School Committee Bylaws
School Committee Bylaws
ARTICLE I
Number of Members and Terms of Office
The election of members of the Southbridge School Committee to four (4) year terms of office shall be as specified in the Charter of the Town of Southbridge. The election of members of School Committee of five (5) members shall be staggered, there and two, every two years in conjunction with the general town election in November.
ARTICLE II
Filling Vacancies
Vacancies on the Southbridge School Committee caused by death, resignation, or otherwise shall be filled by the Southbridge Town Council until the next regular election of town officials.
ARTICLE III
School Committee Officers
1. Chairman - Duties defined in Article V
2. Vice Chairman - Duties defined in Article VI
3. Clerk - Duties defined in Article VII
ARTICLE IV
Officers/Filling Vacancies
The Southbridge School Committee Chairman and the School Committee Clerk shall be elected by a vote of a majority of the full Committee at the "organizational" meeting or if any change in the membership of the Committee should occur. A vacancy in the office of Chairman and/or Clerk shall be filled for the unexpired portion by a vote of the majority of the full Committee.
A Vice-Chairman and representatives to various committees shall be elected in the same manner as that of the Chairman and the Clerk.
Organization meeting shall be held on the first meeting of the School Committee following the election and issuance by the Board of Canvassers of a certificate of election to the newly elected School Committee members. In the event any newly elected School Committee member has not received a certificate of election, said organization meeting shall not be held until all elected members have been duly issued certificates by the Board of Canvassers.
ARTICLE V
Chairman
The Chairman of the Southbridge School Committee shall:
1. Exercise such powers and perform such duties as are fixed by statute and as usually devolve upon the presiding officer of the deliberative body.
2. Be the authorized signatory to all legal documents.
3. With the assistance as necessary from the Superintendent shall represent the Committee in all its official functions.
4. Have the right to entertain motions and to temporarily turn the chair over to the Vice Chairman.
5. Vote on all matters.
ARTICLE VI
Vice - Chairman
The Vice-Chairman of the Southbridge School Committee shall:
1. In the absence of the Chairman, preside and perform such duties as fixed by statute and as usually devolve upon the president Chairman.
2. Be authorized, by vote of the School Committee, to sign all legal documents in the absence of the Chairman.
3. To perform all the such duties that may be delegated to the Vice-Chairman by the Chairman.
ARTICLE VII
Clerk
The Clerk of the Southbridge School Committee shall:
ARTICLE VIII
Legal Counsel
The legal counsel for the Southbridge School Committee shall represent the school system and such officers and employees of the school system as the Committee shall direct in all legal proceedings of the school system to which they or any of them as such shall be a party. He shall, when requested, advise the School Committee, Superintendent and all executive departments in all legal matters pertaining to the business of the school system.
ARTICLE IX
Meetings - Time and Place
The regular meetings of the Southbridge School Committee shall be held every second Tuesday of each month during the regular school year at 7:00 P.M. unless the time and date are changed by vote of the Committee at a previous meeting with adjournment no later than 11:30 P.M. Executive Session will be scheduled prior to all regular meetings as needed.
Amendment Adopted: October 8, 1996
ARTICLE X
Public and Executive Sessions
All business relating to the Southbridge Public Schools will be transacted by the Southbridge School Committee in open meeting provided that the School Committee may, by the affirmative vote of three of its members, authorize the consideration in a closed meeting of any matter within its jurisdiction, the Southbridge School Committee, in all of its meetings, will be governed by the provisions of Title 42, Chapter 46, Section 1-10 of the Rhode Island General Laws as amended.
ARTICLE XI
School Committee Policies
School Committee Minutes of Meetings
The minutes of the Southbridge School Committee proceedings save those of executive session and/or those excluded by federal, state or local statutes, shall be available at the School Department Administration Office for general public review. Unless otherwise provided for by law or contractual agreement, the Southbridge School Committee will not make copies of School Committee minutes available for distribution.
ARTICLE XII
Individuals Members
It is understood that the members of the Southbridge School Committee have authority only when acting as a School Committee legally in session. The School Committee shall not be bound in any way by any action or statement on the part of any individual School Committee members except when such statement or action is in pursuance of specific instruction from the School Committee.
Individual members shall be encouraged to seek through the Superintendent pertinent material or information on school business which may be readily available. When the material or information desired is not readily available request for such data shall be by a vote of the majority of the Committee members.
ARTICLE XIV
Policy Manual - General
1. It shall be the duty of the Clerk and/or his/her designee to keep the Southbridge School Committee policy manual(s) up-to-date at all times.
2. The Superintendent of Schools will recommend to the Chairman and other School Committee members such areas where new policies should be instituted or discussed before the entire Southbridge School Committee.
3. Southbridge School Committee members desirous of formulating and/or changing policies shall work with the Clerk and/or Superintendent and they will be brought to the attention of the entire Committee as soon as possible and practical in accordance with established bylaws.
4. The policy manual shall contain Southbridge School Committee policies, administrative regulations which have been approved by the School Committee, and job specifications of all school department employees and number indexing each page.
5. All written agreements entered into with the Southbridge School Committee by all school department personnel - after their completion - will be immediately forwarded to all School Committee members and others as listed in this policy manual and said bylaws who will in turn place them in their policy manuals.
6. There will be a policy manual in the principal’s office and every school library. Teachers will be encouraged to become familiar with it and it will be available to them on a sign-out basis.
7. Each of the following will also have a policy manual: Superintendent, Clerk, and any other administrative staff so designated by the Southbridge School Committee.
ARTICLE XV
Adoption or Amendment of Policies and Bylaws
Policy proposals and suggested amendments to or revisions of existing policies shall be submitted to all members of the Southbridge School Committee and to the Superintendent in writing prior to a regularly scheduled School Committee meeting in which such proposed policies, amendments, or revisions shall be read and discussed. A vote for adoption shall take place at the next succeeding regular meeting of the School Committee. Action shall be majority vote of those present.
ARTICLE XVI
Suspensions or Exceptions of Policies and/or Bylaws
Policies and bylaws of the Southbridge School Committee shall not be suspended except for a specified purpose, and only on two-thirds vote of ALL members of the School Committee at two meetings held not less than twenty-seven days apart and in the calls for which the proposed suspension shall have been described in writing. However, suspension of the rules for extending the adjournment hour of School Committee meetings or introduction of new business shall not require a second reading, nor prior Notice in writing.
ARTICLE XVII
Special Statutes Prevailing - Savings Clause
If any policy and/or bylaw of the Southbridge School Committee shall be at any time contrary to law, then such policy and/or bylaws shall not be applicable or performed or enforced except to the extent permitted by law and any substitute action shall be subject to appropriate consultation with the Southbridge School Committee and legal counsel.
Adopted: August 23, 1982
Amendment Adopted Article IX: October 8, 1996
