OF NORTH WHIDBEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

STUDENT ASSOCIATION

PREAMBLE

We, the students of North Whidbey Middle School, in order to develop democratic ideals; to teach respect for law and order; to maintain high standards of cooperation, loyalty, and school spirit; to improve communications between student and teacher; to prepare for adult life and citizenship; to encourage all worthwhile activities in the school; to insure students rights and to promote student responsibility; do form this constitution for the Association of North Whidbey Middle School.

ARTICLE I – NAME, MEMBERSHIP, PURPOSE

Section 1: Associated Student Body of North Whidbey Middle School.

Section 2: Membership: All students enrolled, and not under suspension, shall be Members of
the Associated Student Body of North Whidbey Middle School.

Section 3: Purpose:

a) To represent the students’ ideas about the school.

b) To provide activities for the students.

c) To improve school spirit and good citizenship for North Whidbey Middle School.

d) To continually improve communication between faculty, students, and community.

e) To develop student government skills and techniques.

f) To improve the school environment.

g) To develop student leadership skills, abilities, and attitudes.

h) To provide leadership by example through maintaining good grades.

ARTICLE II – ASB SENATE, LEGISLATIVE POWERS, LINE OF SUCCESSION OF ASB OFFICERS AND ADVISOR VETO

Section 1: The legislative powers of the Student Association shall be vested in an elective body, which shall
be called the ASB Senate.

Section 2: ASB Senate: A representative form of government shall be provided through the ASB Senate. The Senate Membership shall include four representatives and two alternate representatives from the 6^th , 7^th , and 8^th grade teams, and the Assistant Principal.

The alternate representatives shall attend meetings and represent his/her class only when a representative is absent.

Section 3: Each grade – 6, 7, 8 may have no more than one-third of the total number of votes to be cast on an issue presented to the ASB Senate. This allows each grade to be equally represented in casting votes.

Section 4: Advisor Veto: The Faculty Advisor shall exercise a veto only:

a) When an act of the Student Government is in violation of school laws, state laws, district policies, right of others or:

b) When students cannot or will not accept the responsibility for consequences of the issue.

Section 5: Line of Succession for Senate representatives:

a) The Alternate Senator shall be an alternate to fill the vacancy of a Team Representative should the position become vacated due to the following reasons.

1. Dismissal from ASB Senate for reasons of eligibility responsibilities, or impeachment.

2. No longer is a member of ASB of North Whidbey Middle School.

3. Resigned from his/her position as room representative.

4. If he/she transfers to another class during the school year.

b) If the alternate Senator cannot fill the position for reasons of eligibility, a new Senator alternate Senator will be selected as soon as possible to fill the vacated position(s).

Section 6: Line of Succession for ASB Officers:

a) The Vice-President shall fill the vacancy of ASB President if the President’s position has been vacated for the following reasons:

1. Dismissal from the ASB Senate for reasons of eligibility or responsibilities.

2. No longer is a member of ASB or North Whidbey Middle School.

3. Has been impeached by the ASB.

b) Should a vacancy occur in the positions of vice-president, secretary, or treasurer, for the same reasons as in Section 5A, The ASB Senate will nominate and elect a new person for the ASB Senate representation for the vacant position.

ARTICLE III – REPRESENTATIVES ELIGIBILITY, QUALIFICATIONS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1: Candidate Eligibility and Qualifications:

a) Determination of qualifications and eligibility shall be the responsibility of the ASB Faculty Advisor.

b) Each candidate shall be a member of the team from which he/she is elected.

c) Shall have a 2.0 g.p.a. in his/her academic classes, including no failing grades, and submit an ASB eligibility form to the nominating committee.

d) Has demonstrated good citizenship and leadership in classroom behavior, good attendance, and consistently follows the ASB Code of Conduct.

