IRVINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

LAKESIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL BY-LAWS

 

ARTICLE I: PHILOSOPHY

 

We believe that the education of each student is the responsibility of the teacher, the parents, the administration, and the students. Our programs focus on the education of the total person based on his/her needs.

 

 

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

 

1. The responsibility of the SSC is both decision-making and advisory.

2. The purpose of the SSC shall be to develop a school improvement plan and to participate in school walk-throughs.

3. The SSC shall maintain communications with the School Board, students and community.

4. The SSC shall approve the annual school improvement budget.

5. The SSC shall update the school improvement plan on a continuing basis.

 

 

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

 

1. The SSC shall consist of 12 official members. One member shall be the principal of Lakeside Middle School. Four members shall be certificated staff members. One additional member shall be the principal’s secretary. Three members and one alternate shall be parents of students attending Lakeside Middle School elected by parents at the annual Back-to-School Night. Three members and one alternate shall be students attending Lakeside Middle School elected by students.

 

2. The elected parents of seventh graders shall serve a two-year term. Seventh grade students shall serve a two-year term. Two students and two parents shall represent each grade level, with the alternates being at the seventh grade level.

 

3.  Should a vacancy occur on the council, the person with the next highest number of votes shall be asked to fill the position

 

 

ARTICLE IV: ELECTION OF STUDENTS:

 

Students wishing to apply to be a SSC member shall meet the following requirements:

1. They must submit the application form including a personal statement.

2. The application must be signed by the parent, signifying permission to attend after-school meetings and permission to miss class for walk-throughs.

3. The application must also be signed by the advisor.

4. The candidate must have no grade lower than a “C” and no N’s or U’s.

5. The student statements shall be presented to the seventh graders for secret voting in advisement. (Names of nominees will appear with their statements.)  The students with the two highest number of votes shall be elected the representative and alternate.

6. Habitual non-attendance at meetings shall be grounds for removal from the council.

 

 

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

 

1. Meetings shall be held at Lakeside Middle School in the Media Center.

2. Meetings shall be held immediately after school. Meeting dates shall be established at the first meeting in the fall.

3. The calendar of meetings will be distributed with the minutes.

4. Special meetings may be called if needed. Such meetings shall require advance notification.

5. A quorum shall be defined as 51% of the membership.

6. Most votes shall be by verbal response and will include official members as well as alternates. Should formal balloting be required, official members shall have one vote each.

7. A standard agenda format will be created by the principal’s secretary. Agendas will be posted in advance of each meeting. Agenda additions and changes shall be requested at the beginning of each meeting.

8. All meetings shall be open to the public. Parents, community members, students and teachers shall be encouraged to attend.

 

 

ARTICLE VI: RECORDS

 

1. Minutes shall be recorded, corrected and distributed at each meeting of the SSC. The principal’s secretary shall be in charge of recording and distributing the minutes. Copies of the minutes shall be distributed to all members of the SSC.

2. All SSC minutes and reports shall be maintained by the principal’s secretary and in the curriculum library.

 

 

ARTICLE VII: ACCOUNTABILITY AND DECISION-MAKING

 

1. The SSC shall act in an advisory capacity only. The advice of the SSC shall be directed to the principal to be shared with the staff members. The accountability and responsibility for any decisions and actions taken as a result of advice from the SSC shall be the sole responsibility of the principal.

2. The SSC shall make recommendations for school improvement and change when appropriate.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII: EDUCATION

 

1. A brief orientation program shall be provided during the first meeting of the year.

2. Ongoing education programs shall be provided on identified needs and requests. An attempt shall be made to provide a program with each meeting.

 

 

ARTICLE IX: BY-LAWS PROTOCOL

 

1. The SSC shall develop policies and procedures as necessary. These may include, but are not limited to, the establishment of annual objectives and the monitoring of such.

2. These by-laws may be amended after the submission of the proposed amendment at a meeting. To be adopted, an amendment shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present.

3. These by-laws shall be adopted annually by a majority vote of the membership at the first SSC meeting of the year.