Article I

The name of this organization will be Bryson Middle School Improvement Council

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of Bryson Middle School Improvement Council will be to:

• Assist in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the 5-year comprehensive school improvement plan;
• Assist with the development and monitoring of school improvement innovation;
• Develop an annual school report to the parents and constitutes of the school by November fifteenth of each year to provide information on the school’s progress in meeting the school and district goals and objectives;
• Provide advice on the use of school incentive grant awards;
• Serve as a liaison between the school, school organizations, the community, and the local school board by collecting and disseminating information about school improvement; and
• Provide other assistance that the principal may request as well as carrying out any other duties prescribed by the local school board.

The council will not have any of the powers and duties reserved by law or regulation to the local school board.

Article III Representation and Membership 

Bryson Middle School Improvement Council will be composed of 16 members:

• Six parents of students in the school elected by the parents of the students enrolled in the school;
• Three faculty members from the school elected by the faculty;
• Four representatives appointed by the principal. The appointments should include persons from the community that accurately represents Bryson Middle School’s student population;
• Three ex-officio members to include the principal, assistant principal, and the president of the PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association)

Each member (including ex-officio members) will have one vote and absentee ballots or proxy voting will not be permitted.

Article IV Election and Appointment Procedures 

Elections will be held not later that he third Thursday in September of each year and council members will assume their responsibilities immediately. The principal will make appointments within 14 days of the elections after consulting with the newly elected council.

Information about the upcoming election of parent representatives will be printed in the school newsletter along with a nomination ballot. The School Improvement Council will formulate a question for each nominee to answer (e.g., What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected to Bryson Middle School’s School Improvement Council?) and each nominee will provide a written response of 100 words or less. The responses of the nominees will be printed in the school newsletter along with an election ballot and sent home to the parents of every student enrolled in the school.

Ballots will be returned to the school within seven days. The ballots will be counted by three members of the council and be retained for one year by the council secretary.

Teacher representatives to the council will be elected by the faculty during a regularly scheduled faculty meeting.

The names and addresses of all council members will be forwarded to School Improvement Council Assistance (SICA) at the University of South Carolina within 30 days following the elections.

The names of all council members will be published in the first school newsletter following the elections. 

Article V Tenure 

All elected and appointed members of the council will serve two year terms. The terms are to be staggered and determined by lot. Ex-officio members will serve one year terms. No limit will be set on the number of terms a member may serve.

The council may establish committees made up of teachers, parents, business leaders, and other citizens to study specific issues and make recommendations to the council. These committees will not be permanent and will have no responsibilities beyond those outlined by the council when established.

Eected membership on the council will terminate when members: 

• No longer have a student enrolled in the school or no longer live in the school attendance zone;
• No longer hold a teaching position at the school
• Have missed three consecutive scheduled meetings without proper notice to the chairperson; or
• Submit a letter of resignation to the chairperson.

In the event of any of the above situations, the chairperson will appoint, in the case of an elected member, the person with the next highest number of votes in the most recent election. In the case of an appointed member, the principal will select a replacement. The replacement will not serve a full term, but finish the term of the person replaced. 

Article VI Officers 

The officers of Bryson Middle School’s School Improvement Council will consist of a chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary. The officers will be elected annually by the full council membership in the first council meeting of each academic year. At no time will these positions be held exclusively by all parents or all teachers. Ex-officio members are not eligible to be an officer of the council.

Article VII Duties of Officers 

The chairperson will preside at all meetings and have general supervision of the activities of the council. The chairperson will work with the principal in planning and directing the activities of the council including monitoring committee progress.

The chairperson, in consultation with the principal, will prepare an agenda for all council meetings, arrange for the agenda to be mailed to each member at least one week before each meeting, and have the authority to modify the agenda if it is determined to be in the best interest of the council’s work. The chairperson will appoint temporary or standing committees as needed and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.

The vice chairperson will exercise all functions in the absence of the chairperson and assist the chairperson as needed.

The secretary is responsible for:

• Keeping a full and accurate account of the proceedings and transactions of all council meetings;
• Providing a copy of the minutes to the council members, all faculty members, the school improvement council district contact person, and/or other appropriate district administrative staff within one week of the last meeting;
• Preparing any official correspondence that the chairperson may request;
• Maintaining a council file in the school’s administrative offices containing copies of all minutes, council correspondence, the annual school improvement report, the annual summary report, and the current council bylaws; and
• Maintaining a listing of the council membership with current telephone numbers and addresses.

Article VIII Meetings 

The council will meet (at least) quarterly in the school media center on the third Tuesday of each month. Special meetings may be called by the principal or chairperson as long as all council members are notified of the meeting at least 24 hours in advance.

• The first council meeting of the academic year will be called in September.
• A simple majority of the council membership will constitute a quorum if at least one parent and one teacher are present. Council decisions should be made by consensus. If voting becomes necessary, a simple majority will be sufficient for a vote on any issue. All council meetings are open to the public and anyone showing an interest in the council and its activities will be encouraged to attend. Persons interested in presenting at a council meeting may request to be put on the agenda no later that seven days before the meeting date.

Article IX Technical Assistance and Training 

An orientation session will be held annually for all council members that includes information about council roles, responsibilities, and functions as well as information on school and local district policies and procedures. Council members will also attend school improvement council training workshops sponsored by the district office, or the School Improvement Council Assistance (SICA) in the University of South Carolina’s College of Education.

The principal will share information on school activities, successes, and concerns with council members. District personnel will provide information on policies, procedures, budget and other information as needed for the council to fulfill its responsibilities.

Article X Amendments 

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the council by a two-thirds vote of those present provided that the specific amendments have been introduced at a prior meeting, included in the minutes of that meeting, and are listed on the agenda for the current meeting.