Mountainside Rules of Order & Procedure

Approved on September 9, 2024

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

• Regularly attend council meetings on time and be prepared
• Make decisions with the needs of students as the main objective
• Listen to and value diverse opinions
• Be sure the opinions of those the council represents are included in discussions
• Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable
• Act with integrity

Rules of Procedure:

Meetings:

Council members will receive training to understand the responsibilities of the council.  Council
members receive training before preparing and taking action on School LAND Trust Plans and
reports.(required)

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

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 and will be posted on the school
website.  The agenda will include the date, time, location of the meeting, and any proposed action
items. (required)

Written minutes will be kept of all meetings, prepared in draft format for approval at the next
scheduled meeting. Approved minutes will be retained for three years. (required)

The council will follow the best practice 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 the preparation of agendas to be sure the council accomplishes their work in a
timely manner. (best practice – example on https://www.schools.utah.gov/schoollandtrust/timelines

Elections:

The council currently consists of the principal, 1 school employee(s) who is elected in even
years, 2 school employees who are elected in odd years, and 3 parent members who are
elected in even years, 3 parent members who are elected in odd years.   Elections are held in
April/May for the upcoming school year.  If the number of candidates does not exceed the number of
available seats no election will be held. (Size of the council MUST BE ADOPTED BY VOTE OF THE
COUNCIL and consistent with 53G-7-1202.  Elections are required to be staggered with half of the
council elected each year.)

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

Voting:

The council must have a quorum to vote (required).  A quorum is a majority of council members.

To ensure a quorum can be present, establish a process to remove and replace a member, as
needed.  A council member could be removed if not attending meetings or responding to
communication.  Council members may also have personal reasons for needing to step down.  If a
sitting council member needs to be replaced during a school year, the current committee members
will nominate a replacement who will be approved by council vote. (best practice) 

Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary
procedure as required in 53G-7-1203(10).  Council actions will be taken by motions and voting with
votes and motions recorded in the minutes. (required)

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.  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.

• A tie vote is a lost vote.
• Most motions are main motions.  A main motion may be amended.
• A point of order is offered when there is some question if procedure had been followed correctly.
• A point of order is offered when there is some question if procedure had been followed correctly.
• 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.