RULES OF ORDER AND PROCEDURE

JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT - SOUTH VALLEY SCHOOL

SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Adopted by the South Valley School Council on September 19, 2025

Code & Rule References

The Rules of Order & Procedure adhere to all relevant legal requirements for
School Community Councils and the School LAND Trust Program, as outlined in
Utah Code §§ 53G-7-1202, 53G-7-1203, 53G-7-1206, and 53G-7-13, as well as Utah
Administrative Rules R277-477 and R277-491.

Council Duties

In accordance with Utah Code § 53G-7-1202, the responsibilities of the council
include:

Creating (all components of) the School LAND Trust Plan, to include:
- The Goal Statement, Academic Area, Measurement, Action Plan Steps,
  and Expenditures.
Advising and making recommendations to school and school district
administrators and the local school board regarding:
- the school and its programs
- school district programs
- a child access routing plan
- safe technology utilization and digital citizenship
- other issues relating to the community environment for students
Partnering with the school's principal and other administrators to ensure
that adequate on and off-campus Internet filtering is installed and
consistently configured to prevent viewing of harmful content by students
and school personnel.
In accordance with state board rule regarding school community council
expenditures and funding limits: working with students, families, and
educators to develop and incorporate safety principles at the school; and
holding at least an annual discussion with the school's principal and district
administrators regarding safety principles.
Providing input to the school's principal on a positive behaviors plan.

Council Member Expectations

To promote ethical behavior and respectful discussion, each council member
shall:

Attend council meetings on time and come prepared
Make decisions with the best interests of students as the primary focus
Listen to and value diverse opinions
Ensure that the perspectives of those the council represents are considered in
discussions
Be accountable for their actions and expect accountability from others
Act with integrity

Rules of Procedure

Training: Council members will receive annual training to understand their
responsibilities. Training is the responsibility of the local school board.
Open Meetings: All meetings are open to the public, and the public is welcome
to attend.
Meeting Agendas and Minutes:
- The agenda for each upcoming meeting, along with draft minutes from
  the previous meeting, will be provided to all council members at least one
  week in advance.
- The agenda will be posted on the school website and will include the date,
  time, and location of the meeting, as well as any proposed action items.
Meeting Minutes: Written minutes will be taken at all meetings. These minutes
will be prepared in draft form for approval at the next scheduled meeting. Once
approved, minutes will be retained for three years.
Annual Timeline: The council will create a timeline for the school year. This
timeline will include due dates for all required reports and other activities or
tasks that the council agrees to undertake or participate in. The timeline will be
used to help prepare meeting agendas and ensure the council completes its
work efficiently.
Election Procedures:
- The council comprises four parent members (2 with two-year terms, 2 with one-
  year terms) and two school employee members, one being the school principal.
- If more parents are interested than seats available, an election will be held, with
  only parents/guardians voting. A notification will be sent through Parent Square
  at least ten days before the election to notify the public about the election. The notification will include: the date, time, and location (South Valley School) of the election.
- South Valley School will notify parents and guardians via Parent Square during
  the spring about the opportunity to express their interest to the school principal
  if they wish to be considered as candidates for the community council in the
  upcoming school year. They will be given three weeks to respond.
- On election day, parents/guardians will have the opportunity to come to the
  school in the morning to cast their vote in person. They can also mail their vote in
  if unable to attend.
- School employees will be voted on by staff members.
Council Composition: The council’s composition ensures a two-parent majority
and includes the following members:
- The principal (an ex officio voting member).
- 1 school employee member(s), half of which are elected in even-
  numbered years, and half of which are elected in odd-numbered years.
- 4 parent member(s), half of which are elected in even-numbered years,
  and half of which are elected in odd-numbered years.
Filling Vacancies: If a full council is not elected or if a seat becomes vacant,
parent members of the council will appoint individuals to fill vacant parent
positions, and school employee members will appoint individuals to fill vacant
school employee positions.
Removing Members: A council member may be removed from office under the
following circumstances:
- Member Relocation: Council membership may be discontinued when a
  member's relocation prevents them from serving on the council.
- Attendance: The member fails to attend two consecutive regular council
  meetings without prior notification to and approval by the council chair or
  designated officer.

