The primary purpose of the council is for the council members to provide feedback from the student body they represent on student issues. This feedback usually is discussed at council meetings which are held at least once a month after school. The officers and the student council sponsor will consult with proper authority, the superintendent/principal, about the issues. The council represents the student body at many special school functions.

The council also performs fund-raising activities for various events throughout the school year. Council members, with the help of parents and teachers, host school parties for fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight grade students.

Being a member of the Your Middle School Student Council is an honor. It is also a position of responsibility. It is very likely the members of this council will be future leaders in community, government, or business. It is hoped that this experience to serve will help students build the foundation they will need later in life.

The proceeding of this Association will by governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, revised.

The regular monthly meetings will be conducted during out of school time. The time and place of the regular monthly meeting will be determined by the Executive Board and Faculty Advisor. Emergency meetings will be determined by the Faculty Advisor. Meetings are open unless a closed session is necessary and posted 24 hours in advance.

Return your application to Mrs./Mr.______ by 8:00 A.M. DAY morning (MM/DD/YY). Confirmation for your candidacy will be given to you by DAY afternoon, MM/DD/YY.

You may campaign from MM/DD/YY until Thursday, MM/DD/YY at 3:00 P.M.

An assembly will be held on DAY, MM/DD/YY at 2:30 P.M. to introduce the candidates. Candidates must have a speech prepared, telling about yourself, your qualifications, and why you would like to be an officer of Student Council. You may use note cards to help you with your speech or it may memorized. The speech should be at least one (l) minute long, but no longer than two (2) minutes. Speeches must be turned into Mr./Mrs.______________ Tuesday, September 2, 1997 for approval. They will be returned to the candidate by 3 P.M. the same day.

No vulgarity or innuendos

DO use posters (up to (3) three):

Be creative

Be colorful

Use slogans

Put your name & the office you are running for Furnish you own material for the posters Tape posters on the walls in the main hall

The ballots will have the office listed at the top with candidates name listed in alphabetical order under the respective office. An “X” will mark the voter’s choice for each office. Ballots will be counted that morning, MM/DD/YY. Student Council Officers will be announced in the cafeteria during lunch time that same day.

This organization will be known as the Your School Student Council.

Candidates for all offices must file an application with the Faculty Advisor at least eight (8) school days in advance of the first Friday in September stating his or her name, the office being sought, grade level, grades received at the end of the 1996-1997 school year, a short essay of 50 to 100 words stating why the student wants to run for an office in Student Council, and a signed parent consent form.

The Faculty Advisor will notify all candidates of their eligibility no later than two (2) days prior to campaign week. Each candidate must have at least a “C”/or better in each class the last semester of their pervious school year.

Candidates will campaign for office three (3) days before the first Friday in September, beginning at 8:00 A.M. and ending on Thursday at 3:00 P.M.

Printed ballots will be provided containing the offices being sought and the names of all candidates listed alphabetically.

In the event of a tie vote, a run off must be held between the two tie votes. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot.

Ballots will be counted by teachers or school personnel who do not work with the Student Council Officers. The results of the election will be given during lunch time on the first Friday in September, the day of the election.

 SECTION 2 - The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasure will be elected annually in September of the current school year. The Faculty Advisor will be appointed by the Superintendent/ Principal annually in May of the previous school year.

SECTION 3 - No officers of this association will be compensated.

SECTION 4 - Student Council Class Representatives will be elected after 12:00 P.M. on the first Friday in September in their home room following the announcement of the Student Council Officers

SECTION 1 - The Executive Board will have general charge of the work of the Association.

SECTION 2 - The officers of this Association will perform such duties and make such reports as customary pertaining to their respective office.

SECTION 3 - It will be the duty of the President, with the assistance of the Faculty Advisor, to prepare an agenda for the Council meeting (this agenda will be prepared two days in advance of the meeting) and submit a copy to each Council member one day in advance of the meeting. The President will serve as Chairperson of the Executive Board. It will be the special duty of the President to act as the Official Student Host/Hostess for Your School. The President will also discuss Student Council plans with the principal.

SECTION 4 - It will be the duty of the Vice-President to perform the duties of the President if the President is unable to attend a meeting or has resigned. The Vice-President will also make the signs for the hall telling when the Student Council meets.

SECTION 5 - It will be the duty of the Secretary to keep a permanent record of all proceedings and present a full report to all actions and recommendations. The Secretary will read cards sent to the Student Council and write notes for the Student Council.

SECTION 6 - It will be the duty of the Treasurer to keep a permanent record of all financial transactions, receipts, and expenditures with the assistance of the Faculty Advisor.

SECTION 7 - All financial expenditures and transactions must be completed by the last day of the current school year. At least fifty ($50.00) must be retained in the Your School Student Council account for use by the incoming Executive Board and Representatives as approved by the Faculty Advisor.

SECTION I - The Assembly of Representatives will be the legislative body of the Association. It will have the power to transact all business of the Association, to enact legislation relative to the Association, and to make general regulations governing the work. It will hold its first meeting on the second school day preceding the annual election at a time and a place designated by the Faculty Advisor.

SECTION 2 - The Student Council Representatives will be elected by the students in grades five (5), six (6), seven (7), and eight (8). Each grade will have two (2) Representatives per homeroom for a total of eight (8) Representatives in all.

SECTION 3 - The Student Council Representatives will act as liaisons for their homerooms, and relay information from their homeroom and report Student Council information and activities to their homeroom.

SECTION 4 - All voting members of the Your School Student Council will be ex-officio members of Your School C-6 grades five (5), six (6), seven (7), and eight (8) with voice but not voting privileges of the Association.

