Museum School Parent Council (School Site Council)

Constitution

I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Museum School Parent Council, herein called the Council.

II. PURPOSE

The Council’s purpose is to promote effective education for students at The Museum School with special attention to the areas of curriculum, staffing, policy formulation, community involvement, home-school communication, budget, and obtaining resources. The Council provides a forum for participation of parents, students and staff in decisions and recommendations for action. The Council is advisory to the administration of The Museum School; therein, the official actions of the Council, although not always adopted by the school, will be given all due consideration by the school administration. The Council will operate within the policies of the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District, except as waivers have been granted.

III. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Council shall be open to all parents and staff, with a minimum of four parent representatives, the school principal, and 2 staff members. To the extent possible, all Council decisions will be made by consensus. When faced with a vote for a proposal of action, the vote will be open to all in attendance, as long as there is a quorum of at least four parent representatives, and at least three staff members present. Members of the Children’s Museum administration are also part of the Council, but ex officio. Each Council member shall have one vote and is to vote his/her conscience for the good of the school.

IV. OFFICERS

Officers shall be elected by the Council from its membership to serve annual terms for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The President will appoint committee members, call chair meetings, and serve as the chief spokesperson fot the Council. The Vice President will assist the President and will preside in the absence of the President. The Treasurer will maintain records of monies. The Secretary will take the minutes of the meeting and provide members with a report of the proceedings.

V. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The officers and the principal shall constitute the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall act upon urgent matters which cannot wait until the next meeting of the Council, and shall determine the agenda for Council meetings.

VI. TERMS OF MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

Terms of members run from October 2006, to October 2007, with election of officers occurring at the second meeting.

VII. VACANCIES

Vacancies in officer positions shall be filled by election of the Council. A position shall be considered vacant upon two or more consecutive missed meetings without an adequate explanation prior to the missed meeting. The Council shall rule on what constitutes an adequate explanation in the case of a dispute.

VIII. MEETINGS

Meetings shall be scheduled approximately every five to six weeks as scheduled in the annual Parent Handbook. Additional meetings may be called by the Council or the Executive Committee. Meeting dates may be changed provided adequate and reasonable notice to constituent groups. Notice of regular meetings will be given at least five days prior to the scheduled meeting.

IX. COMMITTEES

The following Standing Committees may be formed by the Council:

Friends of the Museum School – Fundraising Committee

Committee

Ad Hoc committees shall created as necessary by vote of the Council.

X. QUORUM

A quorum for meetings shall at least four parent representatives and two staff members.

XI. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.

XII. RATIFICATION

This constitution shall be in force upon a three-fourths vote of the 2006-2007 Council.

XIII. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this constitution shall be effective only if at least two weeks written notice of the amendment is provided parents and staff prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be considered, and a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Council obtains on the amendment.

Ratified , 2006