Last modified: December 17, 2024

SCC Rules of Order and Procedure

A School Community Council (SCC) is established in each school to provide a cooperative means of improving the educational programs and conditions within that school. Its membership should represent school employees and parents or guardians of students. Ideas for discussion topics may be generated by any individual or group in the school community.

Rules of Order and Procedure

To promote ethical behavior and civil discourse each council member shall:

• Attend council meetings on time and prepared
• Make decisions with the needs of students as the main objective
• Listen to and value diverse opinions
• Be sure the opinions of those you represent are included in discussions
• Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable
• Act with integrity

Rules of Procedure

All meetings are open to the public and the public is welcome to attend. 

The agenda of each upcoming meeting with minutes of the prior meeting will be posted on the school website and made available in the main office.  The agenda will include the date, time and location of the meeting. 

Minutes will be kept of all meetings. 

The council will follow the state’s timeline for the school year that includes due dates for all required reporting and other activities/tasks that the council agrees to assume or participate in.  The timeline will assist in preparation of agendas to be sure the council accomplishes their work in a timely manner.

The council consists of the principal, __1___ school employee(s) who is elected in even years, __1___ school employee(s) who is elected in odd years,  and ___6__ parent members, half of whom are elected in even years and half in odd years.  In the event there is a tie vote in an election, the principal shall flip a coin with at least one documented witness to determine the outcome. 

The School Community Council election process is as follows:

• August – Email to parent/guardians asking for self-nominations and nomination biographies due.  If a parent/guardian is nominated and does not wish to participate and/or does not respond when contacted by the school, the individual will be left off the election ballot.  Those interested in participating should be self-nominated.  If for some reason someone is nominated by someone else, that individual can decline the nomination.
• Early September – School Community Council elections start (in-person and online, if meets approval requirements).  If there are exactly as many nominations as there are open seats, those nominated will be appointed to the seats and there will be no elections.
• Mid September – School Community Council elections end. *Adjustments to the election process, including timeline, may occur, as needed.

The council consists of two school employee members including the principal and four parent members. In the event there is a tie vote in an election, the principal shall flip a coin to determine the outcome; ‘heads’ belongs to the candidate whose last name comes first in the alphabet and ‘tails’ belongs to the candidate whose last name comes later in the alphabet.

Elections will be held once annually at the beginning of the school year.

Concerns

• Anonymity: Fair election while ensuring one vote per voter
• Representation: Everyone has the ability to vote but can’t include those not connected to Westridge, etc.
• Representation: Everyone has the ability to vote even if they don’t have transportation to the school or access to the internet.
• Security: Who tallies the votes? How do we ensure impartiality?
• Length of time: hours?

The chair conducts the meetings, makes assignments and requests reports on assignments.  In the absence of the chair, the vice-chair shall conduct meetings. 

The council must have a quorum to vote.  A quorum is equal to a majority of council members.  In order to hold the meeting, there must be a majority of parents.

If a parent member is absent from two consecutive meetings, the chair will notify the member that if the member does not attend the next meeting, the council will consider the seat vacant and the remaining parent members will appoint a parent to fill the unexpired term, if the council and appointee agrees.

Any council member with a conflict of interest related to a vendor or other third party who may profit from allocated Trust Land funds shall disclose said conflict and abstain from voting on any relevant motions.

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.

Simple Motions of Parliamentary Procedure

A motion (or an 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.  Then the council members may provide input and discussion as called upon by the chair.  When discussion seems 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.  Without discussion the chair calls for a vote that must pass by 2/3.  If the vote on the previous question 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 usually used to move business along. 

• A tie vote is a lost vote.
• A main motion may be amended.
• Nominations can be closed by saying, “I move to close nominations.”
• Most motions are main motions.
• A point of order is offered when there is some question if procedure had been followed correctly.
• To stop debate or discussion on a motion and force the vote a member would say, “I move the previous question.” is requires a second and a 2/3 vote.
• Hasty action may be corrected by use of the motion to reconsider. is motion may be made only by one who voted on the prevailing side.
• A person who made the motion may withdraw the same motion.