Community Council Membership 2022-2023
Name	Role	Email Address	Elected
Andrea Smith	Parent	andreaismith@yahoo.com	20-21
Kelly Zalit	Parent	Kzalit@msn.com	20-21
Jamie Ellis	Parent	jaellis@wsd.net	22-23
Nyla Weaver	Parent	nylaweaver18@gmail.com	22-23
Jazmin Alcantara	Parent	jazminspark@gmail.com	22-23
Juleeann Rivera	Parent	jvrivera@graniteschools.org	21-22
Travis Warnick	Principal	twarnick@dsdmail.net
Dana Howard	Staff	dahoward@dsdmail.net	22-23
Erin Stumo	Staff	estumo@dsdmail.net	21-22
Jenn Pond	Staff	jpond@dsdmail.net	21-22
Sara Ferrioa	Staff	saferriola@dsdmail.net	22-23
Michele Swenson	Staff	mswenson@dsdmail.net	22-23
Shelly Thorne	Staff	shthorne@dsdmail.net	22-23

 

 

Serving on the School's Community Council

 

About Community Council:

The purpose of the Syracuse Junior High Council shall be to legitimately and actively address problems, formulate policy, define goals, shape direction, and ensure implementation where these responsibilities do not come into conflict with district, state or national policy, mandates, negotiated agreements or laws.

In accordance with state law, the Syracuse Junior High Community Council shall:

• Develop a School Improvement Plan.
• Develop a School LAND Trust Program.
• Approve the Staff Professional Development Plan.
• Develop a Safe Neighborhood Access Plan (SNAP)
• Advise and make recommendations to school and District administrators and to the School Board when appropriate.
• Create subcommittees and task forces as needed.
• Serve as a communication channel between the school and the larger school community.
• Advise and make recommendations to school, Davis School District Administrations, and the Davis District School Board regarding the school, its programs, Davis School District Programs, and other issues relating to the community environment for students.

 

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2015-2016  -  $77,959.00

2016-2017 -  $84,242.00

2017-2018 -  $107,997.00

2018-2019 -  $127,431.00

2019-2020 -  $145,895.00

 

State Funding Report for All Schools

State School LAND Trust Website

 

Syracuse Junior High - 2019-2020 School Improvement Plan

 

Assessment's School Improvement Page 

 

Syracuse Junior High

Community Council Bylaws

Amended October 17, 2018

ARTICLE I:  NAME

The name of this council shall be Syracuse Junior High School Community Council, hereafter referred to as “the Council.”

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of the Council shall be to legitimately and actively address problems, recommend policy, define goals, shape direction, and ensure implementation where these responsibilities do not come into conflict with district, state or national policy, mandates, negotiated agreements or laws. 

ARTICLE III:  ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNCIL

The Council shall consist of school employees, including the principal, and parents/guardians of Syracuse Junior High students.  The Council shall consist of twelve (12) voting members, with the number of parents exceeding the number of employees by at least two. Members of the Council serve 2-year terms.  Parents/guardians must have a child at the school at least one of the two years of their term.

Council Members

• Parents/Guardians - 7 Members elected by parents/guardians.
• Employees - 5 Members
  • Principal - (serves as an ex officio member with full voting privileges)
  • 3 Certified - Elected by certified employees.
  • 1 Classified - Elected by classified employees.

Only parents or guardians of students, attending Syracuse Junior High School, may declare themselves as candidates for election to the Council.

At all meetings, parents, teachers, and other community members who are not Council members may attend and comment, but they will not be considered a voting participant.

ARTICLE IV: RESPONSIBILITIES

In accordance with state law, the Syracuse Junior High Community Council shall: 

A.     Develop a School Improvement Plan.

B.     Develop a School LAND Trust Program.

C.   Staff Professional Development Plan.

D.    Develop a Safe Neighborhood Access Plan (SNAP) 

E.     Advise and make recommendations to school and District administrators and to the School Board when appropriate.

F.     Create subcommittees and task forces as needed.

G.   Serve as a communication channel between the school and the larger school community.

H.   Advise and make recommendations to school, Davis School District Administrations, and the Davis District School Board regarding the school, its programs, Davis School District Programs, and other issues relating to the community environment for students.

ARTICLE V:  ELECTION PROCESS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS

A.   The principal, or designee, shall oversee the elections held under these bylaws.  Ballots shall be kept secure.

B.   School employees shall be elected by secret ballot. These members of the council shall be voted in by majority vote,and must be willing to serve a two-year term beginning in September.  If there is an unfilled position because not enough employees ran or were nominated, the employee members of the committee will appoint an employee to the unfilled position.