Section 2: Representative Responsibility:

a) It shall be the responsibility of the ASB Senate to maintain a 2.0 g.p.a., with no failing grades throughout the term of office, and to demonstrate at all times good citizenship and leadership in his/her classrooms and other school activities.

b) It is the responsibility of the ASB Senator to regularly attend ASB Senate meetings. Three or more absences may result in probationary status.

c) If the faculty advisor or the Assistant Principal has reason to believe that a student’s conduct or academic standing is in question, a review of the Senator’s status will be make.

d) The Student Council Representative shall be given a warning and then probationary status if their classroom behavior, attendance and tardies, and/or academics are not exemplary. This will be given by the ASB Advisor and ASB Officers who will meet to determine the status assigned to a Senator.

e) The ASB Senator named will be replaced by an alternate Senator.

f) An ASB Senator may be on probation once. The probationary period will be 4 weeks.

ARTICLE IV – STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICER ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND TEMPORARY STATUS

Section 1: Officers: ASB Officers shall be:

a) President – 8^th grade student only

b) Vice-President – 7^th grade or 8^th grade student

c) Secretary – 7^th grade or 8^th grade student

d) Treasurer – 8^th grade student only

Section 2: Candidate Eligibility

a) Verification of candidate eligibility for officers shall be the responsibility of the Faculty Advisor. The Faculty Advisor will check with the candidate’s teachers to determine each candidate’s academic grades and classroom behavior.

Section 3: Officer Qualifications:

a) Each candidate shall be a member of the ASB of North Whidbey Middle School.

b) He/she shall have a 2.5 g.p.a. in all classes, with no failing grades, and submit the ASB eligibility form to the faculty advisor.

c) He/she has demonstrated good citizenship (as evidenced by no office referrals) and leadership in classroom behavior and in all school activities, and consistently follows the ASB Code of Conduct.

d) Be a member of the 7^th or 8^th grade class in the year for which he/she is elected to serve except for the President and Treasurer who must be in the 8^th grade.

e) Each candidate must present a petition for nomination containing 50 signatures and ASB members.

f) Each candidate must present a list of no fewer than 5 faculty signatures, which support the candidate’s qualifications for office.

Section 4: Officer Responsibilities:

a) All ASB officers will serve a probationary period as an ASB officer for a period not to exceed four weeks after their initial election. During this probationary time, the behavior, attendance and tardies, and performance of their duties of office will be evaluated by the Faculty Advisor.

b) It shall be the responsibility of the ASB Officer to maintain a 2.5 g.p.a. with no failing grades, throughout the term of office and to demonstrate good citizenship and leadership in their classrooms, follow ASB Code of Conduct, and attend ASB meetings faithfully.

c) If any academic teacher or faculty advisor has reason to believe that the ASB Officer’s conduct or academic standing has changed and the officer’s behavior, is not exemplary of the ASB office, the ASB Officer will be given one warning in conjunction with a probationary period not to exceed a duration of two weeks in which to correct the problem.

d) If any ASB officer on probationary status has not made any improvement, he/she will be dismissed from their office and the runner-up will temporarily take office until his/her eligibility if confirmed.

e) No ASB officer will be given more than one probationary period for behavioral or academic violation.

Section 5: Duties of the ASB Officers:

President:

a) Represent the Student Body.

b) Preside over all ASB Senate meetings.

c) Appoint the chairpersons of special committees.

d) Call special meetings with the permission of the Advisor.

e) Shall chair the ASB Service Committee.

f) Set agendas and work closely with the Advisor.

Vice President:

a) Shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence or on his/her removal from office, and shall aid the President in all student government duties.

b) Shall perform the duties assigned by the President.

c) Shall see that all committees carry out their duties.

d) Shall chair the ASB Publicity Committee and be responsible for student bulletin boards, reader board, and all ASB communications.

e) Shall keep order at all ASB meetings.

Secretary:

a) Shall keep the minutes of each meeting in a notebook and distribute a copy for representatives to take to their teams.

b) Shall keep an attendance record on all members of the ASB Senate.

c) Shall assist the ASB Advisor in checking on all ASB representatives’ g.p.a. and behavior throughout the year.

Treasurer:

a) Shall keep a record of the amount of ASB body funds available to the ASB Senate.

b) Shall keep an account of other funds created from activities supported by the ASB Senate.

ARTICLE V- ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Section 1: Student Council Officer and ASB Senate Representatives shall be elected on or before the first week of October of the year in which they are to serve.

