairperson shall fill a vacancy in any office shall at the earliest opportunity by appointing a member of the school site council for the remaining term of office.  In the event that the chairperson office is vacant, the vacancy shall be filled by a special election of the school site council at the earliest opportunity for the remaining term of the office.

ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES

Section A: Subcommittees

The chairperson or a majority of the school site council may establish and abolish subcommittees of its own membership to perform duties as shall be prescribed by the school site council.  At least one member representing teachers and one member representing parents shall make up the subcommittee.  No subcommittee may exercise the authority of the school site council.

Section B: Other Standing and Special Committees

The chairperson or a majority of the school site council may establish and abolish standing or special committees with such composition and to perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the school site council.  No such committee may exercise the authority of the school site council.

Section C: Membership

Unless otherwise determined by the school site council, the school site council chairperson shall appoint members of standing or special committees.  A vacancy on a committee shall be filled by appointment made by the chairperson.

Section D: Terms of Office

The school site council shall determine the terms of office for members of a committee.

Section E: Rules

Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these bylaws or rules adopted by the school site council, or policies of the district governing board.

Section F: Quorum

Meetings of committees may be held if a quorum is present.  A meeting shall be cancelled if a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time.  A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum, unless otherwise determined by the school site council. 

The act of a majority of the members present shall be the act of the committee, provided a quorum is in attendance.

ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS OF THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL

Section A: Meetings

The school site council shall meet no less than four times per year.  Special meetings of the school site council may be called by the chairperson or by a majority vote of the school site council.

Section B: Place of Meetings

The school site council shall hold its regular meetings at a facility provided by the school, unless such a facility accessible to the public, including handicapped persons, is unavailable.  Alternate meeting places may be determined by the chairperson or by majority vote of the school site council.

Section C: Notice of Meetings

At least 72 hours before a regular meeting, the school site council shall post an agenda containing a brief general description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at the meeting.  The agenda shall specify the time and location of the regular meeting and shall be posted in a location at the school site that is freely accessible to members of the public.  All required notices for regular meetings shall be delivered to school site council and committee members no less than 72 hours, and no more than seven (7) days in advance of the meeting, personally or by mail (or by email).

A special meeting may be called at any time by the presiding officer of the school site council or by a majority of the members of the legislative body, by delivering written notice to each member of the legislative body.  The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed.  No other business shall be considered at these meetings by the legislative body.  The call and notice shall be posted at least 24 hours prior to the special meeting in a location that is freely accessible to members of the public.

Section D: Agenda

The chairperson and the Principal shall prepare the agenda for meetings of the school site council.

Members of the public and members of the school site council may request that a matter within the jurisdiction of the school site council be placed on the agenda of a future meeting.  The request must be in writing and submitted to the chairperson and the Principal with supporting documents and information, if any, at least ten (10) days before the scheduled meeting date.  Items received less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting shall be postponed until the following meeting.

Section E: Quorum

Meetings of the school site council may be held if a quorum is present.  A meeting shall be cancelled if a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time.  A majority of the members of the school site council shall constitute a quorum.

The act of a majority of the members present shall be the act of the school site council, provided a quorum is in attendance, and no decision may otherwise be attributed to the school site council. 

Section F: Conduct of Meetings

Meetings of the school site council shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of order established by Education Code section 35147(c) and with the Brown Act (Government Code section 54950 et seq.)  The School Site Council may adopt parliamentarian rules as approved by the Etiwanda School District.

Section G: Meetings Open to the Public

All meetings of the school site council and of committees established by the school site 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.

ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS

An amendment of these bylaws may be made by a vote of two-thirds of the members creating a quorum at any regular meeting of the school site council and approval by the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction or designee to ensure continued compliance with the requirements of the California Education Code and California Code of Regulations.

Written notice of the proposed amendment must be submitted to school site council members at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is considered.  Once an amendment has been passed by the school site council, the amendment must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for District review and approval.

Bylaws approved September 2011