SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL BYLAWS

The name of the organization shall be the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.

The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council will serve as the operational governing body of Santa Monica High School. The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall monitor and adjust the Santa Monica High School Strategic Plan and school plan, including budget and calendar. The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council, following approval of a school plan by the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, shall have ongoing responsibility to review with the principal, certificated personnel, classified personnel, students, parents and community, the implementation of the school plan and to assess periodically the effectiveness of such a plan. Modifications or any improvement to the plan or budget shall be developed, recommended, and approved or disapproved in the same manner, to ensure that Santa Monica High School engages in on-going long-range planning, using a shared decision-making process. The council shall carry out all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it in the Education Code of the State of California.

The constituents of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council are:

(a) All students attending Santa Monica High School
(b) All certificated personnel employed by Santa Monica High School
(c) All classified personnel employed by Santa Monica High School
(d) All other school personnel employed by Santa Monica High School
(e) All adults who are natural parents (custodial or non-custodial) or legal guardians of any Santa Monica High School student, or who have the primary responsibility for the maintenance and welfare of a Santa Monica High School student.

Section 1-Composition
The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall consist of 31 elected members and the Chief Educational Officer of Santa Monica High School. The elected members shall include eight parent members, eight student members, nine certificated school personnel members, four classified school personnel members, and two other school personnel members, explained as follows:

(a) Six parent members shall be selected by the PTSA to represent the six Houses at Santa Monica High School. One parent member shall be selected by AAPSSSG and one shall be selected by SOL/ELAC.
(b) Six student members shall be selected as representatives of the six Houses at Santa Monica High School. In addition, the ASB President shall be a member, and the ASB Executive Board shall select an additional at-large student member.
(c) Six certificated school personnel members shall be selected to represent the six Houses at Santa Monica High School. In addition, one certificated school personnel member shall be selected as a representative of the House Advisors, one shall represent SMMCTA, and one shall be an at-large representative of the certificated personnel.
(d) Three classified school personnel members shall be selected as representatives of the classified school personnel. In addition, one classified school personnel member shall represent the SEIU.
(e) One other school personnel member shall be selected as a representative of the Athletic Department, and one other school personnel member shall be selected as a representative of the House Principals.

Section 2-Alternates
The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall have seven alternates: three parents (one PTSA, one SOL, one AASPSS Support Group), one administrator, one classified member, one student, and one certificated member. Each alternate should attend as many meetings as possible. Alternates cannot vote or participate in the meeting, however, unless one or more elected representatives from that alternate’s constituency are not present. If an elected representative is unable to carry out his/her duties, the alternate shall fill the vacancy for the balance of the term. If the balance of the term is more than one full year, it shall count as a full two-year term.

Section 3-Term of Office
All members of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall serve for a two-year term beginning July 1 with staggered elections. Constituent groups will elect one-half of the council’s membership each year. Candidates for Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council membership must wait one year between each re-selection to office. Representatives completing a two-year term are not eligible for re-election for one full year following completion of their term. Alternates may serve up to two consecutive years as alternate or can serve a term as a Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council member immediately following their first year of service as an alternate.

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 Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. The elected alternate shall vote in the absence of the representative. Absentee ballots shall not be permitted.

Section 5-Termination of Membership
A member shall no longer hold membership should he or she no longer meet the membership requirements under which he or she was elected. Membership shall automatically terminate for any member who is absent for more than 30 percent of the regularly scheduled meetings. Regularly scheduled meetings will be based on the number and calendar of meetings established at the first Governance meeting of each academic year. The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council, by affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members, can suspend or expel a member.

Section 6-Transfer of Membership
Membership in the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council is not transferable or assignable.

Section 7-Resignation
Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.

Section 8-Vacancy
Any vacancy on the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall be filled for the remainder of the school year by the designated alternate. If the unexpired term is for another full year thereafter, the term for that year shall be filled by the regular selection process so as to keep the term of office staggered.

Section 1-Timeline for Selection Process
Selection of new members will occur in September and be completed before October 1.