The process for removal is as follows: 1) The council will send a written notice to the
member in question, highlighting the concern of non-attendance or personal issues.
2) The notice will request a response from the member within 14 days to discuss the
situation or provide any relevant information. 3) Upon receiving the member’s
response, the council will evaluate the reasons provided. 4) If the member does not
respond within the stipulated time, the council will proceed with the next steps. 5) After the discussion, the council members will vote on the removal of the member. 6) A two-thirds majority vote is required for the removal to be approved. The procedure for filling the resulting vacancy is outlined in Section 8, 'Filling Vacancies.'

10. Resignation of members: A council member may resign from their position by
providing written notification to the council chair. The procedure for filling the resulting
vacancy is outlined in Section 8, 'Filling Vacancies.'

11. Council Officers: At the first meeting of each year after the council is seated, the
council will elect a chair from the parent members and a vice-chair from either the
parent or school employee members. The principal is not eligible to hold an office.

12. Officer Responsibilities: The chair will conduct meetings, make assignments to
council members, and request reports on those assignments. In the chair's absence,
the vice-chair will conduct the meetings. The chair may delegate responsibilities to
other council members as needed.

13. Quorum: A quorum, which is a majority of the council members, is necessary to
conduct official business and vote. This quorum requirement does not necessitate a
two-parent majority.

14. Reporting Conflicts of Interest: Council members must adhere to the conflict
of interest policy established by Jordan School District. Please refer to Policy DP381 for
detailed guidelines.

15. Parliamentary Procedure: Meetings will be conducted and actions taken
according to simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required by Utah Code §
53G-7-1203. Council actions will be decided by motions and voting, with all votes and
motions recorded in the meeting minutes.

Simplified Motions of Parliamentary Procedure:

Motion	Does it require a 2nd?	Is it debatable?	Can it be amended?	Is a vote required?
Adjourn	yes	no	no	majority
Amend a motion	yes	yes	yes	majority
Close nominations	yes	no	yes	2/3
Main motion	yes	yes	yes	majority
Point of Order	no	no	no	ruled on by chair
Previous Question	yes	no	no	2/3
Reconsider	yes	yes	no	majority
Withdrawal of motion	no	no	no	majority

Understanding the Motions:

Motion: A formal proposal for the council to take a specific action. A motion
must be stated clearly.
Second: Another council member must indicate their support for the motion to
allow it to be discussed and voted upon.
Discussion: Once a motion is seconded, council members can offer their input
and opinions when recognized by the chair.
Voting: After discussion, the chair will call for a vote on the motion. The
outcome depends on the type of motion and the required majority.
Calling the Previous Question: A member can make a motion to end the
discussion on the current motion by saying, "I move the previous question." This
requires a second and a two-thirds (2/3) vote to pass. If it passes, the council
immediately votes on the original motion without further discussion. If it fails,
the council continues discussing the original motion. This motion is typically
used to expedite the meeting.
Tie Vote: A vote that results in an equal number of votes for and against the
motion is considered a lost vote.
Main Motion: This is the primary type of motion used to introduce new
business or ideas. Main motions can be debated and amended.
Amend a Motion: A motion to change the wording or details of the main
motion. Amendments require a second, are debatable, and require a majority
vote.
Point of Order: A member raises a "point of order" if they believe a procedural
error has occurred during the meeting. The chair will rule on whether the point
is valid.
Reconsider: A motion to bring back a previously decided motion for further
discussion and another vote. This motion can only be made by a member who
voted on the winning side of the original motion and requires a second and a
majority vote.
Withdrawal of Motion: The person who originally made a motion can ask to
withdraw it before a vote is taken. This does not require a second or debate and
is usually granted by the chair.
Close Nominations: A motion to end the process of nominating candidates for
an office. It requires a second and a two-thirds (2/3) vote.