Rules of Order and Procedure

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

Rules of Procedure:

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.

All meetings are open to the public, and the public is welcome to attend. The schedule for all upcoming dates throughout the school year will be posted on the school website by September 1st.

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 will be 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 the preparation of agendas to ensure the council accomplishes its work on time.

The council consists of the principal, one school employee who is elected by their peers, and six parent members, half of whom are elected in even years and half in odd years.  In the event there is a tie vote in an election, the principal shall flip a coin to determine the outcome. An elementary school must have at least six members (4 parent members and 2 school employee members, including the principal) OR the size of the SCC must be consistent with 53G-7-1202. (Councils may have a 2-parent majority, and elections are required to be staggered, with half of the council elected each year.)

Election Procedures

• First Week of April - The community will be notified of the process for volunteering or being elected to a position on White Pines SCC for the upcoming school year. Notifications will be made via email, the parent newsletter, the school website, and the school’s front doors.
• May 4th - Community members will have until May 4th to submit their names for consideration. Community members can submit their name either in person at the school to Mr. Johnson or by email: joseph.johnson@ccsdut.org
• May 5th through May 17th - Nominees will be posted on the school website and through the school messenger system.
• May 18th and May 27th - A Google Form will be sent to the school community for the voting process. Votes for nominees will be taken during this window. If there are not enough nominees for a vote, those who volunteered to be on White Pines SCC will be accepted onto the council. If there are not enough volunteers, the current SCC members will reach out to the community and school members to participate. 

When a full council is not seated in the election, or a seat is vacated, the parent members of the council shall appoint members to fill unfilled parent positions, and school employee members will appoint school employee members. There is also the option to drop a school employee or parent to meet the state guidelines if a volunteer cannot be found.

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.

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

If a parent member is absent from two consecutive meetings, the chair will notify the member that if the member does not attend the next meeting, the council will consider the seat vacant and the remaining parent members will appoint a parent to fill the unexpired term.  

If a council member needs to disclose a conflict of interest, they will contact our local school board member representative, who is assigned to the White Pine Elementary SCC, or the current chair.

Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53A-1a-108.1(9)(i). Items on the agenda take priority over other discussions coming before the council. Action of the council will be taken by motions and voting. The motions and voting are recorded in the minutes.

Simplified Motions of Parliamentary Procedure

MOTION	DOES IT REQUIRE A 2ND?	IS IT DEBATABLE?	CAN IT BE AMENDED?	IS A VOTE REQUIRED
Adjourn	yes	no	no	majority
Amend a motion	yes	yes	yes	majority
Close nominations	yes	no	yes	2/3
Main motion	yes	yes	yes	majority
Point of Order	no	no	no	ruled on by chair
Previous Question	yes	no	no	2/3
Reconsider	yes	yes	no	majority
Withdrawal of Motion	no	no	no	majority

 

Understanding the Motions:

• Motion: A formal proposal for the council to take a specific action. A motion must be stated clearly.
• Second: Another council member must indicate their support for the motion to allow it to be discussed and voted upon.
• Discussion: Once a motion is seconded, council members can offer their input and opinions when recognized by the chair.
• Voting: After discussion, the chair will call for a vote on the motion. The outcome depends on the type of motion and the required majority.
• Calling the Previous Question: A member can make a motion to end the discussion on the current motion by saying, "I move the previous question." This requires a second and a two-thirds (2/3) vote to pass. If it passes, the council immediately votes on the original motion without further discussion. If it fails, the council continues discussing the original motion. This motion is typically used to expedite the meeting.
• Tie Vote: A vote that results in an equal number of votes for and against the motion is considered a lost vote.
• Main Motion: This is the primary type of motion used to introduce new business or ideas. Main motions can be debated and amended.
• Amend a Motion: A motion to change the wording or details of the main motion. Amendments require a second, are debatable, and require a majority vote.
• Point of Order: A member raises a "point of order" if they believe a procedural error has occurred during the meeting. The chair will rule on whether the point is valid.
• Reconsider: A motion to bring back a previously decided motion for further discussion and another vote. This motion can only be made by a member who voted on the winning side of the original motion and requires a second and a majority vote.
• Withdrawal of Motion: The person who originally made a motion can ask to withdraw it before a vote is taken. This does not require a second or debate and is usually granted by the chair.
• Close Nominations: A motion to end the process of nominating candidates for an office. It requires a second and a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

*Reviewed and ratified on 9/15/2025 for the 2025-2026 School Year