Bylaws

** University City High School **
 * OFFICIAL Organization ByLaws **
 * School Advisory Council **


 * Provisions of these Bylaws shall not be in conflict with any School District of Philadelphia official policy, local, state or federal law. **

The name of this Council is the University City High School Advisory Council, hereinafter referred to as the UCSAC.
 * ARTICLE I: NAME OF COUNCIL **

The objectives of the UCSAC shall be consistent with policies of the School District, according to the Promise Academy Model, and be aligned with the school’s mission and vision. ** Section 1: ** To advise the school regarding the development, implementation, and evaluation of the School’s Action Plan and Budget. The UCSAC is responsible for providing assistance in the development of the Action Plan and Budget and the presentation of the plan to the school community. The UCSAC shall have ongoing responsibility to review the implementation of the plan with the principal, assess periodically the effectiveness of the plan and recommend modifications to the plan.
 * ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES **
 * Section 2: ** To ensure the school’s academic and financial plan is consistent with the educational accountability system.
 * Section 3: ** To study and review the school’s Action plan in relation to the educational needs of all students.
 * Section 4: ** To provide collaborative opportunities for input and consultation.

· The University City SAC shall be comprised of 20 to 35 members. The UCSAC shall include at least 25% parents, and the remaining members are school staff, community, and students, where appropriate. There will be a continuous, ongoing effort to recruit parents with a goal of having at least 51% of the overall committee positions held by parents. · University City High School Students will hold up to five positions as advisors to the council. Ideally, there should be one student representative from each Academy, and a representative from the UCHS Student Government. · The UCHS Parent Ombudsman and Student Advisor will be expected to attend all meetings of the UCSAC, and will be given copies of all attendance sheets and minutes, but will not be granted voting privileges. They are not considered members of the Council, but should have a voice in council business. · Membership will be determined through an application process and approved by the UCSAC membership committee. · The principal may not be a member of the UCSAC but may attend meetings. · The parent representatives must be primary caregiver(s) (legal, custodial, grandparent, foster parent)) of University City High School students. Parent representatives may also be the primary caregiver, as defined above, of a student in a feeder elementary or middle school. · Community representatives must live and/or work in the University City High School community or have an interest in the success of the students and school (such as alumni).
 * ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTION **
 * Section 1. Composition of the School Advisory Council **

There shall be elections at which the UCSAC members are elected every year in January and shall serve for two years or until their successors have been elected and qualified.
 * Section 2. Election of Members and Terms of Office **

The elections will be held before the first regular meeting in February.

The UCSAC, by affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members of the SAC, may expel any member who is absent from three consecutive meetings without good cause. The Secretary will keep records of attendance. Before a vote can be taken for termination, each case must be reviewed by an officer of the council and the member’s name must be submitted for termination by said officer.
 * Section 3. Termination of Membership **

The UCSAC may also vote to expel any member who no longer has an interest as outlined in Article III, Section 1. Additionally, members may be removed for immoral conduct, legal prosecution, or any other reason that might place them in a position where they cannot continue to effectively be associated with the council. Cases that fall under this provision require a three-fourths vote of the officers of the council to be presented to the general membership for a vote. In the case of any perceived or actual conflict of interest that impedes the function of teaching and learning, a vote to dismiss the council member in question may be initiated by any member of the council.

Officers may be removed by a four-fifths vote of “no-confidence” by the general membership of the council. Votes of ‘no-confidence” must be presented as New Business, and voted on during the course of a regular council meeting. In the event of the successful removal of an officer, a special election for a replacement must be held before the next regularly scheduled meeting during a special meeting. The senior ranking officer will preside, and nominations will be accepted and voted on during that meeting. General member positions vacated or empty can be filled at any time through application to the membership committee (see below).

