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BYLAWS FOR THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL
ARTICLE I
NAME OF COUNCIL
The name of this council shall be the Sakamoto Elementary School Site Council (SSC).
ARTICLE II
ROLE OF COUNCIL
The role of this council shall be to:
1. Develop and recommend the school improvement plan.
2. Have ongoing responsibility to review with the principal, teachers, other school personnel, and pupils the implementation of the school
improvement program and to assess periodically the effectiveness of such programs.
3. Annually review the school improvement plan, establish a new school improvement budget, and if necessary make modifications in the plan to reflect changing improvement needs and priorities.
4. Carry all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it in the Education Code of the State of California and by the school district's governing body.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 - Composition
A. The council shall be composed of:
1. The principal or his designee (1).
2. Representatives of the classroom teachers elected by the teachers at the school. (3)
3. A representative of other school personnel elected by other staff, including counselors, librarians, and classified staff (1).
4. Community representatives elected by the parents and by the community at large (4).
5. An alternate may be elected for each of the parent and other committee groups.
6. A student may serve as a member of the committee.
B. The council shall be constituted to ensure parity between (a) the principal, classroom teachers, and other school personnel, and (b) equal numbers of parents.
C. Classroom teachers shall comprise the majority of those representing school staff.
D. The voting membership of this council shall not exceed 14. Ten is the recommended size of the council.
E. Council members representing parents, other community members, or pupils shall not be employees of the school district.
Section 2 - Term of Office
The general philosophy of SIP encourages a broad base of involvement. Changing membership within the council enables more people to participate. However, members are not specifically excluded from seeking another term.
A. The principal or his designee shall serve continuously.
B. Teacher representatives serve two-year terms. Terms of members are staggered so that during a given school year two members are in their first year and two members are in their second year.
C. Other school personnel serve a two-year term.
D. Community representatives serve two-year terms. Terms are staggered so that during a given school year one member is in their first year and two members are in their second year. The following year, two members will be in their first year and one member will be in a second year.
E. All council members shall be elected by their respective constituent group by popular vote. Council members will be representative of their ethnic, racial, linguistic, and economic community served. By popular vote from each of the above-mentioned constituent groups, the next in line for a council seat will be designated as an alternate council member
F. All alternates will be elected for one-year terms. Alternate council members are encouraged to participate in council meetings and activities.
Section 3 - Election Procedure
A. The principal or his designee is automatically a member of the school site council.
B. Teacher representatives are nominated by the classroom teachers. An announcement of an opening on the Site Council will be posted at each site. Nominations will be received for five working days. Election will be by written ballot in the fall.
C. Other school personnel representatives are nominated by other staff. Nominations will be received for five working days. Election will be by written ballot.
D. Community representatives are elected by the parents and the community-at-large. Nominations are solicited through the school newsletter. Statements from the candidates may be presented prior to balloting in the fall. Balloting occurs at Back-to-School Night.
E. (Optional) A student representative for each grade level is elected by the student council members shortly after the organization of the student council in the fall. Applications are distributed and publicized school-wide, and interested students are invited to interview with the student council for the positions.
F. The alternate for each of the above mentioned groups shall be elected by the same process used to elect the voting member. The alternate student will be in the 9th grade.
G. Term of office will begin in August
Section 4- Voting Rights
Each member shall be entitled to one vote and may cast that vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the council. The elected alternates from each representative group shall vote in the absence of that representative. Absentee ballots shall not be permitted. Unless otherwise agreed to by vote of the membership, all voting shall be done at a scheduled meeting.
Section 5 - Termination of Membership
A member shall no longer hold membership should he or she cease to be a resident of the area or no longer meets the membership requirements under which he or she was selected; e.g., a parent becomes employed by the district. (Membership shall automatically terminate for any member who is absent for five consecutive regular meetings. Exceptions may be approved by a vote of the School Site Council.
Section 6 - Transfer of Membership
Membership in the school site council is not transferable or assignable.
Section 7 - Resignation
Any member may resign by filing a written resignation to the site council chairperson.
Any vacancy on the council shall be filled by the elected alternate for that position. The alternate will finish the term of office of the person whose place is being taken, and a new alternate will be elected when appropriate. If the council does not have enough members for a quorum, an interim election may be held or the size of the council may be reduced for the remainder of the year.
