International Academy High School Student Council Constitution and Bylaws
Preamble
This student government shall be the Student Council of kͥ¹² International Academy High School. It shall be a body designed to serve its worldwide international community. It will provide an active and representative voice that will allow students and staff members to maintain the right to have an influence and impact on the decisions of the International Academy High School. This shall be the primary function of the council.
Secondary functions, which shall be carried out when not in conflict with the primary purpose, include:
Promoting school spirit and unity by the support and preservation of activities and rules which are deemed beneficial to the student.
Providing a link of communication between students, faculty, and administration.
Overseeing and making recommendations of the clubs of k¹²’s International Academy.
The executive body will be represented by the Student Body President and Vice President, and overseen by the faculty advisor(s). Their main goal is to work toward enhancing the quality of school life for International Academy High School students. The executive officers voice concerns of students and their school community to the administration and help to resolve those concerns.
The entire student council shall work as the legislative body of the student government. All officers will encompass the legislative body.
The judiciary body of the student government will be represented by an International Academy faculty advisor(s), International Academy’s administration and class representatives (elected council members who represent grade- specific student bodies).
Article I
Functions of the Student Council
Section 1: The powers and duties of the council, in order of council priority are:
To maintain constant and accurate representation in all matters that
pertain to k¹² International Academy students, staff, administration, and parents.
To help create, propose revision, and support rules for the welfare of the International Academy community and the betterment of the school.
To promote new activities and achievement of excellence throughout International Academy High School by participation and interest in high school activities.
To promote scholarship and academic excellence within the school environment.
To oversee and help coordinate student council and class officer elections.
To oversee, recommend the chartering of, and recognition of clubs at k¹² International Academy High School.
Article II
Membership of the Council
Section 1: Election Process
Student Body Officers shall be elected during the spring term, and will take office in May.
Incoming 10th grade, 11th grade, and 12th grade Class Officers shall be elected during the spring term of their 9th, 10th and 11th grades, and will take office in May.
9th grade Class Officers shall be elected during September of their 9th grade year.
In order to run for Student Council Office, a candidate must:
Be a full-time enrolled student.
Have attended International Academy High School for a minimum of one full year.
Have at least a “C” (2.0) average in academic grades with no F’s, and be enrolled in 6 courses.
File, and complete in its entirety, a Declaration of Candidacy form by the required deadline.
Each must submit three completed teacher recommendations with their declaration application by the indicated date.
In order to run for Class Representative, a candidate must:
Be a member of said class.
Be a full-time enrolled student.
Have attended International Academy High School for one full year (or, if running for 9th grade representative, students must have attended International Academy Middle School for one full year).
Have at least a “C” (2.0) average in academic grades with no F’s, and be enrolled in 6 courses.
File, and complete in its entirety, a Declaration of Candidacy form by the required deadline.
Each current 9th - 11th grade candidate must turn in two completed teacher recommendations by the indicated date.
Teacher recommendations will be reviewed by the faculty sponsor(s) and once approved the student will be placed on the ballot.
A position is won by simple majority vote of their peers.
Section 3: Election Procedures:
All candidates must notify the Elections Committee and request a Declaration of Candidacy Application. Candidates are required to complete this Declaration application for the position desired [in its entirety] by the required date and submit it to the Elections Committee.
The Elections Committee will make an opportunity for candidates’ opinions, views, qualifications, etc. to be dispensed throughout the full time student body. Some options are speeches, question and answer forums, or other types of interviews the student body may view.
All elections shall be held electronically via electronic ballot and governed by the Faculty Advisor(s).
Qualified voters shall be full time enrolled students (6-credits unless otherwise approved) at International Academy High School (for those 8th grade students running for 9th grade representative, they will be elected by their FT International Academy MS peers).
The ballot counting process will be completed electronically by the Faculty Advisor(s) within 3 days after the election takes place.
The evaluation of teacher recommendations will be completed by International Academy High School Department Chairs within two weeks of their submission deadline.
Section 4: Winners will be determined by receiving a simple majority of overall votes for each Student Council and Class position.
In the case of a tie in election results, the top vote getters will run in a second, run-off election where the winner will be the candidate who receives a simple majority of the votes.
All voting results will be shared with the student body within 7 days after the election day via a full-time, student-wide live session.