The Officers of the UCSAC shall be a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Parliamentarian and Treasurer and such other officers as the UCSAC may deem necessary.
 * ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS **
 * Section 1. **

The officers of the UCSAC shall be elected every year by majority vote of the UCSAC members and shall serve for one year or until each successor has been properly elected.
 * Section 2. Election and Terms of Office: **

The duties of the officers shall be:
 * Section 3. Duties: **

** Chairperson ** 1. Preside at all meetings and sign letters, plans, reports, and other communications as directed by the UCSAC. 2. Prepare an agenda for each meeting, provide the agenda to the Secretary, and ensure that the agenda is posted 6 days in advance of each SAC meeting. 3. The Chairperson will always be a Parent-Member of the Council.

** Vice-Chairperson ** 1. Assume the duties of the Chairperson during his/her absence. 2. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chairperson or by the UCSAC. 3. The Vice-Chairperson will always be a faculty member of University City High School.

** Secretary ** 1. Keep a current roster of SAC members including contact information. 2. Keep the minutes of all meetings including attendance and summary reports. 3. Coordinate the posting of the notices and agendas of public meetings on the school’s website and in the school’s administrative building, as well as the sending to all council members.

** Parliamentarian ** 1. Appoint a member of the Council as Timekeeper. 2. Provide oversight and interpretation of any applicable policy or law, and help in the interpretation of the bylaws. Maintain order and procedural safeguards during meetings or other official events to include acting as an impartial judge during disputes of procedure. (Highlighted Areas Are Already Agreed Upon, and Cannot Be Changed Without An Additional And Separate Vote) 1. Appoints a member of the Council as Accountant. 2. Oversees and Manages all Council Accounting Practices to include managing a bank account, negotiating terms, and managing financial business of the Council. 3. Reports directly to the Chairperson on all matters of finance and accounting between regular meetings of the Council.
 * Treasurer **

The duties of members shall be to: 1. Attend all council meetings on time or inform the secretary of the expected absences. 2. Actively participate in workshops and training sessions to increase knowledge of the UCSAC’s purpose and functions. 3. Be responsive to school community members on matters for which the UCSAC has responsibility.
 * ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF MEMBERS **
 * Section 1: Duties **

** Executive Committee: ** The Executive Committee will consist of the officers of the UCSAC. This committee will meet monthly, usually immediately after regularly scheduled meetings to discuss and plan the agenda for the following meeting. The members of this committee will also be responsible for developing an annual report to be delivered to the Council on the overall status of the organization and the plan for future work. The Executive Committee will also be responsible for handling any items considered to be of a confidential nature in Executive Session. The Executive Committee will be chaired by the UCSAC Chairman, and will have the power to assign special duties to both members and non-members to help resolve issues that may arise.
 * Section 2: Committees **
 * Regular Committees: **

** Membership Committee: ** The Membership Committee will consist of one each: Parent Member, Community Organization Member, and a Teacher Member of the USSAC. This committee will be responsible for generating and organizing leads for new members. This committee will also be in charge of organizing the annual election process. This committee will be overseen by the Council Parliamentarian.

** Finance Committee: ** The Finance Committee will consist of one each: Parent Member, Community Organization Member, and a Teacher Member of the USSAC. The Finance Committee will be required to maintain current and accurate records of all budgets and accounts created by the UCSAC. All purchasing, finance, and accounting items must first be submitted to this committee for review before any action can be taken during a general meeting. The Finance Committee will assist the Social Committee with any fundraising activities. This committee will be overseen by the Chairperson.

** Social Committee: ** The Social Committee will consist of one each: Parent Member, Community Organization Member, and a Teacher Member of the USSAC. The Social Committee will be in charge of planning and organizing social events for recruitment of new members. This committee is also in charge of planning and facilitating any public informational meetings, get-togethers, or meetings with members of the school district, press, or other gatherings as required by the UCSAC. This committee will be overseen by the Vice-Chairperson.