Section 2: Senate representatives shall be chosen from their teams in grades if they are in 6^th, 7^th, or 8^th grade.

a) Petitions for ASB Officers shall be received from the Faculty Advisor during the fourth week of September to candidates wishing to run for office for that school year.

b) ASB Officer Candidates petitions must contain 50 valid North Whidbey Middle School ASB student signatures before presenting to ASB Advisor.

c) Eligibility for ASB office shall be reviewed by the Faculty Advisor.

d) ASB Student Officer elections will be held no later than the end of first week in October. Each student body member votes for one nominee in each office in the election.

e) The nominees with the highest number of votes in each office become the Officers of the ASB Senate.

f) All candidates must follow campaign guidelines established by the ASB Senate.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS OF STUDENT COUNCIL

Section 1: The ASB Senate shall hold a monthly meeting.

Section 2: The President or Faculty Advisor shall call special meetings whenever necessary.

Section 3: Twenty members of the Senate and the Faculty Advisor shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII – POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ASB SENATE

Section 1: The powers and duties of the ASB Senate shall be:

a) To act as a barometer of student opinion.

b) To receive requests/input from any club or individual.

c) To promote a positive school environment.

d) To sponsor assembly programs.

e) To stimulate student interest in activities.

f) To authorize special days.

g) To charter clubs and, if necessary, revoke them.

h) To approve or sponsor concessions.

i) To organize and promote general and special elections.

j) To promote respect for school and private property.

k) To authorize and sponsor fundraisers and campaigns.

l) To approve calendar events.

m) To have the power to suggest policies, standards, and regulations necessary for the betterment of the school.

n) To approve any necessary legislation to carry out any of the foregoing powers.

ARTICLE VIII – IMPEACHMENT – STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS, REPRESENTATIVES

Section 1: Representatives

a) A majority of a senator’s team must sign a petition to impeach.

b) The class will vote by secret ballot to impeach; the vote must be 75% majority to impeach.

c) If a representative is impeached, a new representative must be elected.

Section 2: ASB Officers:

a) A majority of the student body must sign a petition to impeach.

b) The elective student body will vote to impeach by secret ballot presented by the ASB Senate to the Student Body, the vote must be 75% to impeach.

ARTICLE IX – PETITION

Section 1: Individuals or groups of students may petition the ASB Senate for its consideration of constitution amendments, addition to or changes of school rules, activities, school morale, and school improvement.

Article X – BILL OF RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ASB CODE OF CONDUCT

Section 1: Rights: Each student has the right to:

a) Express one’s ideas about how the school should be run in an appropriate manner to team senator, and petition the ASB Senate to promote discussion of ideas.

b) Equal educational opportunities in academics, school activities, interscholastic and intramural sports.

c) Counselor guidance and teacher assistance.

Section 2: Responsibilities: Each student has the responsibility to:

a) Abide by all rules and regulations of school and student activities and follow the ASB Code of Conduct.

b) Respect the rules set by the teacher of each classroom.

c) Promote health and safety for self and others.

d) Recognize and respect the rights of others.

e) Respect school property.

Section 3: North Whidbey Middle School ASB Senate Code of Conduct:

a) Academic

1. Each day – student makes every effort to complete assignments

on time which enables him/her to succeed in grade.

b) Attendance/Tardies

1. The student is not tardy to classes and makes every effort to be to class on time.

2. The student attends school regularly.

c) Responsible Citizenship

1. The student does not disrupt the educational process in the

classroom and school.

2. The student serves consequences for inappropriate

actions/behaviors.

3. The student pays fines owed to the library and school.

4. The student demonstrates responsible citizenship on the

campus and at any school activity.

ARTICLE XI – CHAIRPERSON, STANDING COMMITTEES, SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Section 1: Standing Committees:

a) Community Service Committee

b) ASB Fund Raising Committee

c) Ethics Committee

The chairpersons of standing committees shall be nominated and elected by the ASB Senate.

ARTICLE XII

Ratification of this constitution by majority consent of the ASB Senate, School Staff and Administration, and Oak Harbor School Board, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this constitution.

Done in convention by the majority consent of the student representatives present \

The ______________ day of ________________, 20__.