SCHOOL COUNCIL

Governance

A seven-member governing School Council will govern The Ranches Academy Charter School. The Council members will be comprised of parent/grandparents/guardians of children enrolled in The Ranches Academy Charter School. The Ranches Academy Charter School’s principal will also sit on the board as an ex officio member. The Board of Trustees will oversee the School Council and ensure the School Council is adhering to the school's charter, mission and philosophy as created by the Founding Families.

The voting School Council will consist of the President (CAO), Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer with three additional members. The position of CAO will always serve as Council President. No board member may hold more than one of these offices. The Council President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary will serve as Officers, or the Executive Committee, of the Council. The principal may not serve as a Council Officer.

Terms & Elections

The following council positions will be appointed by the Board of Trustees from applications taken from the school families.

President & CAO - 4 year term
Treasurer - 3 year term
Member (2 positions) - 1 & 2 year terms

The following council positions will be elected by the school families from applications taken from the school families:

Vice-President - 2 year term
Secretary - 2 year term
Member - 3 year term

All appointed and elected positions will take place during May for open positions for the following school year. In elected positions, all school families will have one vote per family per candidate. All positions will assume their duties starting in June.

Vacancies on the School Council will exist (1) on the death, resignation, or removal of any member, or (2) when term of a current Council Member is up and the Member elects not to renew his/her term. In order to fill such a vacancy, the Board of Trustees and the School Council, depending on the open position, will solicit letters of applications from the parent membership or members of the community at large. The parent membership will then elect an approved applicant.

Duties

The Executive Committee, comprising the Council members described above, facilitates effective decision making by all Board members. This committee will play three critical roles:

• Plan and execute the agenda of Board meetings.
• Make non-voting decisions on behalf of the Board.
• Serve as a communication link with other members of the Board.

The Council will have shared authority for running the school with the following responsibilities:

• Hire/dismiss and supervise teachers and staff based upon recommendations from the principal.
• Evaluate performance of the principal.
• Evaluate performance of all teachers with input from the principal.
• Promote the mission of The Ranches Academy Charter School.
• Oversee the school fundraising.
• Assure financial responsibility and accountability.
- Approving budget and overseeing adherence.
- Contracting for and approving independent audit.

The Council will meet monthly to:

• Fulfill primary responsibilities.
• Discuss logistics of school operations.
• Consider and approve new or amended policies or procedures.
• Hear council members reports or concerns.
• Consider concerns and/or questions from parents, teachers, students and community through an advisory council.
• Address any other school issues.

The School Council may not act unless two-thirds of the council members are present. A majority vote of the quorum will constitute action by the Council. A Councl member may be dismissed by a majority vote if he/she fails to fulfill his/her responsibilities or is consistently absent from monthly council meetings.

Additional Council meetings will be called as needed. Meeting minutes will be taken at all Council meetings and will adhere to the policies and procedures as outlined by the USOE for public and closed meetings.
Members of the School Council will be expected to be familiar with the curriculum required by the State of Utah and the curriculum of The Ranches Academy Charter School. They should understand and familiarize themselves with the philosophies of the Core Knowledge Sequence, Open Court and Saxon Math curriculums. Council members should read and be familiar with Robert’s Rules of Order as the meetings will be conducted in that format. At all times, each Council member will promote and support the defining mission, philosophy and goals of The Ranches Academy Charter School by complying with the educational philosophy, discipline and other policies, and organizational structure of The Ranches Academy Charter School.

Any amendments or changes to the school's original charter application or any ammendments have to first be approved by a majority vote by the Board of Trustees before being submitted to the Utah State Charter School Board and the USOE.

**All information on this page is subject to change as needed or directed by the Board of Trustees**