Student Council

ARTICLE I: APPELLATION

The name of this organization is the Weston High School Student Council.

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE

The objective and purpose of the Student Council shall be to:

a.   Represent the students of Weston High School
b.   Voice the concerns of the students
c.   Unify the student body through social activities and community service opportunities.

ARTICLE III:  AUTHORITY

Section 1   All powers of the Student Council are delegated to it by the school administration and/or the board of education.

Section 2   All actions of the Student Council are subject to review, and possible veto, by the principal.

Section 3   The principal shall appoint a member of the faculty as an advisor to aid the Student Council in its activities and projects.

Section 4   In order to modify rules and regulations involving the student body, faculty, administration, and staff, the student body co-presidents must bring the consensus of the Student Council to the principal, vice principal, Student Activities Coordinator, and School Council.

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP

Section 1   The council shall consist of registered student members of Weston High School: two senior co-presidents, five representatives from each grade, four School Council representatives, one elected Principal’s Advisory Council representative (two grade representatives shall be appointed additional Principal’s Advisory Council representatives as liaisons), two Regional Student Advisory Council representatives, one secretary, and one treasurer.

ARTICLE V:  OFFICERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1   The elected officers shall be president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. These officers shall serve on the executive committee. The heads of the standing committees shall be chosen as outlined in Article XI.

Section 2   Each class shall be represented by five elected representatives.

Section 3   The four School Council representatives, one elected Principal’s Advisory Council representative, and two Regional Student Advisory Council representatives shall serve as voting members of the Student Council.

Section 4   All elected officers and representatives must be selected according to the election rules established in these bylaws.

ARTICLE VI:  DUTIES OF STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS

Section 1   The co-presidents shall:

a.  Conduct and chair Student Council meetings
b.  Represent the Weston High School student body when appropriate
c.  Set agenda and maintain parliamentary procedure for Student Council meetings
d.  Attend monthly School Committee breakfast meetings
e.  Co-chair the Assembly Committee and conduct the monthly all–school assemblies
f.  Be responsible for announcements made on loudspeaker and/or television
g.  Attend weekly meetings with the principal to facilitate communication among the student body, Student Council, and administration.

Section 2   Each Regional Student Advisory Council (SAC) representative shall:

a.  Attend all Student Council meetings as a voting member
b.  Attend statewide and regional meetings of the Student advisory Council
c.  Attend School Committee breakfast meetings
d.  Attend evening School Committee meetings when appropriate
e.  Provide minutes from all Regional SAC meetings and School Committee meetings for the Student Council
g. Act as a member of the Student Issues Committee.

Section 3   Each School Council representative shall:

a.  Attend all Student Council meetings as a voting member
b.  Attend all School Council meetings and represent the views of the student body to the members of School Council
c.  Provide minutes from all School Council meetings for the Student Council.
d.  Inform the Student Council and Student Issues Committee of important issues facing the School Council
e. Act as a member of the Student Issues Committee.

Section 4   Each Principal’s Advisory Council representative shall:

a.  Attend all Principal’s Advisory Council meetings and give input on conflicts and issues involving the student body, faculty, and school administration
b.  Attend all Student Council meetings as a voting member
c. Act as a member of the Student Issues Committee.

Section 5   The Student Council secretary shall:

a.  Attend all Student Council meetings as a voting member
b.  Record Student Council meeting minutes and present them at the beginning of the following meeting as noted in the agenda
c.  Make minutes available to student body through bulletin boards, websites, and any other appropriate means of communication
d.  Place a copy of the minutes in the binder in the Student Activities Office
e.  Forward minutes of Student Council meetings to members efficiently and methodically
f.  Chair the Communications and Publicity Committee
g.  Take attendance at every Student Council meeting and report all absences to the Review Board.

Section 6   The Student Council treasurer shall:

a.  Attend all Student Council Meetings as a voting member
b.  Manage Student Council funds and bank account
c. Create a budget at the beginning of the school year and revise it as necessary throughout the year, in collaboration with the Finance Committee
d. Present budget status at the beginning of every Student Council meeting as noted in the agenda
e.  Chair the Finance Committee.