There are no appeals granted after the election day votes are tallied by the faculty sponsor(s).
Article III
Responsibilities of Membership
Section 1: Members will be expected to follow all school rules, attend all student council meetings and functions, and expect regular evaluations of their attendance and contributions to the council.
All members of the student council must adhere to all of the k¹² International Academy policies and the International Academy Student Council Constitution & Bylaws.
Upon the direction of the Faculty Advisor(s), each member, by the 5th of each month, will submit a monthly timecard of their attendance and contributions to meetings and activities attended from the previous month. Included within each timecard will be a “Statement of Leadership” that addresses how their leadership contributed to the effectiveness of the council during the month.
The Secretary will collect all timecards and submit them to the faculty advisor for review, feedback and follow-up by the 10th of each month.
Section 2: Resignation
If a student appointed or elected to office decides to give up that office, the student must submit a formal letter of resignation to the Faculty Advisor(s). The student will also meet with the Faculty Advisor(s) for an exit interview before the resignation is announced to the rest of the Student Council.
Section 3: Impeachment
Reasons for Impeachment:
Violation of International Academy High School policies in any way.
Any officer who is derelict in their duties.
Three unexcused absences from council meetings, events and activities. Absences are excused for valid reasons if preapproved by the faculty advisor.
Misuse of council time and/or resources.
Any egregious action that violates the spirit and mission of International Academy High School.
Impeachment Procedure:
A petition of impeachment will be initiated by any student council member and considered by the Faculty Advisor(s).
Petitions must include the reason, sufficient evidence to support that reason, and be signed by an officer and submitted to the International Academy faculty advisor.
Loss of academic eligibility (drop in academic performance) or disciplinary violations may result in removal from office for the balance of the elected term. Such removal will be initiated by the Faculty Advisor(s) and approved by the Head of School.
Section 4: Vacant Positions
For any office that is vacated due to resignation or impeachment, the following stipulations will be made:
If the seat of the Student Body President is vacated, the Vice President will assume the role of President.
If the seat of the Vice President is vacated, the Secretary will assume the role as Vice President.
If the seat of Secretary is vacated, the Historian will assume the role of Secretary.
If the seat of Historian is vacated, the At Large Class Representative will assume the role of Historian.
Article IV
Officers of the Council
Section 1: Student council officers shall be elected for a one academic year term.
Officers will include a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Historian, elected by a majority vote of the full time student body of International Academy.
Officers must be members of the council.
Candidates will campaign before the general election.Candidates will deliver a speech preceding the election during an “all FT student” live session.
Speeches will include why s/he will be an able leader, the goals of the candidate, and the platform on which s/he stands.
Additional campaign opportunities may be organized if time permits. An example of an additional campaign opportunity would be a question and answer session (where all candidates would answer questions from participating, eligible voters).
Section 2: Officers have special rights and responsibilities within the council.
Officers shall have the right to veto any proposal passed by the entire council with a two-thirds vote of the officers.
Vetoes may be overridden /overturned by the entire council by a three-fourths vote of the entire council.
Officers shall meet whenever necessary to discuss agenda items and determine the direction of the council.
Officers will be expected to fulfill all duties of their positions. Officers will represent the executive council, presiding over the entire officer and representative group, and must set positive examples to those they serve.
With the exception of the student council President, each officer and class representative may sit on one or more committees that will oversee specific functions of that committee.
Section 3: Roles of the student council officers are as follows:
President
Direct meetings with efficiency, order, and purpose.
Represent student council at all necessary school functions.
Work closely with the student council faculty advisor and administration.
Initiate voting on council matters.
Encourage an ongoing month long agenda designed to benefit the school and students.
Include the vice president in agenda planning.
Make all final rulings on questions, subject to appeal.
Oversee committees and their progress.
Vice President
Work closely with the president to help him/her achieve council goals.
Be responsible for upholding the Council’s Constitution and Bylaws.
During general meetings, the Vice President will be responsible for taking general notes on the board and insuring the meeting is running effectively and that all present members are sufficiently engaged.
Be a member of and participate in one or more committees when needed.
Coordinates the agenda and work of committees.
Volunteer observations and suggestions.
Act as the president, during his/her absence, or any time s/he is unable to carry out duties of the office.