C.   Parent/Guardian members are selected by other parents/guardians in an election. Written notice of the elections must be given ten (10) days prior to the elections. Polls shall be open for three days of voting.

 i.     The written notice should include an invitation for nominations, and a date by which candidate names must be submitted; the date and time of the election; a list of council positions that are up for election; and instructions for becoming a candidate for a community council position. A parent/guardian of a student qualifies to be a candidate for election to a school community council if their student is enrolled at the school at least one of the two years of their elected term.

ii.     Any parent or guardian of a student who qualifies as a candidate may declare himself as a candidate.

iii.     An individual who has been nominated by someone other than himself should not be placed on the ballot without first seeking the consent of the nominee.

iv.     Only parents/guardians of students attending the school may vote with each parent or guardian getting one vote.

v.     Members are elected by secret ballot by a majority vote of those voting at the election. 

D.   If a position on the Council remains unfilled after an election is held, or if an individual council member resigns or is removed from office, members of the council from the group to which that position belongs (i.e., parent or employee) shall appoint an individual who meets the required qualifications.  The Council Chair or the designee shall notify the school board of the said appointment.

E.   Elections will be held near the beginning of the school year and be completed by October 15th.

F.    Newly elected council members will begin their terms of office beginning the first Council meeting following elections.

ARTICLE VI:  DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

The Council shall elect a committee chair from its parent or guardian members and one vice chair from its parent/guardian/employee members. 

The Chair and Vice Chair shall do the following: 

• Prepare meeting agendas in consultation with the principal. 
• Assist the principal in preparing a calendar of meetings for the school year. 
• Conduct the school community council meetings. 
• Establish appropriate subcommittees/task forces and appoint members to serve on them. 
• Direct the activities of council members towards the Council's purpose. 
• Oversee that the Council's guidelines and bylaws are adhered to. 
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Council. 

The Council shall elect a secretary from its guardian or employee members. 

The Secretary shall do the following: 

• School Community Council Meetings should be open to the public. This requires that the Council give public notice at least one week prior to meeting of when, where, what their meetings will be about, and a summary of the previous meeting.  This can be accomplished through several methods: posting on the school’s web page; placing notice on the marquee; sending home notes; listing it on a monthly calendar that might be sent home to parents; or even using the phone messaging system.
• Personally remind all members of upcoming meetings.
• Record the minutes of all Council meetings, including motions and actions taken. 
• Distribute minutes of each meeting within 7 days of the meeting.  Recorded minutes are to be kept in the office in a binder indefinitely.
• Retain a copy of all minutes.
• Post approved minutes on the school web site.
• Keep accurate attendance records at meetings, including those excused.
• Maintain a current copy of the Council's Bylaws.
• Maintain a current Council membership list and keep a current Council membership list updated on the webpage.
• Conduct correspondence and perform other duties as assigned.
• Arrange for a substitute secretary to perform these duties when unable to attend a Council meeting.

Representative Members shall do the following: 

• Attend meetings regularly. 
• Review council minutes,and respond with concerns within 7 days. 
• Preview agenda and prepare for all meetings. 
• Provide input on the needs, interests or concerns of the group the member represents. 
• Attend and participate in appropriate subcommittee/task force meetings.  Complete assignments as requested. 
• Represent the school Community Council at appropriate functions. 
• Assume other responsibilities as requested by the Council. 

ARTICLE VII:  VOTING

Voting- Each voting member of the School Community Council shall have one vote and decisions shall be by a two-thirds majority vote.  Five (5) voting members must be present in order for a quorum to exist.  All decisions directly affecting classroom instruction are subject to ratification by the faculty at large and will require two readings in two consecutive months to allow the entire faculty and other interested parties to have time to give input to the committee members before a vote is taken.  Meetings of the council shall be conducted in accordance with parliamentary procedures, with Robert's Rules of Order being the standard reference in the event of dispute. 

Absentee Voting- If a member of the Council is unable to attend a meeting, he/she should notify the Chair or principal concerning the planned absence and choose one of the following options: 

Option 1 - The absentee will find a substitute from his/her area of representation to deliver his/her written vote on known agenda items and to attend the meeting in his/her place. 

Option 2 - The absentee will give his/her written vote to a fellow council member to be given at the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF MEMBERS

If a member of the Council fails to attend three 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 office or position vacant and will be filled as outlined in Article V.  Any resignations should be made in writing to the council Chair. 

ARTICLE IX: SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEES/TASK FORCES

The council may create special sub-committees/task forces, or invite individuals to advise the council, as deemed necessary in order to carry out the goals specified by the council, including those contained in the school’s improvement plan (SIP).  The specific term of subcommittees/task forces shall be stated. The committee may create subcommittees or task forces as needed; whose plans will need to be approved by the Community Council.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the council provided: (1) that notice of any proposed amendment shall be distributed in writing to all council members at least ten days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be voted on: (2) that a quorum must be present when the vote is taken: and (3) that amendments to the Bylaws require a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting to pass. 

Rules of Order and Procedure – School Community Council 

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. 

 

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 three 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.  The position shall be filled by the regularly established election procedure.

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. 

Laws and Rules