Section 2-Students

a) Time of Selection: Selection of student members will take place in September and be completed before October 1.
b) Selection Supervision: The Associated Student Body (A.S.B.) Executive Board is responsible for supervising the process of selection.
c) Eligibility and Process of Nomination: Any student regularly enrolled and attending Santa Monica High School on a full-time basis is eligible to be selected as a member to the council.
d) Process of Nomination: All teachers and advisors will be informed in a letter as to what Site Governance is and the role students have in it. During the first week of school, every teacher and advisor from each House will inform their students about Site Governance and encourage them to apply to be a member. The Blue Bulletin will have an announcement requesting student participation in Site Governance. Students will then self-nominate.
e) Process of Selection: Applications will be made available for interested students in the House Offices. The students wishing to participate in Site Governance will fill out an application and submit it to A.S.B./Leadership. These applications will be reviewed by the remaining student members of Site Governance and the A.S.B. Executive Board, which will be considered the Student Selection Committee. The Student Selection Committee will select a number of applications from each House to be interviewed. The Committee shall seek to select a diverse group of applicants based on the applicant’s grade level, gender, ethnicity, and involvement in organizations on campus. The applicants to be interviewed will represent a broad spectrum of students. The Committee will then interview the applicants and will select by consensus one student representing each of the six Houses, and one at-large student representative, to Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.
f) Selection of Alternates: The Committee will select an alternate. Should it be necessary to select a new alternate, the alternate will be a volunteer selected from A.S.B.

Section 3-Certificated Personnel

a) Time of Selection: Election of certificated personnel members will be held in September and be completed before October 1.
b) Selection Supervision: The Faculty Advisory Council (F.A.C.) will supervise the election of certificated personnel to the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.
c) Eligibility and Process of Nomination: The vacant certificated personnel positions are elected at large. All certificated personnel at Santa Monica High School are eligible to vote and to run for the council. Self-nominations will be requested by F.A.C.
d) Process of Selection: The names of the nominees will be posted by F.A.C. in each House Office. There will be one week of balloting. The candidates receiving the most votes in each House are elected to the council. F.A.C. shall determine the selection process for the House Advisors’ representative and the at-large representative.
e) Selection of Alternates: The candidate receiving the next highest number of votes will be the alternate. F.A.C. will keep the election results to fill any necessary alternate positions.

Section 4-Classified Personnel

a) Time of Selection: Election of classified personnel members will be held in September and be completed before October 1.
b) Selection Supervision: The classified personnel members on the Santa Monica Site Governance Council will supervise the election of members to any vacant seats. The classified personnel committee members of the site governance shall designate one of their group "election commissioner."
c) Eligibility and Process of Nomination: All permanent classified employees currently working at Santa Monica High School and who have completed their 6-month probationary period are eligible to run for and serve on the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. The commissioner shall distribute nomination forms to all classified members at Santa Monica High School. There will be a process of self-nomination.
d) Process of Selection: Once the nominations have been accepted, the commissioner will generate and distribute ballots. All classified members on the Santa Monica High Site Governance Council shall count and record the votes. The top candidate receiving the most votes will be elected to the vacant seats. The commissioner will then notify the elected candidates and post the results.
e) Selection of Alternates: The next highest candidate receiving the next highest votes will be the alternate. Should it be necessary to select a new alternate, the above process shall take place in a timely manner to fill the seat.

Section 5-SMMCTA and SEIU

SMMCTA and SEIU each have one seat on Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council which will be filled according to their respective union election guidelines.

Section 6-Parents

a) Time of Selection: The election of parent members will be held at the group meeting in September.
b) Selection Supervision: Each group shall supervise its own election when there is a vacancy.
c) Eligibility and Process of Nomination: All parents, as defined by Article III, Section (e), are eligible to run for site governance.
d) Process of Selection: The African-American Parent, Student, Staff Support Group shall have one representative to the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. The Spirit of Love parent group shall have one representative to the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. The Parent Teacher Student Association shall have six representatives, one representing each House, to the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. The election cycles of these three parent groups shall be staggered, and each group will determine its own election process.

Section 7-Other School Personnel

a) Time of Selection: Selection of other school personnel will occur in September and be completed before October 1.
b) Selection Process: The Athletic Department will determine the selection of the Athletic Department personnel member, and the House Principals will determine the selection of the House Principal personnel member.
c) Eligibility and Process of Nomination: Qualified school personnel employed by Santa Monica High School are eligible for selection.

