CONSTITUTION

OF THE

W.E.BOSWELLHIGH SCHOOL

STUDENT COUNCIL

Proposed: March 2016

ADOPTED: March 7, 2016

CONSTITUTION OF W.E.BOSWELLHIGH SCHOOL

STUDENT COUNCIL

Preamble

We, the students of Boswell High School, in order to instill American ideals and promote the democratic principles of government in the youth of today, to foster friendly relations among pupils, faculty and community, to create group unity and develop school devotion, and to be of the greatest service in our school, do organize ourselves under the following constitution.

Article I – NAME AND PURPOSE

Section IThe name of this organization shall be W. E. Boswell High School Student Council.This organization will be composed of the following two bodies:

  1. Executive Board - which includes officers and committee chairmen
  2. Representatives – students who have met the requirements for running.

Section IIThe purpose of this organization shall be to provide an orderly means by which the members of this student body may participate in governing themselves and in planning and coordinating their activities and organizations.

Article II – MEMBERSHIP

Section IOfficers

  1. President
  2. Vice-president
  3. Secretary
  4. Treasurer
  5. Parliamentarian

Section IIChairmen of the following committees

  1. Publicity
  2. Pride and Patriotism
  3. Energy and Environment
  4. Spirit
  5. Community Service

Section IIIRepresentatives from each class shall consist of everyone who files for representative and meets the requirements for running.

Section IVAll members must maintain a required number of points as outlined in an approved point system in order to be in good standing.

Section VAnadvisor or advisors appointed by the principal shall advise and help present subject material to the student council.

Article III – QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS

Section IAll student council members must have an overall 75 grade average requirement the previous year.

Section IIAll student council members are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct set forth by the Eagle Mountain – Saginaw Independent School District.

Section IIIMembers will bring suggestions to the attention of the council for their consideration.

Article IV – SELECTION of Officers and Chairmen

Section I Those applying for a position as anofficer

(President, Vice president, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian)

are to be evaluated by rubricsas outlined in the application packet based on the following criteria: Attendance, essay, interview,teacher evaluations and member vote. Applicants for president must have previous experience as a committee chair or officer prior to running for president. Applicants must submit an application packet and meet all deadlines prior to the member vote.The nominees with the highest score of said process will be named officers. The selection process is to be completed and officers named by April 29, 2016. Selected officers will attend the summer workshop the summer after they are selected and or be in leadership class. Upon selection, officers will sign and adhere to the officer contract.

Section IIEach committee will have a chairman. Those applying for chairman are to be evaluated by rubrics as outlined in the application packet based on the following criteria: Attendance, essay, interview, teacher evaluations and member vote.Applicants must submit an application packet and meet all deadlines prior to the member vote. The nominee with the highest score of said process will be named committee chair.The selection process is to be completed and chairmen named by May 27, 2016. Chairmen should make every effort to attend the summer workshop for the school year in which they are selected and or be in leadership class. Upon selection, chairmen will sign and adhere to the committee chair contract.

Section IIIThe representatives will be selected by May2, 2016.

Section IVIf there is only one candidate signed up for each office, they must still go through the selection process. If they meet the criteria, the candidate will be selected by acclamation.

Section VMembers of the executive board must be either in the leadership class for the year they are on the board and/or attend summer workshop the summer they are selected.

Section VI If officers and chairmen cannot be in the class, they must check in weekly by communicating with committee and advisor(s)by email. If officers and chairmen must miss a meeting, they must notify the advisor byemailwith a valid reasonfor the absence to be counted excused.

Section VII In the event that an office is or becomes vacant, the duties for that office or chair will be absorbed by the other officers and or chairmen.

Article V – REQUIREMENTS FOR RUNNING

Section ICandidates must have a 75 overall grade average for the current school year.

Section IICandidates for all offices and committees must be a full time student at W. E. Boswell High School. Candidates must be an active member with no more than 3 unexcused absences to apply for the office or position they are seeking.

