RULES OF ORDER AND PROCEDURE
SOUTH VALLEY SCHOOL
SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL
ADOPTED BY THE SOUTH VALLEY SCHOOL COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 6, 2023
To promote ethical behavior and civil discourse each council member shall:
- Attend council meetings on time and be prepared
- Make decisions with the needs of students as the main objective
- Listen to and value diverse opinions
- Be sure the opinions of those the council represents are included in discussions
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- Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable
- Act with integrity
Rules of Procedure:
Council members will receive training to understand the responsibilities of the council. Council members receive training before preparing and taking action on School LAND Trust Plans and reports.
All meetings are open to the public and the public is welcome to attend.
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, and will be posted on the school website. The agenda will include the date, time and location of the meeting, and any proposed action items. If school happens to be cancelled the day of the meeting, the meeting will be held virtually at the same designated time.
Written minutes will be kept of all meetings. Approved minutes will be retained for three years.
The council consists of four parent members (2-two year term, 2-one year team) and two school employee members, one of which is the school principal. If more parents are interested in serving than the number of seats available, an election will be held. The school employees will be voted on by staff members. The only caution is that once you have committed to your team we encourage you to be an active participant in the committee. If a member is unable to fulfill their commitment, an election will be held or a new member will be appointed by the remaining council.
Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53G-7-1203(10). Council actions will be taken by motions and voting with votes and motions recorded in the minutes.
The chair conducts the meetings, makes assignments, and requests reports on assignments. In the absence of the chair, the vice-chair shall conduct meetings.
A motion, or 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. The council members then provide input and discussion. When discussions seem 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 ⅔. If the vote on the previous motion 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 used to move business along.
The council must have a quorum to vote. A quorum or simple majority is required to take action. A tie vote is a lost vote. A main motion may be amended. Most motions are main motions.
A person who made a motion can withdraw a motion. 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.