Section 1-Officers
Officers of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall be a chairperson, vice chairperson(s), secretaries, and other such officers, as the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council may deem desirable. Officers must be members of the Council.

Section 2-Election and Terms of Office
The officers of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall be elected by a simple majority of all members and shall serve for one year or until each successor has been elected.

All officers shall be elected at the first meeting of each new year.

Section 3-Removal
Any officer may be removed from his/her position as officer by a two-thirds vote of all members sitting on the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council whenever, in its judgment, its best interests would be served thereby.

Section 4-Vacancy
A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, shall be filled by the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council by special election for the unexpired portion of the term.

Section 5-Chairperson
The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council and may sign all letters, reports, and other communication of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. In addition, the chairperson shall perform all duties incidental to the office of chairperson and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council from time to time.

Section 6-Vice Chairperson(s)
The duties of the vice chairperson shall be to represent the chairperson in assigned duties, to substitute for the chairperson during his or her absence, to be custodian of supplies and documents of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council, and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the chairperson or by the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.

Section 7-Secretaries
The recording secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, both regular and special, of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. The correspondence secretary shall promptly transmit the minutes to each of the members, to the school district, and to such other persons as the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council may deem necessary, see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws, and conduct necessary correspondence for the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. Both secretaries shall perform all duties incidental to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the office by the chairperson or the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.

Section 1 – Subcommittees
The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council may from time to time establish and abolish such standing or special committees as it may desire and may send a subcommittee of selected members to meetings of other Santa Monica High School and district committees. None of these subcommittees may exercise the full decision making authority of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.

Section 2 - Membership
Members of such subcommittees or special committee may be appointed or volunteers recognized by the chairperson and/or the majority of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. Non-members of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council may be selected to serve on any sub-committee, provided, however, at least one member of the council shall be present for the sub-committee to convene.

Section 3 - Terms of Office
Each member of a committee shall continue for the term of his or her appointment or until his or her successor is appointed, unless the committee is terminated or abolished sooner, or unless such member shall cease to qualify as a member of the committee.

Section 4 - Quorum
Unless otherwise provided in the decision of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council 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 5 - 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.

Section 1- Meetings
The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall meet regularly at least once per month from September through June.

The number and calendar of regularly scheduled meetings will be determined at the first Governance meeting of each academic year. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or by the majority vote of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.

Section 2 - Place of Meetings
The Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall hold its regularly monthly meetings and its special meetings in a facility provided by the school and readily accessible by all members of the public, including handicapped persons.

Section 3 - Notice of Meetings
Public notice shall be given of regular meetings at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Any change in the established date, time, or location must be given special notice. All special meetings shall be publicized. Any required notice shall be in writing; shall state the day, hour, and location of the meeting; and shall be delivered either personally or by mail or electronic mail to each member not less than 24 hours or more than two weeks prior to the date of such meeting.

Section 4 - Decisions of the School Site Council
All attempts at consensus should be made before calling for a vote.

A motion for a vote may be made by any member of the Council and may be approved by a simple majority of the Council.

Each member shall be entitled to one vote and may cast that vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council. A passing vote requires a majority of the certificated/classified personnel vote and a majority of the parent/student vote. Absentee ballots or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

Section 5 - Quorum
A majority of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council constitutes a quorum for any meeting.

Section 6 - Conduct of Meetings
All regular and special meetings of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council shall be conducted in an atmosphere of respect for each member.

Section 7 - Meetings Open to the Public
All regular and special meetings of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council and of its standing or special committees shall be open at all times to the public. Closed sessions may be held only when specifically authorized by law.

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Santa Monica High School Site Governance Council.

If the Council determines that a review of the bylaws is necessary, then at the January meeting, a subcommittee may be appointed by the Governance Chair to review bylaws and any recommended amendments. A draft of recommended changes will be brought to the next meeting for review and revision. The final draft will be presented at the following meeting for final adoption by a two-thirds majority vote.

Any bylaw changes will be effective July 1 of the next academic year.


Approved
Revised 11/20/01
Revised 6/11/02
Revised 2/17/04