** Special Committees: ** Special Committees may be established by any officer of the council. All special committees will consist of three members, nominated during the course of regular business during an official meeting of the council, and voted on by the membership of the council. A majority of 50% +1 vote is required to approve a special committee. One member of the committee will be appointed by the officer who creates it to be the chairperson. The committee chairperson is responsible to report on all business conducted and results gathered by the committee. The officer establishing the committee will provide oversight.

Regular meetings of the UCSAC will be held on the second Monday of each month from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. The day and time of regular meetings can will determined by the members of the UCSAC at its first meeting of the year. Regular meetings can be rescheduled in cases of emergency or inclement weather with the approval of a three-fifths vote of the officers of the council. Members must be notified by phone and email in the event of a rescheduled meeting. A “phone tree” will be established and managed by the Council Secretary.
 * ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS **
 * Section l. Regular Meetings: **

Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or by a majority of the SAC members. A meeting notice and agenda must be posted in a public location at the school and on the school website at least six days prior to a special meeting. Section 3. Order of Meetings: ** All regular and special meetings of the UCSAC shall be conducted using Roberts Rules Of Order. The UCSAC decision-making process shall be conducted with the intention of reaching consensus. In the event the UCSAC reaches an impasse which prohibits business from being conducted, the UCSAC will take a vote with a 50% + 1 majority of those present required for the decision to be approved. In the event of a tie vote, the chairperson casts a second vote to break the tie.
 * Section 2. Special Meetings: **

__ General Order of Regular Meetings __ 1. Roll Call 2. Reading and Vote to Accept Minutes from previous meeting. 3. Report of Committees. 4. Reports of Officers. 5. Old/Unfinished Business. 6. New Business. 7. Accolades, Achievements, Promotions, Elections. 8. Adjournments.

Every member shall have the right at every meeting of members to one (1) vote. A member may vote only in person, however, a vote by e-mail shall be acceptable unless explicitly disallowed by the Chairperson. No proxy shall be valid. At all meetings, except for election of officers, all votes will be by voice. For election of officers, ballots shall be provided and there shall not appear any place on such ballot that might tend to indicate the person who cast such ballot. At any regular or special meeting, if a majority so requires, any question may be voted upon in the manner and style provided for election of officers.
 * Section 4. Voting: **

No business can be acted upon in any meeting without a quorum present. A quorum shall consist of 50% plus one (1) of the membership, and must include at least two parent members in attendance. (Highlighted Areas Are Already Agreed Upon, and Cannot Be Changed Without An Additional And Separate Vote)
 * Section 5. Quorum: **

The Council will adhere to rules of confidentiality when applicable. All meetings or business must be done in accordance with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act of 1998. The members may elect to meet in Executive Session to discuss confidential business, but no vote may be taken until the membership is back in general session.
 * Section 6. Confidentiality: **


 * ARTICLE VII: FISCAL AND FIDUCIARY RESPOSIBILITIES **

Fiscal procedures, fundraising, and annual budgets will be kept in full view of the General Membership of the UCSAC. The Treasurer will report at all regular meetings, and will report directly to the Chairperson on all matters relating to fiscal responsibility. The Council must approve the annual budget, and all expenditures must be within the budget. Any major change to the budget must be approved by the Executive Committee. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. The annual report must show income, expenditures, and pending income. The financial records of the UCSAC are public information and must be made available to the membership, Council members, the School District of Philadelphia, and the public.
 * Section 1. Budget: **

These bylaws may be amended by the SAC. A Council should present and discuss the proposed amendments at one previous regular meeting for which the necessary notice of meeting and agenda were posted. Passage of amendments to the bylaws requires an affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of the members.
 * ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS **

These Bylaws are accepted fully and completely. By affixing our signatures below, we agree to be bound by the terms stated above and will, to the best of our ability maintain the high standards outlined herein:

SIGNED BY:

__Signatures Will Be On File__

These bylaws will be reviewed and will be consistent with the requirements of Act 51.