Section IIICandidates must have more S’s than N’s in citizenship during each grading period of the current school year.

Section IVCandidates must have no more than one U in citizenship for the current school year.

Section VCandidates must not have more than one (1) placementin SAC, suspension, or ADC for the current school year.

Section VICandidates must receive at least a satisfactory recommendation from 3 out of 5 teachers from the current school year.

Article VI – REASONS FOR PROBATION

Section IMembers will be placed on probation for a grade below 70 in one grading period.

Section IIMembers will be placed on probation for more N’s than S’s in citizenship in one grading period.

Section IIIMembers will be placed on probation for failure to maintain the required number of points.

Section IVProbation period shall be one grading period.

Article VII – REASONS FOR DISMISSAL

Section IMembers will be dismissed for assignment to SAC for more than three days, suspension, or ADC.

Section IIMembers will be dismissed for being academically ineligible (any grade below 70) for two consecutive grading periods, not necessarily in the same subject.

Section IIIMembers will be dismissed for having more N’s than S’s for two consecutive grading periods.

Section IVMembers will be dismissed for more than one U in citizenship anytime during the year.

Section VMembers will be dismissed for failure to make up required number of points when on probation the previous grading period.

Section VIMembers will be dismissed for missing four regular meetings with unexcused absences throughout the entire year (does not have to be consecutive).

Section VIIIf a member is dismissed due to SAC, suspension, or ADC, upon satisfactory completion of disciplinary time the student may petition to be reinstated to current position for the remainder of the school year. Their request will be brought before a committee comprised of an administrator, at least one student council advisor, and the student council president and/or vice-president.

Article VIII – DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Section IAll selected officers must attend a summer leadership workshop sponsored by TASC and or be in leadership class.

Section IIAll selected officers and committee chairmen are members of the executive board. The executive board will meet prior to regular meetings to prepare the agendas and activities for committee work. Attendance to these meetings is mandatory and the attendance requirements apply to these meetings.

Section IIIPresident

  1. Preside over meetings.
  2. Preside over assemblies.
  3. Act as intermediary between faculty and students.
  4. Receive visitors of Boswell campus.
  5. Represent the student body at school, district, and civic events and meetings.
  6. Plan regular meetings with advisors and other officers.
  7. Prepare the Outstanding Student Council report form by spring convention.
  8. Preside over chairmen as they carry out their duties and complete projects.

Section IVVice-president

  1. Preside in president’s absence.
  2. Assist the president in their duties.
  3. Appoint committees with council’s consent.
  4. Coordinate work of committees. Encourage chairmen to carry out their duties and complete projects on time.
  5. Keep accurate records of points.
  6. Assist the president and advisor with the Outstanding Student Council report form to be completed by spring convention.

Section VSecretary

  1. Prepare agendas for meetings. Agendas must be typed and run off prior to each meeting.
  2. Take and distribute minutes of meetings. Minutes should be posted on the website.
  3. Check roll.
  4. Assist the vice-president in recording points.
  5. Give announcements of meeting to principal.
  6. Handle all correspondence of the Student Council.

Section VITreasurer

  1. Keep accurate record of all financial activities.
  2. Keep accurate record of all receipts and expenditures.
  3. Report financial situation at council meetings.
  4. Coordinate all fund raising projects.
  5. Serve as chairman of the Teacher Appreciation committee.
  6. Develop and execute projects recognizing all staff members.
  7. Help prepare the Outstanding Pride and Patriotism report form by spring convention.

Section VIIParliamentarian

  1. Have a thorough knowledge of correct parliamentary procedure.
  2. Assist and advise in conducting meetings in accordance of correct parliamentary procedure.
  3. Check members every grading period on meeting grade requirements.
  4. Serve as chairman of the D.A.S.H. committee.
  5. Develop and execute projects addressing education and awareness of issues concerning drugs, alcohol, safety, and health.
  6. Prepare the Outstanding D.A.S.H. report form by spring convention.

