School
School Commission By-Laws
ST. CHARLES SCHOOL COMMISSION BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I – NAME
The Name of this Commission shall be the St. Charles School Commission, referred to herein as the School Commission, which shall function as hereafter described and according to the Archdiocesan school policies.
ARTICLE II. NATURE AND FUNCTION
SECTION A. General Objectives
To help develop policy with the Pastor and principal regarding the school faculty, staff and students. The School Commission recognizes that the day-to-day administration of the school is the responsibility of the principal and faculty. The School Commission shall also act as a liaison between parents, administration and staff.
SECTION B. Specific Objectives
1. To assist in the development and implementation of the annual operating budget for the school, in cooperation with the Pastor, Principal, Parish Business Manager and Parish Finance Commission.
2. To serve as advocates for the school, both within and outside the St. Charles parish community.
3. To provide a forum for discussing policies and procedures relating to the school and school-related activities.
4. To establish and review policy on student discipline and class size.
5. To review academic content and operational resources.
6. To assist in effecting cooperation and communication between the School Commission, school administration and the various school and parish organizations.
7. To assist the Pastor and the principal in matters pertaining to staff and faculty employment, compensation, and legal matters.
8. To research into, and assist in obtaining community resources for the improvement of the school.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
SECTION A. Composition of Commission
1. The Commission shall consist of not less than 9 nor more than 12 elected members, who are either members in good standing of St. Charles Parish or who have a student currently enrolled at St. Charles School, the school principal, the parish pastor or his designated representative and two faculty representatives. All faculty and staff are permitted to serve as elected members of the commission; however forfeit all voting rights and will be excused from any meeting discussion relating to budget/finances.
2. The voting members of the Commission shall be the elected members, as defined above.
3. All members shall have equal voting rights, with exception of any elected faculty or staff members.
4. Term of office for all elected members shall be three years commencing on July 1 of the year of election.
SECTION B. Responsibilities
Members shall represent the School Commission and the interests of the School by serving as liaisons to the following :
1. Parish Council (a primary and secondary representative)
2. Parent-Teacher Organization
3. Athletic Commission
4. Technology Commission (a primary and secondary representative)
5. Finance Committee (a primary and secondary representative)
School Commission may appoint members to serve as liaisons between School Commission and any other organization it deems would be in the School’s best interest.
SECTION C. Elections
1. The Commission Vice President shall serve as Chairperson for the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall, in addition to the Chairperson, consist of two additional members from the Commission.
2. The Nominating Committee shall make every effort to recruit at least two nominees for each vacancy. If the number of nominees is equal to or less than the number of vacancies, the nominees will be accepted onto the Commission and no election will be held.
3. If there are more candidates than vacant positions, an election shall be held. All registered parishioners 18 years and older and all parents of St. Charles School children are eligible to vote. Ballots shall be signed in case of doubt about eligibility. The four candidates with the highest number of votes will serve on the Commission. The election must be completed before the June School Commission meeting.
SECTION D. Vacancies
1. Any elected member of the Commission who missed more than two meetings per school term may be requested to present information regarding his/her absences to the officers of the Commission. The officers will decide if the full Commission needs to take action to remove/replace said member for failure to fulfill his/her responsibilities as a Commission member.
2. A vote of two-thirds of the Commission members is necessary to remove a member from the Commission.
3. In the event an elected member either cannot serve his/her full term or is removed from the Commission, the nominee with the next highest number of votes from the previous election shall be invited to complete the term of the departing member. If this term is one year or less, said new member is still eligible to run for a full three-year term as defined above.
4. If the vacancy cannot be filled by the procedure as defined in Article III, Section D, #3, the Nominating Committee will search for and recommend a candidate for the vacancy. This candidate must be agreed to by the Nominating Committee, School Commission President and Principal. The new member shall then serve out the remainder of the vacant term. If this term is one year or less, said new member is still eligible to run for a full three-year term as defined above.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
SECTION A. Selection and Term of Office
The Officers shall consist of a President, Vice-president, and Secretary. Any elected member of the Commission is eligible for any office. All officers shall be elected annually by the Commission at the last regular meeting in June.
SECTION B. Duties
The duties of the Officers shall be as follows:
1. The President presides at all regular and special meetings of the Commission, and is responsible for preparation and posting of the agenda prior to Commission meetings.
2. The Vice-President shall perform all duties of the President in his/her absence, and will complete the term if the President is unable to do so.
3. The Secretary shall maintain written record of all acts of the Commission and preserve all reports and documents committed to his/her care.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS AND QUORUM
SECTION A.
The School Commission shall meet monthly from September to June on the first Tuesday of the month or on a day chosen at the discretion of the Executive Committee. The President, Pastor, or principal may, upon notice to the membership, call a special meeting at any other time.
SECTION B.
All meetings of the Commission are open to adult members in good standing of the Parish and parents of children enrolled at St. Charles School, unless a meeting is designated as an Executive Session.
1. Executive sessions are limited to confidential matters relative to personnel, finance and other matters where open discussion may adversely affect interchange of ideas and unrestricted discussion among Commission members.
2. Decisions made in Executive session must be reported in the Commission minutes.
3. Attendance at Executive sessions is limited to the voting members of the Commission, unless non-voting members or other non-members are invited to participate.
SECTION C.
Any person may address the Commission if they contact the President or Secretary at least one week prior to the scheduled Commission meeting. This requirement may be waived at the President’s discretion. Non-members are limited to a maximum 10-minute presentation.
SECTION D.
For the purposes of transacting official business, it is necessary that a majority of the voting members be present.
SECTION E.
A simple majority of those present and eligible to vote shall carry the motion unless otherwise specified in these By-laws.
ARTICLE VI. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
The rules of parliamentary procedure as contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the meetings of the Commission. However, The President has discretion in following these rules.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
The following are standing committees of School Commission:
1. Finance – This Committee is composed of one or two elected members. The finance committee assists the Parish Business Manager, Parish Finance Commission, Pastor and Principal in the preparation of the school’s annual operating budget.
2. Nominating – see Article III, Section C.
3. Facilities – This committee is composed of two members from the school commission who are on different years of tenure, and at minimum one other school representative. The committee is responsible for assessing peripheral facility needs of the school relative to operations and curriculum, preparing input to finance committee for the school’s annual operating budget, and interacting with the parish building & maintenance commission. This committee is also responsible for forwarding a prioritized estimation of expenses to the Finance Committee for preparation of the school budget.
4. Computers & Communication – This committee is composed of two members from the school commission who are on different years of tenure, and at minimum two other school representatives. The committee is responsible for assessing computers & communication aspects of the school relative to operations and curriculum, preparing input to finance committee for the school’s annual operating budget, and interacting with the parish technology commission. This committee is also responsible for forwarding a prioritized estimation of expenses to the Finance Committee for preparation of the school budget.
5. Public Relations – This committee is composed of two members from the school commission. The committee ensures that the voice of the school community is represented and communicated to the school commission.
The Commission may create such other committees, either permanent or temporary, as it deems necessary for the successful performance of its responsibilities.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the School Commission by a vote of two-thirds of voting members present, providing there is a quorum present. A proposed amendment must be presented at a regular meeting prior to the one at which the vote is taken.
Approved 2/03, Amended 10/06, Amended 01/09