Arizona Laws 15-351. School councils; duties; membership
A. The purpose of this section is to ensure that individuals who are affected by the outcome of a decision at the school site share in the decision making process.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 15-351
- Governing board: means a body organized for the government and management of the schools within a school district or a county school superintendent in the conduct of an accommodation school. See Arizona Laws 15-101
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Parent: means the natural or adoptive parent of a child or a person who has custody of a child. See Arizona Laws 15-101
- person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association or public or private organization of any kind. See Arizona Laws 15-101
- Process: means a citation, writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- School district: means a political subdivision of this state with geographic boundaries organized for the purpose of the administration, support and maintenance of the public schools or an accommodation school. See Arizona Laws 15-101
B. Each school shall establish a school council. A governing board may delegate to a school council the responsibility to develop a curriculum and may delegate any additional powers that are reasonably necessary to accomplish decentralization. The school council shall take into consideration the ethnic composition of the local community and, except as provided in section 15-352, shall consist of the following members:
1. Parents or guardians of pupils enrolled in the school. A parent or guardian who is employed by the school district may serve as a member of the school council if the parent or guardian is not employed at the same school where the parent or guardian’s child is enrolled.
2. Teachers.
3. Noncertified employees.
4. Community members.
5. Pupils, if the school is a high school.
6. The principal of the school.
C. Each group specified in subsection B of this section shall select its school council appointees and shall submit the names of its respective representatives to the principal. The initial representatives shall be selected at public meetings held at the school site, and, thereafter, representatives shall be selected by their groups in the manner determined by the school council. Schools shall give notice of the public meeting where the initial representatives of the groups shall be selected, clearly stating its purpose, time and place. The notice shall be posted in at least three different locations at the school site and in the community and shall be given to pupils for delivery to their parents or guardians.
D. The governing board shall determine the initial number of school council members. Thereafter, the school council shall determine the number. The number of teachers and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at the school shall be equal. Teachers and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at the school shall constitute a majority of the school council members.
E. The school council shall adopt written guidelines that specify the number of school council members and the methods for the selection of school council members.
F. The principal shall serve as chairman of the school council unless another person is elected by a majority of the school council members.