Section VIIIPublicity Committee

  1. Serve as chairman of the committee.
  2. Shall write an accurate account of the activities sponsored by the Student Council for newspaper articles and public relations.
  3. Documents student council events and makes scrapbook.
  4. Make sure all activities are properly publicized and reported.

Section IXPride and Patriotism Committee

  1. Serve as the chairman of the committee.
  2. Develop and execute projects involving pride in country, community, school and self.
  3. Work with the Spirit and Teacher Appreciation committee chairmen to complete the Outstanding Pride and Patriotism report form by spring convention.

Section XEnergy and Environment Committee

  1. Serve as the chairman of the committee.
  2. Develop and execute projects that address education and awareness of energy and environment issues.
  3. Prepare the Outstanding Energy and Environment report form by spring convention.

Section XIISpirit Committee

  1. Serve as chairman of the committee.
  2. Develop and execute projects to increase school spirit in all areas, including academics and all co-curricular activities, not just specifically athletics.
  3. Work with the Teacher Appreciation and Pride and Patriotism chairmen to complete the Outstanding Pride and Patriotism report form by spring convention.

Section XIII Community Service Committee

  1. Serve as chairman of the Community Service committee.
  2. Develop and execute projects to serve the school and community.
  3. Prepare the community Service report form by spring convention.

Article IX – MEETINGS

Section ITime

  1. The first official meeting shall be prior to the beginning of the new school year to be determined as need arises.
  2. Thereafter, meetings will be held on the first and third Mondays of each month unless that Monday falls on a holiday. There will be no meetings during holidays.
  3. The advisor(s) may call special meetings with the approval of the principal.

Section IIRules of Council Meetings

  1. Two-thirds of the Student Council membership will constitute a quorum.
  2. Meetings will be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section IIIExecutive Meetings

  1. The officers and advisor(s) will meet to discuss what subject material will be introduced in the council meetings.
  2. The meetings will be held prior to each regular meeting at a time and place to be determined by the advisor and president.
  3. Executive meetings shall be attended by all officers and standing committee chairmen.

Article X – COMMITTEES

Section I The following committees are standing committees.

  1. D.A.S.H. – will handle all drug, alcohol, safety, and health projects.
  2. Publicity – will be responsible for publicizing all activities sponsored by the council.
  3. Teacher Appreciation – will keep lines of communication open between staff and students.
  4. Energy and Environment – will handle all projects involving energy and environment issues.
  5. Pride and Patriotism – will sponsor projects encouraging pride in self, school, community, and country, as well as patriotism.
  6. Spirit – will encourage school spirit and pride.
  7. Community Service – will sponsor projects that support the school and community.

Section IICommittee meetings

  1. Committee meetings will be held prior to regular council meetings.
  2. Committee chairmen shall keep notes on business handled by the committee and report to the vice-president and advisor.
  3. A file shall be kept by the chairman on work done by their committee and a roll check for committee meetings. Summaries of each individual project shall be placed in a binder.
  4. Committee chairmen shall designate another committee member to conduct committee meetings should they be unable to attend.

Article XI – DUTIES OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL

Section IThe Student Council will in some manner make regular reports of its activities to the student body.

Section IIThe Student Council will be in charge of planning and coordinating assemblies, activities, and special events of the student body.

Section IIIThe Student Council will be in charge of conducting elections and voting for Student Council officers and will set forth all rules and requirements for carrying out these elections.

Section IVAt the end of the year the Student Council will prepare a full report of its activities for its own evaluation and the student body that it serves.

Article XII – VETO POWER

Section IThe principal will have the power of veto on all that is proposed by the Student Council.

Article XIII – AMENDMENTS

Section IThis constitution may be amended by a three-fourths majority vote in the Student Council and approval of the principal.

Article XIV – RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

Section IFor this constitution to be ratified it must pass through the Student Council with a three-fourths majority vote and approved by the principal.