SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109

 
POLICY

Administrative Guidelines

1.         Selection

One senior and one junior will be elected as representatives during their junior and sophomore year.

Interested students should nominate themselves by completing an application which includes a brief essay on their reason for desiring to become a student board member.

            A committee of administration and faculty will review and screen the applications.

            The Student Council will elect the representatives in March of each year.

            The student representatives will become members of the executive council of the student

            government.

2.         Qualifications

            A minimum grade average of 78.

            90% attendance in the most recent full school year.

            Member of the Susquehanna Township student body for one year.

            Minimum age of 15 years.

3.         Term of Office

            May 1 following the election to April 30 of the following year.

4.         Succession

            The junior will automatically become the senior representative the next year.

5.         Participation

            The student representatives are expected to attend all public Board meetings. Prior

            to the meeting the principal will review the agenda with the representatives to secure

            their input on agenda items.

6.         Responsibilities of the Student Representatives

            The student representatives will meet with the principal prior to the Board meetings

            to discuss items that the students request to be placed on the agenda. The student

            requests will be subject to the same time schedules as staff members.

            The student representatives will be seated at the Board table and may be asked to

            speak during the discussion time of any motion being considered. The student board

            member does not have a vote.

            The student representatives will be expected to give an oral report at each public

            Board meeting.

            The student representatives will be expected to provide a written report to the Student

            Council and Smoke Signals following each Board meeting.

            The student representatives will be expected to participate in a process with the

            elementary and middle school principals to receive input from the students at those

            two levels.

            The student representatives shall become familiar with the educational goals of the

            district and offer constructive contributions toward the realization of those goals.

            The student representatives should be nonpartisan in dealing with school matters

            and not subordinate the education of children and youth to any partisan principle,

            group interest, or personal ambition.

            The student representatives shall exhibit personal integrity, intelligence, and

            appreciation of the values of good education.

            The student representatives should serve in a constructive manner and refrain from

            criticizing the Board or employees outside the Board meetings.

            The student representatives will act for the Board only when authorized by the

            Board to perform a specific task.

            The student representatives should be prepared to study all matters presented to

            the Board in light of needs that exist, rather than through preconceived notions.

            The student representatives should refer complaints to the proper school authorities

            and abstain from individual counsel and action.

            The student representatives should be aware that the Board of Education is a

            policy making body and not an administrative body.

            The student representatives should be aware that individuals have no authority

            or power to act and that the Board of School Directors acts as a body.

7.         Credit:

            Student representatives fulfilling all responsibilities for a full school year will

            receive .25 credit of independent study in student government as awarded by the

            high school principal. Students filling less than a full year term will not be

            granted credit.

8.         Non-fulfillment of Responsibilities

            Student representatives to the Board who do not fulfill their responsibilities as

            outlined in this policy may be removed from office at the recommendation of

            the high school principal.

9.         Filling a Vacancy

            If a representative cannot complete his or her term, the position will be filled

            by appointment by the high school principal.

10.       Evaluation

            The student representatives will be given a grade by the high school principal

            based on the performance of responsibilities as outlined in this policy.

            The Board of Education will evaluate the student representative program

            annually prior to the self-nomination process.

Approved by the School Board – June 8, 1987