Section 8 - Duties of Council Members
Council members shall attend all meetings or let the elected alternate know when it is impossible to attend. Such alternates have full voting privileges when the regular council member is not in attendance. Alternates attend all regular site council meetings.
Council members are to accept positions as officers or subcommittee members when so appointed or elected unless unable to carry out the duties entailed.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1 - Officers
The officers of the school site council shall be a chairperson, co/vice-chairperson, secretary, and such other officers as the council may deem desirable.
Section 2 - Election and Term of Office
The officers of the school site council shall be elected annually and shall serve for two year until each successor has been elected.
Section 3 - Removal
Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of all members sitting on the school site council whenever, in the judgment of the council, the best interests of the council would be served thereby.
Section 4 - Vacancy
Any vacancy in any office shall be filled by a special election by the school site council for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 5 - Time of Election of Officers and Replacement of Officers
Officers for SSC shall be elected and take office at the first meeting of the school year. Section 6 - Chairperson
The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the school site council and may sign all letters, reports, and other communications of the school site council. (The chairperson will get the agenda to SSC members forty-eight hours before a meeting.) In addition, the chairperson shall perform all duties incident to the office of chairperson and such other duties as may be prescribed by the site council from time to time.
Section 7 - Vice Chairperson
The duties of the vice-chairperson shall be to represent the chairperson in assigned duties and to substitute for one chairperson during his or her absence, and the vice-chairperson shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the chairperson or by the school site council.
Section 8 – Secretary / Recorder
The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the SSC meetings, both regular and special and shall promptly transmit to each of the members and to school district official copies of the minutes; see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by laws; be custodian of the school site council records; keep a register of the address and telephone numbers of the SSC; and, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of the secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the office by the chairperson or by the school site council. Should both the chairperson and the vice-chairperson be unavailable, the secretary shall preside at the SSC meeting.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 1 - Standing and Special Committees
The school site council may from time to time establish and abolish standing or special committees, as it may deem desirable. No standing or special committee may exercise the authority of the school site council. Alternates may serve on committees.
Section 2 - Membership
Unless otherwise determined by the SSC in its decision to establish a committee, the chairperson of the SSC shall appoint members to the various committees.
Section 3 - Term of Office
Each member of a committee shall continue as such for the term of his appointment and until his or her successor is appointed, unless the committee shall be sooner terminated or abolished, or unless such a member shall cease to qualify as a member thereof.
Section 4 - Rules
Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these bylaws or with rules adopted by the SSC or with policies of the governing board.
Section 5 - Quorum
Unless otherwise provided in the decision of the SSC designating a committee, a majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.
Section 6 - Vacancy
A vacancy in the membership of any committee may be filled by an appointment made in the same manner as provided in the case of the original appointment.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS OF THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL
Section 1 - Regular Meetings
School Site council shall meet a minimum of four times per year. It is recommended the council meet monthly except for December and June.
Section 2 - Special Meetings
Special Meetings may be called by the chairperson or by majority vote of the SSC. Section 3 - Place of Meetings
The School Site Council shall hold its regular monthly meetings virtually through Google Meets as it is readily accessible by all members of the public, including handicapped persons. Alternate meeting places may be determined by the chairperson or by majority vote of the school site council.
Section 4 - Notice of Meetings
Public notice of regular and special meetings shall be posted at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting. Notice must include the date, time and location of the meeting and contain an agenda describing each item of business to be discussed or acted upon.
Section 5 – Decision of the School Site Council
All decisions of the SSC shall be made only after an affirmative vote of a majority of its members in attendance, provided a quorum is in attendance.
Section 6 – Quorum
A quorum of the school site council shall be three school employees (one of whom shall be the principal or his designee), three parent, community, and or student representative.
Section 7 – Amendment
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership. Section 8—Conduct of Meetings
All regular and special meetings of the SSC shall follow Roberts Rules of Order or an appropriate adaptation thereof. Council or committee members may act only on items posted on the agenda unless, by a unanimous vote of those present, the members find
there is a need to act immediately on a matter that came to the attention of the council or committee after posting the agenda.
Section 9—Meetings Open to the Public
All regular and special meetings of the school site council and of its standing or special committees shall be open at all times to the public. Any member of the public may address the council or committee during the meeting on any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the council or committee.
Revised 9/2025