Jordan Ridge Elementary School Community Council Rules of Order

Jordan School District  |  Jordan Ridge Elementary  |  Adopted by the Council on September 22, 2025

 COUNCIL NORMS

 To promote ethical behavior and civil discourse each council member shall:

• Attend council meetings on time and prepared

• Make decisions with the needs of students as the main objective

• Listen to and value diverse opinions

• Be sure the opinions of those you represent are included in discussions

• Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable

• Act with integrity

 CONDUCTING A MEETING

All meetings are open to the public and the public is welcome to attend.

The agenda of each upcoming meeting with draft minutes of the prior meeting will be made available to all council members at least one week in advance, will be posted on the school website and made available in the main office. The agenda will include the date, time and location of the meeting.

Minutes will be kept of all meetings, prepared in draft format for approval at the next scheduled meeting.

The council will prepare a timeline for the school year that includes due dates for all required reporting and other activities/tasks that the council agrees to assume or participate in. The timeline will assist in preparation of agendas to be sure the council accomplishes their work in a timely manner.

The chair conducts the meetings, makes assignments and requests reports on assignments. In the absence of the chair the vice-chair shall conduct meetings.

Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53A-1a-108.1(10).

Items on the agenda take priority over other discussions coming before the council.

Council action will be taken by motions and voting with votes and motions recorded in the minutes. A motion (or an action to be taken by the council) is stated as a motion. Someone else on the council “seconds” the motion indicating that at least one other person on the council feels the motion is worthy of discussion. Then the council members may provide input and discussion as called upon by the chair. When discussion seems complete the chair may call for a vote on the motion. Or when a member of the council “calls the previous question” (a motion to end discussion of the first motion), a second is required and then, without discussion the chair calls for a vote that must pass by 2/3. If the vote on the previous question fails the council goes back to discussing the first motion. If the motion to call the previous question passes, the chair directly calls for a vote on the first motion. A vote to call the previous question is usually used to move business along.

Attached is a chart that could be used if the council feels they would like to use additional motions of Parliamentary Procedure in their meetings.

A tie vote is a lost vote.

• A main motion may be amended.

• Nominations can be closed by saying, “I move to close nominations.”

• Most motions are main motions.

• A point of order is offered when there is some question if procedure had been followed correctly.

• To stop debate or discussion on a motion and force the vote a member would say, “I move the previous question.” This requires a second and a 2/3 vote.

• Hasty action may be corrected by use of the motion to reconsider. This motion may be made only by one who voted on the prevailing side.

• A person who made the motion may withdraw the same motion.

COUNCIL SEATS AND YEARS OF SERVICE

Members can serve on the council for two consecutive years after being elected. One of these years can be when a student is not currently at the school. For example, if a member serves their first year while their student is in 6th grade, they can still serve on the council the following year.

There will be 6 positions available on the JRE council. One position will be reserved for a teacher, one position will be reserved for the principal and the remaining four positions will be reserved for parents. Note: There must be two more parents than teachers.

As possible, parent and teacher positions should rotate so that approximately half of the committee is re-elected each year.

ELECTIONS

The nominating window will open the first week of May and will remain open for two weeks. Nominations can be submitted by nomination forms in the main office. Any parent of a JRE student can be nominated.  

Patrons will be notified of the nomination window via PARENT SQUARE.

All patrons nominated will be added to the ballot.

The voting window will be open for one week only which will be the third week of May. Patrons must vote via paper ballot which will be available in the main office during this one week period.

ELECTION OF THE CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

After the school community council is seated each year, the school community council shall annually elect at the council’s first meeting a chair and vice-chair. The chair shall be elected from the parent members and the vice-chair shall be elected from the parent or school employee members, excluding the principal. The principal will conduct the election for chair and vice-chair, in that order, according to the following procedure:

a) Members interested in either office may use the self-nomination process. Nominations may also be made by other council members.

b) Voting shall be by regular voice vote by the school community council. A nominee must receive a majority vote of the council members present. Should no nominee receive a majority vote, further nominations may be made, and subsequent elections will be conducted by secret ballot until a nominee receives a majority.

When a vacancy occurs in the office of chair or vice-chair for any reason, a replacement shall be elected for the unexpired term.

REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT

If a member of the council fails to attend two consecutive meetings without being excused in advance, or fails to perform the duties of his/her office, the members of the council shall remove him/her from office and declare the position vacant. Parent members of the council will appoint individuals to fill vacant parent positions, and school employee members will appoint individuals to fill vacant school employee positions.

RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS

 A council member may resign from their position by providing written notification to the council chair and School principal. Parent members of the council will appoint individuals to fill vacant parent positions, and school employee members will appoint individuals to fill vacant school employee positions.

 CONFLICT OF INTEREST

A member who has a personal or private interest in any proposed or pending matter which presents a conflict of interest will disclose such interest and will not vote unless the member’s participation is necessary to obtain a quorum or otherwise to enable the Council to act. ­­

PATRON ATTENDANCE

Patrons who are not on the council may attend any SCC meeting but may not participate in discussions or vote.

Patrons must communicate with the administrator and the SCC chair to propose any agenda items. The SCC chair and administrator will determine if the items will be added to the agenda. ­­­­­­­­

Approved by SCC, September 22, 2025

Jordan Ridge

School Community Council Candidate Form

Serving on the School Community Council

Serving on our School Community Council is a wonderful way for parents and teachers to contribute and help improve academic performance at our school. The school receives an annual dividend from the school trust lands. Our council decides how these funds will be used. This year our school received $97,929 from the School LAND Trust Program. The council reviews and prepares other academic plans for our students each year. All plans are reviewed for final approval by our school board. Councils also act in an advisory capacity to school and school district administrations.

Qualifications

Every public school in Utah has a School Community Council. The councils are made up of school employees who are elected by employees and parents who are elected by parents of students attending the school. Membership terms are for two years. Parent members must have a student attending the school at least one of the two years of their term of service. Employees must be employed by the school district at the school.

For more information please visit https://schools.utah.gov/schoollandtrust/parentscouncils

Please fill out EITHER the Parent member information OR the Employee member information.

The form is due to the school principal before: May 9, 2025

The School Community Council Election (if needed) will be held: May 12-16, 2025

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YES! I would like to serve on the School Community Council.

Parent/Guardian Printed Name:______________________________________________________________________________

Phone:______________________________  Email: _______________________________________________________________________

           Name                                                     Grade

I am the parent/guardian of students:                    ______________________________________________  

           ______________________________________________  

           ______________________________________________                                                                                                                                

I am also a licensed employee of this school district.        Yes                  No

                                                                        _____________________________________________        _________

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