Assist the preparation of proposed agendas.
Plan each month’s committee assignments.
Secretary
Take attendance at meetings, in class, and at council functions.
Be responsible for writing and distributing an agenda for each meeting.
Record official minutes for all general Meetings.
Report on the previous meeting’s minutes at each meeting before submitting them as official record.
In collaboration with fellow council members and faculty advisor, publish a monthly, “Your Student Council at Work” newsletter to be distributed to all full time International Academy students that outlines the latest news and progress of the council and announce all upcoming events for student participation.
Receive, organize and report progress made in any council goals, activities, or events.
Make certain that administration, faculty, and council receive copies of the minutes.
Be a member of and participate in one or more committees when needed.
In collaboration with the faculty advisor, publish an annual report of council actions, performance and accomplishments, that will be presented to the Head of School at the end of the academic school year.
Historian
Keep track of all events of the council.
Complete a scrapbook of all the year’s events by June 1, or set date.
Create a presentation that highlights the year’s events and accomplishments.
Deliver this presentation to all full time International Academy students at the end of the academic school year via BbC live session.
Inform media coordinators about upcoming student events.
Be a member of and participate in one or more committees when needed.
Article V
Structure of the Student Council
Section 1: Committees
Permanent committees may be created when deemed necessary.
Each committee shall be led by a chairperson, overseen by the vice-president, and if not available, another member of the council.
If a chairperson should have an extended absence, another shall be appointed by the vice-president.
Each council member will be expected to serve on at least one or more committees when needed, with the exception of the president.
Responsible for special projects
Projects may include: school spirit, safety, awards, etc.
Section 2: Class Representative
Attend student council meetings and report back to their grade level student body via monthly class meetings via BbC live sessions.
Report class feedback to the council.
Be a member of and participate in one or more committees when needed.
Section 3: Procedures of Proposals to the Council
Council will look into specifics of a proposal, setting up committees, if necessary, to amend proposals, and return the proposal to the entire council.
The committee chairperson then brings the proposal to the next meeting.
The council will debate the proposal and amend it, if necessary.
A two-thirds vote is needed for any final proposal.
Proposals may be made by individuals on the council at the weekly meetings.
Section 4: Meeting Times
The student council shall meet bi-weekly (or whenever necessary) on a day that will be determined by the President and faculty advisor.
The council shall plan to participate in formal meetings, committee work, and community service on a regular basis.
Article VI
Student Council Faculty Advisor
Section 1: The student council faculty advisor(s) serves as a link between International Academy’s council, faculty, and administration.
The student council faculty advisor(s) shall be approved by International Academy’s High School Department Chairs and Head of School.
The advisor(s) is responsible for insuring an effective and strong organization that accurately represents the interests of the students by attending and supervising the class and functions of the council.
The advisor(s) is directly held responsible for the actions s/he approves for the council.
The advisor may volunteer and suggest information, but will have no voting power.
The advisor(s) has veto power over proposals and decisions that are against policies of the school or otherwise inappropriately represent the council.
Article VII
Ratification and Amending the Constitution
Section 1: The student council Constitution and By-Laws of k¹² International Academy High School must be ratified before the start of SY15-16.
Process for Ratification of the Student Council Constitution & By-Laws
A meeting will be held among all interested International Academy students. A vote will be held for ratification, where a three-fourths approval of the votes cast is required.
Upon student approval, the Constitution and By-Laws will be sent to the Head of School for review.
The Head of School may make any changes he/she deems necessary to the Constitution and they will be automatically incorporated.
Section 2: The student council Constitution and By-Laws of k¹² International Academy High School may be amended at any time during the school year.
The Constitution and Bylaws must be reviewed on a yearly basis.
If the council believes that the Student Council Constitution & Bylaws need to be amended, the following procedure must be followed:
A meeting of the entire council and faculty advisor(s) must be held where the problem must be addressed and a solution suggested.
All proposed changes must be approved by the faculty advisor and Head of School.
The council will discuss the change and vote on amending at the meeting following approval by the Head of School and faculty advisor(s).
Three-fourths vote of the entire council is required to enact the proposed change.
The Secretary is responsible making for changes to the official copy of the Constitution, once amendments have been approved by the council.