Taylors
Elementary
School Improvement Council
(SIC) Bylaws
Article I
Name
The
name of this school council shall be the Taylors Elementary School
Improvement Council.
Article II
Preamble and Purpose
The
intent of these bylaws and guidelines is to bring the Taylors community
and school closer together in a spirit of cooperation to solve difficult
education problems, improve academic achievement, provide support for
teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the school-based
decision-making process. The School Improvement Council shall be
reflective of the school community. The Taylors
Elementary School Improvement Council shall provide advice,
recommendations, and assistance, and represent the community of parents,
teachers, and businesses. Each
member of the School Council shall be accorded the respect and attention
deserving of such a position.
The
Council will:
· Contribute to the
preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the five year comprehensive
school improvement plan;
· Contribute to the
preparation of yearly plan updates;
· Assist with the development
of school improvement and innovation;
· Develop an annual school
report to the parents and constituents 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;
· Coordinate
efforts among the school, school organizations, the community, area
businesses and the local school board;
· Provide
additional assistance that the principal may request as well as carrying
out any other duties identified by the school board of Greenville County
Schools.
The council does not have any of the
duties and powers reserved by law or regulation to the local school board.
All
members of the School Improvement Council are accountable to the
constituents they serve and shall:
1. Maintain
a school-wide perspective on issues;
2. Regularly
participate in school council meetings;
3. Participate
in information and training programs-
4. Act
as a link between the school council, the community, and the constituents
they serve;
5. Encourage
the participation of parents, teachers, and others within the school
community; and
6. Work
to improve student achievement and performance.
Article
III
Representation and Membership
Membership
on the School Improvement Council is open to teachers, parents, and
business representatives and shall include the principal of Taylors
Elementary School. Members of
the School Improvement Council shall be 18 years of age or older.
The Taylors Elementary School Improvement Council will be composed of a
balanced membership comprised of:
· Three
to five parents of students in the school elected by the parents of the
students enrolled in the school
· Three to five teachers from
the school elected by the faculty
· Three to five
representatives appointed by the principal. The appointments should
include one business partner and other persons from the school and
community to balance the council membership
· Ex-officio
members to include the principal, assistant principal, instructional
coach, the president of the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), and
the immediate past chairperson of the School Improvement Council.
Each
member will have one vote and absentee ballots or proxy voting will not be
permitted. Ex officio officers do not have voting power.
Article IV
Election and Appointment Procedures
Elections
will be held no later than the end of May of each year and council members
will assume their responsibilities the following school year. Appointments
will be made with-in 14 days of the elections. A letter of
commitment will be signed at that time.
Voting will be conducted at a general meeting session of parents held in
May. Teacher representatives to the council will be elected by the faculty
during a faculty meeting in September.
Members of the school council shall not receive remuneration to serve on
the school council or its committees.
Article V
Tenure
All elected and
appointed members of the council will serve two year terms with no limit
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.
Membership
on the School Improvement 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; 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, another representative. Candidates for such a position
will be submitted by a two to three person nominating committee. In the
case of an appointed member, the principal will select a replacement. All
replacements will be made with approval of the general committee.
The replacement will not serve a full term, but finish the term of the
person replaced.
Article VI
Officers
The
officers of the Taylors Elementary School Improvement Council will consist
of a chairperson and secretary. The chairperson will be elected by the
previous year’s council. The chairperson will not be an employee
of Taylors Elementary School. The secretary will be elected at the first
council meeting of the academic year. 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. The chairperson, in consultation
with the principal, will prepare an agenda for all council meetings, 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 chairperson will also appoint a two to
three person nominating committee
to replace elected members when necessary.
The
responsibilities of the secretary are as follows:
· Record an accurate account
of the proceedings and transactions of all council meetings;
· Provide
copy of the minutes to the council members, all faculty members, and/or
other appropriate district administrative staff within one week of the
last meeting;
· Prepare any official
correspondence that the chairperson may request;
· Maintain a 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
· Maintain
a listing of the council membership with current telephone numbers and
addresses.
Article VIII
Meetings
The council
will meet a minimum if eight meetings each school year. Additional 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. All
meetings of the School Improvement Council shall be held at Taylors
Elementary School in a location designated by the school principal. Council
decisions should be made by consensus. If voting becomes necessary,
a simple majority will be sufficient for a vote on any issue. Robert's
Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the governing parliamentary
authority for school councils in all cases applicable but not inconsistent
with these bylaws. 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 by contacting the chairperson.
Article IX
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 and is
sponsored by the district office, the Professional Development Section of
the South Carolina State Department of Education, or School Improvement
Council Assistance (SICA) in the University of South Carolina s College of
Education. Training and technical
assistance is available from the district, the State Department of
Education, and SICA.
Article X
Amendments
These bylaws may be
amended at any regular meeting of the council by a majority 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.
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