Academy Park

School Community Council Rules of Order and Procedure

Printed November 2, 2026

These Rules of Order and Procedure were adopted by the Academy Park School Community Council on August 20, 2026. The vote count was 4 approved, 0 not approved, and 0 absent. The council reviews and updates these rules annually through a formal vote.

Code and Rule References

These Rules of Order and Procedure adhere to all relevant legal requirements for School Community Councils and the School LAND Trust Program, as outlined in Utah Code §§ 53G-7-1202, 53G-7-1203, 53G-7-1206, and 53G-7-13, as well as Utah Administrative Rules R277-477 and R277-491.

Council Duties

In accordance with Utah Code § 53G-7-1202, the responsibilities of the council include:

Creating all components of the School LAND Trust Plan, to include the Goal Statement, Academic Area, Measurement, Action Plan Steps, and Expenditures.
Advising and making recommendations to school and school district administrators and the local school board regarding:
- the school and its programs
- school district programs
- a child access routing plan
- safe technology utilization and digital citizenship
- other issues relating to the community environment for students
Partnering with the school’s principal and other administrators to ensure that adequate on and off campus Internet filtering is installed and consistently configured to prevent viewing of harmful content by students and school personnel.
In accordance with state board rule regarding school community council expenditures and funding limits: working with students, families, and educators to develop and incorporate safety principles at the school, and holding at least an annual discussion with the school’s principal and district administrators regarding safety principles.
Providing input to the school’s principal on a positive behaviors plan.

Council Member Expectations

To promote ethical behavior and respectful discussion, each council member shall:

Attend council meetings on time and come prepared.
Make decisions with the best interests of students as the primary focus.
Listen to and value diverse opinions.
Ensure that the perspectives of those the council represents are considered in discussions.
Be accountable for their actions and expect accountability from others.
Act with integrity.

Training

Council members will receive annual training to understand their responsibilities. Training is the responsibility of the local school board. Council members receive training before preparing and taking action on School LAND Trust plans and reports.

Open Meetings

All meetings are open to the public, and the public is welcome to attend.

Meeting Agendas and Minutes

The agenda for each upcoming meeting, along with draft minutes from the previous meeting, will be provided to all council members at least one week in advance.
The agenda will be posted on the school website and will include the date, time, and location of the meeting, as well as any proposed action items.
Written minutes will be taken at all meetings. These minutes will be prepared in draft form for approval at the next scheduled meeting.
Once approved, minutes will be retained for three years.

Annual Timeline

The council will create a timeline for the school year. This timeline will include due dates for all required reports and other activities or tasks that the council agrees to undertake or participate in. The timeline will be used to help prepare meeting agendas and ensure the council completes its work efficiently.

Process for Electing the School Community Council

Community Council Elections will be announced before the school year begins and the public will be notified via Back to School Night, the school website, emails, and social media platforms.
Eligible candidates can file for election through paper ballot sent to the District.
Ballots will be cast in person at Academy Park Elementary.

Membership

The council’s composition ensures a two parent majority and includes the following members:

The principal, an ex officio voting member.
1 school employee member(s).
2 parent member(s).

Membership is consistent with Utah Code § 53G-7-1202 and matches the council’s Council Membership Form.

Staggered Terms

Council members are elected to two year terms. Terms are staggered so that half of the seats are open each year:

2 school employee position(s) and 1 parent position(s) are elected in even-numbered years.
1 school employee position(s) and 2 parent position(s) are elected in odd-numbered years.

Filling Vacancies

If a full council is not elected, or if a seat becomes vacant during the year, parent members of the council will appoint individuals to fill vacant parent positions, and school employee members will appoint individuals to fill vacant school employee positions.

Member Removal

A council member may be removed from office under the following circumstances:

Member relocation: Council membership may be discontinued when a member’s relocation prevents them from serving on the council.
Attendance: The member fails to attend 2 consecutive regular council meetings without prior notification to and approval by the council chair.

The process for removal is as follows: 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 and then, 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.. The procedure for filling theresulting vacancy is outlined in the Filling Vacancies section.

Resignation of Members

A council member may resign from their position by providing written notification to the Council Chair. The procedure for filling the resulting vacancy is outlined in the Filling Vacancies section.

Election of Officers

At the first meeting of each year after the council is seated, the council will elect a chair from the parent members and a vice-chair from either the parent or school employee members. The principal is not eligible to hold an office. The chair will conduct meetings, make assignments to council members, and request reports on those assignments. In the chair’s absence, the vice-chair will conduct the meetings. The chair may delegate responsibilities to other council members as needed.

Quorum

A quorum, which is a majority of the council members, is necessary to conduct official business and vote. This quorum requirement does not necessitate a two parent majority.

Conflicts of Interest

Council members must adhere to the conflict of interest policy established by Granite School District. Please refer to Granite School District's Code of Ethics for detailed guidelines.

Parliamentary Order and Procedure, Ethical Behavior, and Civil Discourse

Meetings will be conducted and actions taken according to simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required by Utah Code § 53G-7-1203. Council actions will be decided by motions and voting, with all votes and motions recorded in the meeting minutes. The council conducts its business in an organized and respectful manner that promotes ethical behavior and civil discourse. The simplified rules of parliamentary procedure the council follows can also be found in the district community council handbook.

Simplified Motions of Parliamentary Procedure

Motion	Does it require a second?	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 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.
Tie vote: A vote that results in an equal number of votes for and against the motion is considered a lost vote.
Main motion: 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 vote.