Section 7   Each Student Council class representative shall:
a.  Attend all Student Council meetings as a voting member
b.  Represent the views of his or her class at Student Council meetings
c.  Assist the class officers at class functions when appropriate
d.  Report Student Council news and activities to his or her class
e.  Participate in at least one and no more than two standing committees.

ARTICLE VII: ELECTIONS

Section 1  The Elections Committee shall conduct all student government elections.

Section 2   In order to be eligible for any student government position, a student shall have maintained good academic standing for the quarter prior to elections.

Section 3 Candidates for co-president or co-emcee shall have fulfilled the following additional requirements:

a.    One of the two candidates shall have previously served on the Student
Council for a full year
b.  If either of the candidates has previously run, but not been elected to the Student Council, he or she may satisfy the above-mentioned requirement by attending five Student Council business meetings and five Student Council standing committee meetings, as a non-voting member.

Section 4 All candidates elected to office shall serve a one-year term, excluding School Council representatives, who shall serve a two-year term as ordered by Massachusetts state law.

Section 5 Elections for sophomore, junior, and senior student government positions for the following year shall be held in May.  The incoming freshman class shall hold elections for freshman student government positions in September.

Section 6 All students interested in running for an elected student government position must attend all mandatory meetings prior to the elections, unless they are excused by the Director of Student Activities. In addition, students must solidify their candidacies by submitting nomination papers to the Elections Committee and Student Council advisor in accordance to the following requirements: Students interested in running for a position as class officer, Student Council officer, School Council representative, Regional SAC representative, or Principal’s Advisory Council representative shall obtain 50 signatures from other students, excluding the current seniors, to declare their candidacies. All candidates for class officer shall solicit signatures from students of their respective classes only.  Students interested in running for a position as Student Council representative shall obtain 25 signatures from other students, excluding the current seniors, to declare their candidacies. Students signing nomination papers in each case may sign as many papers as they choose, and may sign the nomination papers of multiple students competing for the same position.

Section 7 All candidates for student government shall be required to submit, for approval by the Elections Committee and Student Council advisor, a short speech two weeks prior to elections.  The speech shall be presented to the appropriate audience one day prior to elections.

Section 8 Elections shall be run in the following manner:

a.   The elections for Student Council co-presidents, Regional SAC representatives, Principal’s Advisory Council representatives, and School Council representatives shall take place at the beginning of May.  The candidates shall present their speeches at the May all-school assembly and elections shall take place during a lunch period at least one day subsequent to, and within the week after, the all-school assembly.  The entire student body shall be encouraged and permitted to vote for these positions, excluding the current seniors
b.   The elections for class officers shall take place within two weeks following the above-mentioned elections for school-wide positions. The candidates shall present their speeches at their respective class meetings, which shall take place during an Activities Period. Elections shall take place at least one day subsequent to, and within the week after, the speeches. Students shall only vote for candidates from their respective classes
c.   The elections for class representatives shall take place following class officer elections. The candidates shall present their speeches at their respective class meetings during an Activities Period. Elections shall take place at least one day subsequent to, and within the week after, the speeches.  Students shall only vote for candidates from their respective classes
d.   For all elections, voting shall take place during the lunch period
e.   During the voting process, there shall be two Elections Committee members (who shall be appointed by the Student Council advisor) and an adult faculty member present at all times. Members of the Elections Committee who are running in the current election shall remove themselves from consideration for this duty
f.  Immediately following the voting, the two Elections Committee members shall separately count the votes with the faculty member supervising.  If the counts do not match, the two Elections Committee members shall recount the votes.  If, after the second count, the counts still do not match, the faculty supervisor will recount the ballots.  This decision shall stand
g.   In the event that the candidate or candidate-pair for a position to which one candidate or candidate-pair shall be elected (co-presidents, Student Council secretary, Student Council treasurer, class officer positions) receiving the most votes fails to obtain a majority of votes, a run-off election between the two candidates or candidate-pairs receiving the most votes shall be held the following day.  This decision shall stand
h.   In the event of a tie for a position to which one candidate or candidate-pair shall be elected (co-presidents, Student Council secretary, Student Council treasurer, class officer positions), a run-off election shall be held the following day.  This decision shall stand.  In the event of a tie for the last available position for an office to which numerous candidates shall be elected (Regional SAC representative, School Council representative, Principal’s Advisory Council representative, class representative), a run-off election shall be held the following day.  This decision shall stand
i.   Prior to public announcement, each candidate shall receive a letter indicating whether or not he or she has been elected
j.   The newly elected students for each position shall be announced and posted immediately after school the day of elections
k.   The newly elected students shall assume office the following September; however, the Student Council advisor may require certain newly elected students to attend Student Council meetings and perform Student Council duties beforehand.

