H.B. 254 Enrolled

1

SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL AMENDMENTS
2 2008 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove
5 Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions regarding the term of office of school community council
10 members.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . allows schools, in consultation with local school boards, to set the beginning date of
14 the term of office for school community council members.
15 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53A-1a-108, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 119
22
23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 53A-1a-108 is amended to read:
25 53A-1a-108. School community councils authorized -- Duties -- Composition --
26 Selection of members.
27 (1) As used in this section:
28 (a) (i) "Parent or guardian member" means a parent or guardian of a student who is
29 attending the school or who will be enrolled at the school at any time during the parent's or

30 guardian's initial term of office.
31 (ii) "Parent or guardian member" may not include a person who meets the definition of
32 a school employee member unless the person's employment at the school does not exceed an
33 average of six hours per week.
34 (b) "School employee member" means a person employed at a school by the school or
35 school district, including the principal.
36 (2) Each public school, in consultation with its local school board, shall establish a
37 school community council at the school building level.
38 (3) (a) Each school community council shall:
39 (i) develop a school improvement plan in accordance with Section 53A-1a-108.5 ;
40 (ii) develop the School LAND Trust Program in accordance with Section
41 53A-16-101.5 ;
42 (iii) assist in the development and implementation of a staff professional development
43 plan as provided by Section 53A-3-701 ;
44 (iv) develop a child access routing plan in accordance with Section 53A-3-402 ; and
45 (v) advise and make recommendations to school and school district administrators and
46 the local school board regarding the school and its programs, school district programs, and
47 other issues relating to the community environment for students.
48 (b) In addition to the duties specified in Subsection (3)(a), a school community council
49 for an elementary school shall develop a reading achievement plan in accordance with Section
50 53A-1-606.5 .
51 (4) (a) Each school community council shall consist of school employee members and
52 parent or guardian members in accordance with this section.
53 (b) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(c):
54 (i) each school community council for a high school shall have six parent or guardian
55 members and five school employee members, including the principal; and
56 (ii) each school community council for a school other than a high school shall have four
57 parent or guardian members and three school employee members, including the principal.

58 (c) (i) A school community council may have a larger membership provided that the
59 number of parent or guardian members exceeds the number of school employee members.
60 (ii) A school community council may have a smaller membership provided that:
61 (A) the number of parent or guardian members exceeds the number of school employee
62 members; and
63 (B) there are at least two school employee members on the school community council.
64 (5) (a) Each school employee member, except the principal, shall be elected by a
65 majority vote of the school employees and [serves] serve a two-year term [beginning July 1].
66 The principal shall serve as an ex officio member with full voting privileges.
67 (b) (i) Each parent or guardian member shall be elected at an election held at the school
68 by a majority vote of those voting at the election and [serves] serve a two-year term [beginning
69 July 1].
70 (ii) Only parents or guardians of students attending the school may vote at the election
71 under Subsection (5)(b)(i).
72 (iii) Any parent or guardian of a student who meets the qualifications of this section
73 may file or declare himself as a candidate for election to a school community council.
74 (c) Written notice of the elections held under Subsections (5)(a) and (5)(b) shall be
75 given at least two weeks prior to the elections.
76 (d) Results of the elections held under Subsections (5)(a) and (5)(b) shall be made
77 available to the public upon request.
78 (e) (i) If a parent or guardian position on a school community council remains unfilled
79 after an election is held, the other parent or guardian members of the council shall appoint a
80 parent or guardian who meets the qualifications of this section to fill the position.
81 (ii) If a school employee position on a school community council remains unfilled after
82 an election is held, the other school employee members of the council shall appoint a school
83 employee to fill the position.
84 (iii) The chair of the community council shall notify the local school board of each
85 appointment made pursuant to Subsection (5)(e)(i) [or], (ii), or (iii).

86 (iv) A member appointed to a school community council pursuant to Subsection
87 (5)(e)(i) or (ii) shall serve a two-year term [beginning July 1].
88 (f) Initial terms shall be staggered so that no more than 50% of the council members
89 stand for election in any one year.
90 (g) (i) Each public school, in consultation with its local school board, shall set the
91 beginning date of the term of office for school community council members.
92 (ii) Council members may serve up to three successive terms.
93 (h) (i) Each school community council shall elect a chair and vice chair from its parent
94 or guardian members and elected employee members.
95 (ii) No more than one parent or guardian member or elected employee member may at
96 the same time serve as an officer specified in Subsection (5)(h)(i).
97 (6) (a) A school community council may create subcommittees or task forces to:
98 (i) advise or make recommendations to the council; or
99 (ii) develop all or part of a plan listed in Subsection (3).
100 (b) Any plan or part of a plan developed by a subcommittee or task force shall be
101 subject to the approval of the school community council.
102 (c) A school community council may appoint individuals who are not council members
103 to serve on a subcommittee or task force, including parents, school employees, or other
104 community members.