This Constitution may be altered at any regular meeting of the Your School Student Council by one or more of the following methods:

(A) By a majority vote of the Student Council Officers and Representatives

(B) By a petition signed by at least (9) members of the Your School Student Council

(C) By a majority vote of the Student Body in grades five (5), six (6), seven (7), and eight (8)

Any proposed amendment to the Constitution will be presented in writing to the Secretary of the Executive Board thirty (30) days before the official monthly meeting of the Association at which time it is to be discussed with the Faculty Advisor and the Superintendent/Principal and acted upon. The text of the Amendment will be published and must be read before the Assembly of the Student Body in grades five (5), six (6), seven (7), and eight (8) before it is voted upon.

The Constitution will take effect and be in force on and after its approval by a majority vote of the Your School Student Council Officers and Representatives, present and voting and after presentation to and approval of the Superintendent/ Principal. All former Constitutions for the government of this body will thereafter be null and void.

GRADE LEVEL:______

OFFICE SOUGHT: ___________________________________________________________

List all grades received at the end of your 1996-1997 school year below: Spelling ____ Reading ____ English ____ Math ____ Social Studies ____ Science ____

Any grades for other classes not already indicated may be listed below:

________________________________________________________________________

_____ IF GRADES DO NOT MATCH THOSE ON FILE FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER OF THE 1996-1997 SCHOOL YEAR, THIS APPLICATION WILL BE INVALID.

Why do you want to run for this office in STUCO? Please answer this question in a short essay of 50 to 100 words. Excessive spelling errors, improper paragraph construction, or sloppiness will be grounds for unapproved candidacy.

BALLOT APPROVAL OF YOUR NAME WILL REQUIRE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS, PROVIDING APPROPRIATE INFORMATION AND A PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE. PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSION

Council duties demand a great deal of time both during and after school. The activities require a team effort and performing duties equally and fairly assigned to each member. Your child will be asking you to take them to and from STUCO events throughout the year. This will be in addition to any other commitments they have already made involving extracurricular activities. Student council is important to the development of your child as a citizen but your support will be needed so that they can meet the responsibilities of this organization. Your signature signifies that you have seen this form and are aware of your child’s intention to get involved in Your School Student Council.

_______________________________________________________ ________________ (Parent/Guardian Signature)(Date)

The elected officers and their job description are:

PRESIDENT - plans and conducts meeting - the meetings cannot begin without the presence of a faculty advisor or the assistant faculty advisor - discusses Student Council plans with the principal

VICE-PRESIDENT - directs meetings if the President is absent - makes hall signs stating Student Council meeting dates and times

SECRETARY - keeps minutes of the meetings - reads cards sent to the Student Council - writes notes for the Student Council

TREASURER - handles funds, keeps records and receipts, and reports money-matters to the council

Other officers chosen from among the Student Council Representatives themselves either by ballot or appointment include: the HISTORIAN, REPORTER, AND COMMITTEE CHAIRPEOPLE. Student Council members who are not elected by the students, but work with the Council are the Faculty Advisor and the Principal.

SO,

RULE #1: You must maintain a “C”/or above in each subject (language arts, math, reading, science, social studies, health, art, music, spokes, and P.E.).

RULE #2: Behavior of Student Council Members will reflect GOOD MANNERS and GOOD WILL toward each other and all members of the student body and faculty. If a Student Council Member’s actions require disciplinary action of more than 2 after- school detentions or more than 2 total days of school suspension (in-school or out-of-school) in their year-long term, they WILL be removed from Student Council.

RULE #3: You must be able to work in a co-operative group situation with other students and the adult advisor.

Characteristics of good leaders include: listening carefully, speaking clearly and calmly, understanding and responding to what has been said, communicating and co-operating with the student body and adults, respecting others’ ideas and opinions, and carrying through with job assignments. If you have these qualifications and characteristics, but you are still not sure because you don’t know exactly how to be an officer or representative....DON’T WORRY!....your faculty advisor will be conducting some workshops to give you advice, make sure meetings run smoothly, and boost your confidence.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Your MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL RESIGNATION FORM

I, ___________________________, officially resign from Your Middle School STUCO as of this date____________. I do this of my own free will.

SIGNATURE____________________________

Council activities include: sponsoring school parties, managing the pop machine, managing the concession stand at home volleyball games and 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade basketball games, representing the student body at certain school functions, and assisting in school programs. Funds from many of the STUCO activities provide financial resources for homecoming, 8th grade road painting, shirts for Young Author winners, etc.

Students for the council must file an application to run for the office which consist of a short, properly constructed essay stating their desire for the position. Candidates running for the position must have had a “C”/or better in each class the last semester of their pervious school year.

Once elected, council members, as elected representatives of the school, must maintain a “C”/or better in each class, and model proper attitude and behavior. Being a STUCO member demands time and self-decipline. With this in mind, if a council member cannot spend the time performing their duties on the council, both during and after school, the sponsor, in consultation with the principal and the rest of the council, may remove that member. If a council member’s actions require disciplinary action of more than 2 after-school detentions or more than 2 total days of school suspension (in school or out of school) in their year-long term, they will be removed from Student Council.

Council members who are removed from their position for disciplinary reasons, choose to resign their position, or move away from the school district will be replaced if there is more than two months remaining in the school year. If a class representative position needs filled, an election will be held in the classroom with the candidates filling out the necessary application for the election. If replacement is necessary of a president, vice-president, secretary, or treasurer, those in lower office would replace those in the vacated office (i.e., a secretary would replace a vice-president) and the entire student body would vote on a replacement for the office of secretary.