ARTICLE VIII:  MEETINGS

Section 1  The Student Council shall meet for business every first and third activity period of each month, unless the council decides by two-thirds vote to forgo the schedule for a particular week.

Section 2   Additional meetings may be called by the co-presidents, the Executive Committee, the principal, the Student Council advisor, or by written request of ten members.  The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the proposal.  Adequate notice is required for a special meeting.

Section 3   All Student Council meetings are open to any member of the Weston High School student body, teacher, and/or administration member.

Section 4   Meetings shall be run by rules of parliamentary procedure as contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with any special rule of order the Student Council may accept.

Section 5   Each meeting shall be run in the following manner:

a.  The minutes from the previous meeting shall be presented by the secretary and then approved or amended by the Student Council
b.  The treasurer’s report from the previous meeting shall be presented by the treasurer and then approved or amended by the Student Council
c.  The co-presidents shall have prepared an agenda in collaboration with the Executive Committee by the Monday prior to each full Student Council meeting.  This agenda shall be presented and approved at the beginning of each meeting.
d.  Any previously tabled votes shall be held
e.  Each specific committee presenting at the meeting shall distribute its handout and present for approximately three minutes.  There shall be a short period for questions and discussion concerning the presentation.  The chair shall then make a motion to vote on any important issues.  A majority vote shall be necessary to pass each motion.

ARTICLE IX:  VOTING PROCEDURE

Section 1 In order to conduct any formal vote, there must be quorum of at least two-thirds of the voting members present.  If a quorum is not present, the vote shall be tabled to the first order of business of the next meeting where a quorum is present.

Section 2 Each elected member of the Student Council, including members of the
Student Council, Principal’s Advisory Council, and student members of School Council, is entitled to one vote, excluding the co-presidents.

Section 3  In the event of a tie, the co-presidents may cast one vote together to break the tie.  This decision shall stand.

Section 4  If the co-presidents cannot reach a unified decision, the vote shall be tabled until it can be retaken at the following meeting, set as the first order of business on the agenda.

ARTICLE X: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 The elected officers and the standing committee chairpersons are the voting members of the Executive Committee. The advisor is a non-voting member.

Section 2  The Executive Committee shall meet at least two days prior to the regularly- scheduled Student Council meeting and plan an agenda, which shall be distributed to the Student Council members before or at the meeting.

Section 3  The Executive Committee shall be subject to the orders of the representative body of the Student Council, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the council.

Section 4  Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the co-presidents, advisor, principal, or upon written request of any three members. At least one day’s notice is required for a special meeting.

Section 5  The Executive Committee shall carry out all duties assigned to it in these bylaws and by the Student Council.

ARTICLE XI: COMMITTEES

Section 1  The Student Council shall maintain seven standing committees.

Section 2   Upon election to the Student Council, every representative shall choose at least one, and not more than two, committees of which to be a member.

Section 3  At the beginning of each school year the elected representatives from each grade shall meet to appoint members to each standing committee.  There shall be at least one representative from each grade on each standing committee.

Section 4  Once the standing committees have been assembled, the members of each standing committee shall elect within themselves one representative to the position of chair.  In order to be eligible for the position of chair, the representative must be a junior or senior.  No representative may be a chair of two standing committees.  If a representative is elected chair of two standing committees, he or she must resign as chair from one of the committees and a new chair shall be elected.

