Student Council Constitution

VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS CONSTITUTION

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Vermont Association of Student Councils.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of this association shall be to aid school councils to improve student participation in school government and its related activities.

Article III – Sponsorship

This association is sponsored by the Vermont Principals’ Association

Article IV – Membership

Any school which enrolls students in grades 5-12, and, which is listed in the State Department of Education Directory as an approved school is eligible to become a member of the Association.

Article V – Executive Board and Officers

Section I – The Executive Board of this Association shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Public Relations Director, Technology Officer and four Representatives At-Large. One elementary school representative, one middle school representative and two high school representatives.

Section II – The Executive Board of this Association shall attend one meeting per month on the State level.

Section III – The President shall preside at all meetings and shall be chairperson of the Executive Board.

The Vice-President shall preside in case the President is absent.

The Secretary shall record all minutes and shall forward a copy to the Vermont Principals’ Office to be mailed to member schools.

The Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the Association. S/he shall prepare a detailed statement of all funds received and expended for the Association during the office tenure. A copy of this statement shall be mailed to member schools before the Annual Conference. The Vermont Principals’ Association shall receive and pay all bills and receive the VASC revenues.

The Public Relations Director shall work in conjunction with the Secretary to communicate the anticipated occurrence of all State, Regional and National Student Council activities to the media. S/he will also assume the responsibility of Newspaper Editor while in office.

The Parliamentarian shall learn Robert’s Rules of Parliamentary Procedure. S/he shall assume responsibility for the efficiency and order of each meeting by applying the rules of parliamentary procedure.

The Technology Officer shall maintain a Vermont State Student Council web page. S/he should work closely with the Secretary and Public Relations Director to post the minutes and update the web page with current Vermont State Student Council issues.

The four Representatives At-Large will attend each meeting as a member of the Executive Board and vote on all matters of business.

Section IV – An Advisory Committee comprised of Vermont Principals’ members shall sanction all Student Council Executive Board activities. A Student Council Executive Director shall be elected by the Advisory Committee. The Executive Director shall keep the files and records of the Vermont Association of Student Councils. S/he shall assist the Executive Board in planning for the State Regional and National Conference. The Executive Director shall act as the liaison between the Vermont Principals’ Association and the Student Council Executive Board.

Section V – Powers and Duties of the Executive Board

1) The Executive Board shall plan the Annual State, Regional and National Conference Activities.
2) It shall issue reports of all annual activities to the Advisory Committee.
3) It shall assist in the organization of new local student councils.
4) It shall publish the Student Council Newsletter at least three times per year.
5) It shall serve as a clearinghouse for student council information.
6) It shall further carry out the duties necessary to fulfill the purpose of the Association.

Article VI – Election of Officers

Section I – Officers and members of the Executive Board shall be elected at the Annual State Fall Conference of the Association. Their term of office shall be from the Fall Conference of their election to the following Fall Conference.

Section II – Executive Board nominations shall be submitted with each school’s application for State conference registration. Each school council shall have the privilege of recommending one candidate for a position on the Executive Board. Each school will only be allowed to have one elected member on the Board. All nominees shall be present or have read their qualifications for office, not to exceed two minutes. Only one representative from each council may vote on the slate of officers. There shall be no bartering of votes on the floor.

Section III – If for any reason a member of the Executive Board shall become vacant during the year, the remaining members shall choose the successor who shall serve until the next State conference. It is suggested that the defeated candidate for the office at the previous conference be elected to fill the position.

Section IV – Attendance by the Executive Board and Officers at their monthly meetings is critical to the success of the Vermont Association of Student Councils. Absence from one meeting shall require a warning. Absence from two meetings shall constitute a resignation unless illness is a factor, and this factor must be documented in writing by the member school’s principal. Other reasons of absence shall be at the Executive Board’s discretion. An officer’s resignation shall be replaced by using Article VI, Section III.

Article VII – Voting Power

At all meetings of the Association, each member council shall have one vote in the Representative Assembly. All eleven officers shall have one vote on Executive Board matters. The Vermont Principals’ Advisory Committee shall have the authority to rule on all Student Council Activities.