Bylaws

ARTICLE I – Name of Organization 

The name of this organization will be Banks Trail Middle School Improvement Council.

ARTICLE II – Purpose 
The purpose of Banks Trail Middle School Improvement Council will be to:

• Assist in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the five-year comprehensive  school improvement plan; 
• Review the school improvement plan each year; 
• Assist with the development of the school’s Report to Parents, which provides  information on the school’s progress and is due for distribution April 30th of each year; Assist with preparing the annual narrative for the S.C. School Report Card in conjunction  with the principal; 
• Provide advice on the use of school incentive award expenditures (if allocated by the  State Legislature and awarded to the school);  
• Serve as a liaison between the school, school organizations, the community and the local  school board by collecting and disseminating information about the school improvement;  and 
• Provide other assistance that the principal may request as well as carrying out any other  duties prescribed by the local school board. 

The council will not have any powers and duties reserved by law or regulation to the local school  board. 

ARTICLE III – Representation and Membership 
Banks Trail Middle School Improvement Council will be composed of a minimum of:

• At least three parents of students in the school elected by the parents of the students  enrolled in the school; 
• At least two teachers from the school elected by the faculty; 
• The principal may appoint at least two representatives. The appointments could include persons from the community to balance the council membership in terms of  race, age, sex, geography, non-parent taxpayers or other variables; 
• Ex-officio members will include PTA President, Athletic Booster Club President, and  Study Body Representatives. 

Each member will have one vote and absentee ballots or proxy voting will not be permitted. 

ARTICLE IV – Election and Appointment Procedures 
Elections will be held prior to the South Carolina School Improvement Council Member Network deadline each school year and council members will assume their responsibilities immediately.  The principal will make appointments within 14 days of the elections.

Information about the upcoming election of parent representatives will be sent to parents along  with the nomination form. Parents will vote for the designated number of parent representatives.  

SIC Elections may use a digital format or voting may take place at a function where parents are  invited to a school activity. The ballots will be counted and will be retained for one year. 

Teacher representatives to the council will be elected by the faculty during a regularly scheduled  faculty meeting. 

The names and addresses of all council members will be forwarded to the School Improvement  Council Assistance (SICA) at the University of South Carolina within 30 days following the  elections. 

The names of all council members will be published in the first school newsletter following the  elections. 

ARTICLE V – Tenure 
All elected and appointed members of the council will serve two-year terms. The terms are to be  staggered. Ex-officio will serve one-year terms. 

A member may serve no more than two consecutive terms. 

The council may establish committees made up of teachers, parents, business leaders and other  citizens to study specific issues and make recommendations to the council. These committees  will not be permanent and will have no responsibilities beyond those outlined by the council  when established. 

Elected membership on the council will terminate when members: 

• No longer have a student enrolled in the school or no longer live in the school  attendance zone; 
• No longer hold a teacher position at the school; 
• Have missed three consecutive scheduled meetings without proper notice to the  chairperson; or 
• Submit a letter or resignation to the chairperson. 

In the event of any of the above situations, the chairperson will appoint, in the case of an elected  member, the person with the next highest number of votes in the most recent election. In the  case of an appointed member, the principal will select a replacement. The replacement will not  serve a full term, but finish the term of the person replaced.

ARTICLE VI – Officers 
The officers of Banks Trail Middle School Improvement Council will consist of a chairperson,  vice chairperson and secretary. The officers will be elected annually during the first council  meeting of each academic year. Ex-officio members are not eligible to be an officer of the  council. 

ARTICLE VII – Duties of Officers 
The chairperson will preside at all meetings and have general supervision of the activities of the  council. The chairperson will work with the principal in planning and directing the activities of  the council including monitoring committee progress. 
The chairperson, in consultation with the principal, will prepare an agenda for all council  meetings, arrange for the agenda to be mailed or emailed to each member prior to each meeting,  and have the authority to modify the agenda if it is determined to be in the best interest of the  council’s work. The chairperson will appoint temporary or standing committees as needed and  serve as an ex-officio member of all committees. 

In the absence of the chairperson, the vice chairperson will assume the duties of the chairperson. 

The secretary is responsible for: 

• Keeping a full and accurate account of the proceedings and transactions of all council  meetings; 
• Providing a copy of the minutes to the council members, all faculty members, the  school improvement council district contact person and/or other appropriate district  administrative staff; 
• Preparing any official correspondence that the chairperson may request; • Maintaining a council file in the school’s administrative offices containing copies of  all minutes, council correspondence, the annual school improvement report, the  annual summary report and the current council bylaws; 
• Maintaining a listing of the council membership with current telephone numbers and  addresses; 
• Keeping accurate attendance records of all meetings; and 
• Notifying an assistant to keep a full and accurate account of each meeting, if unable  to attend. 

ARTICLE VIII – Meetings 
The council will meet a minimum of six meetings during the school year. The principal or  chairperson may call special meetings as long as all council members are notified of the meeting  at least 24 hours in advance. 

A simple majority of the council membership will constitute a quorum if at least five members  are present. Decisions shall be made by vote following general discussion. All council meetings  are open to the public and anyone showing an interest in the council and its activities will be  encouraged to attend. Persons interested in presenting at a council meeting may request to be put  on the agenda no later than seven days before the meeting date. 

ARTICLE IX – Technical Assistance and Training 
An orientation session will be held annually for all council members that includes information  about council roles, responsibilities and functions as well as information on school and local  district policies and procedures. Council members may attend school improvement council  training workshops sponsored by the district office or the School Improvement Council  Assistance (SICA). 

The principal will share information on school activities, successes and concerns with council  members. District personnel will provide information on policies, procedures, budget and other  information as needed for the council to fulfill its responsibilities. 

ARTICLE X – Amendments 
These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the council by a two-thirds vote of  those present, provided that the specific amendments have been introduced at a prior meeting,  included in the minutes of that meeting, and are listed on the agenda for the current meeting.