Section 5  Each standing committee shall be responsible for meeting on its own in order to conduct committee business.  The committee is responsible for preparing an oral presentation, which may be accompanied by a supplementary handout, for its assigned full Student Council meeting.  The presentation must answer the following questions: What projects are being planned?  How will they be executed?

Section 6  The seven standing committees shall include the following:

a. Assembly Committee:  The Assembly Committee shall be co-chaired by the Student Council co-presidents.  This committee shall present every third activities period of each month (the second full Student Council meeting of the month).  This committee is responsible for corresponding with the different clubs of Weston High School in order to make important announcements affecting the students of Weston High School at the assemblies.  Games and other fun activities for the student body planned by this committee must be reviewed and approved by the administration.  The co-presidents shall be responsible for bringing a formal plan of the assembly to the Student Council advisor and administration (principal or vice principal) for approval at least one week prior to the scheduled assembly
b. Activities Committee:  The Activities Committee shall present every third activities period of each month (the second full Student Council meeting of the month).   This committee is responsible for organizing dances, or other activities for the enjoyment of the student body including the traditional Bonfire, Pep Rally, and Spring Fling.  This committee shall aim to organize at least one social activity per quarter for the student body.  The Student Activities Coordinator and the Student Council advisor must confirm all plans before their presentation to the full Student Council
c. Community Service Committee:  The Community Service Committee shall present every first activities period of the month (the first full Student Council meeting of the month). This committee is responsible for providing community service opportunities for the entire student body.  The co-chairs must meet with Student Activities Coordinator every month to discuss options and plans at least one week before making their presentation.  This committee shall aim to provide at least one community service opportunity per semester for the student body
d. Student Issues Committee:  The Student Issues Committee shall present every first activities period of the month (the first full Student Council meeting of the month).   All members of School Council, Principal’s Advisory Council and Regional Student Advisory Council shall be assigned ex officio members of this committee.  This committee shall be responsible for ensuring that student views are addressed through monthly surveys that shall be created, distributed, and analyzed by this committee
e. Communications and Publicity Committee:  The Communications and Publicity Committee shall present every first activities period of the month (the first full Student Council meeting of the month).  This committee shall be responsible for developing and maintaining the Student Council website and the Student Council bulletin board. The committee shall also be responsible for coordinating publicity for all Student Council events.  The Student Council secretary shall be assigned ex officio chair of this committee
f. Finance Committee:  The Finance Committee shall present every first activities period of the month (the first full Student Council meeting of the month).  The Finance Committee shall be responsible for organizing fundraisers for the Student Council.  The Student Council treasurer shall be assigned ex officio chair of this committee
g. Elections Committee:  The Elections Committee shall be responsible for running the elections in accordance with the election procedures as outlined in Article VII.

Section 7  In the event that a temporary concern or responsibility arises that is not within the immediate jurisdiction of any standing committee, the co-presidents or Student Council advisor shall create an ad hoc committee. Members of this committee shall be appointed by the co-presidents or Student Council advisor. If necessary, the co-presidents or Student Council advisor shall designate a provisional head of the committee.

ARTICLE XII:  THE REVIEW BOARD

Section 1 The Review Board shall consist of five members of Student Council, appointed by the Student Council advisor following the spring elections (no freshmen may be appointed).

Section 2 The Review Board has three main responsibilities:

a.   Resolving disagreements over the interpretation of the constitution
b. Overseeing the proceedings relating to the addition of amendments to the constitution

i. Any member of Student Council can bring a proposed amendment to the Review Board.  This committee shall then be responsible for approving and presenting the proposal to the full Student Council within two weeks of the proposal.  A vote among the Student Council members shall occur.  A two-thirds vote is necessary to finalize the amendment.

c. Censuring

i. Any student who misses two full Student Council meetings without a valid excuse and/or disregards his or her responsibilities to his or her committee(s) shall receive written censure from the Review Board
ii. If a student misses a third full Student Council meeting, continues to disregard committee responsibilities, or commits an egregious violation of school policy, he or she shall be subject to impeachment and dismissal from office, at the discretion of the administration and Student Council advisor.