SA Constitution

PINE TREE ACADEMY – STUDENT ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION

ADOPTED DECEMBER 21, 2007

PREAMBLE

We, the students of Pine Tree Academy, in accordance with the authority delegated by the principal of the school, in order to promote the spirit and purposes of the school, and to provide effective student leadership, establish this Constitution.

ARTICLE I: GENERAL

Section 1. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Student Association of Pine Tree Academy.

Section 2. Constitution and By-Laws
The Constitution and By-Laws shall be published each year.
Section 3. Membership

All high school students (9-12) of Pine Tree Academy who pay dues shall be members of this organization.

Section 4. Dues
The dues of members shall be assessed from the general matriculation fee.

ARTICLE II: OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers

1. The Officers of this organization shall be:

1) President

2) Vice-President

3) Secretary

4) Treasurer

5) Pastor/Pastorette

6) Parliamentarian

7) Social Secretary

8) Cultural Secretary

9) Girls and Guys Athletic Directors

Section 2. Term of Office
The term of office of all Association officers shall be from the school opening in August or September to closing in June.
Section 3. Nominations and Elections
Nominations and elections shall be conducted according to the following procedures:

1. Nomination of officers

1. Any member who meets the requirements of an office, which is to maintain a GPA of 3.0 for president; 2.5 for all other officers, and presents a petition carrying the signature of at least 30 students of the Association shall be considered for nomination by the officers of the Student Association.
2. All nominations shall be submitted to the Faculty for approval before being publicized.
3. All nominees shall sign an official application for their office.
4. In the event there are not two applications for each office, the Student Association officials may nominate individuals to fill those positions.
5. No student can hold more than one major office. (These offices include S.A. President, S.A. Treasurer, yearbook editor, class President.)
6. All nominees must be good citizens without excessive tardies and absences.

2. Election of Officers:
1. All officers of the SA (Student Association except the parliamentarian) shall be elected at the general election in May.
2. The parliamentarian shall be chosen by the officers of the SA subject to the approval of the Student Association.
3. The majority of the votes cast for an office shall constitute an election. In the event that no candidate shall receive a plurality of five votes, if there are more than two candidates, a run-off election shall be held between the two candidates receiving the most votes.
4. The right of students in the eighth grade at Pine Tree Academy to vote for the following year’s Student Association officers shall not be denied or abridged.

Section 4: Duties of the Officers
The officers shall perform the duties prescribed in the By-Laws.

Section 5: Removal from Office
Any officer neglecting his/her duties as defined in the By-Laws may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the Student Association. Any student whose grades drop below the required level during a nine-week period will automatically be removed from office.

ARTICLE III: ASSEMBLY

Section 1: Meetings

1. The regular meetings of the Student Association will take place once a month

during the regular chapel period.

2. A quorum shall consist of at least two-thirds of the members of the

Association. The passage of a motion shall require a majority of votes cast.

3. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag shall be recited at each meeting of the SA.
4. All meetings of the Association shall be governed by parliamentary rules as set forth in the By-Laws.
5. A secretary’s report consisting of minutes from the previous meeting is to be given.
6. A treasurer’s report is to be given

Section 2: Jurisdiction
The Assembly shall have jurisdiction as follows:

1. Shall approve the budget of the Association including its subsidiary

organizations.

2. Shall approve all amendments to the constitutions by a two-thirds majority of

the members present.

ARTICLE IV: AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Procedure
The Constitution may be amended provided that:

1. The proposed amendment has been discussed an approved by the Student

Association offices and

2. The proposed amendment has been discussed and approved by the faculty.
3. The proposed amendment will be announced in assembly and posted on the bulletin board at least one week before the meeting at which time it will be voted upon, and
4. The proposed amendment is carried by a two-thirds majority or the members present at either a regular or special meeting of the Assembly.

Section 2: Insertion
The amendment shall replace the affected part of the Constitution or be added to the Constitution at the appropriate place to which it refers.

STUDENT ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

Section 1: Committees

1. Executive Committee

1) Membership: The membership of the Executive Committee shall consist of

all the officers of the Student Association except the parliamentarian.

2. Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate the operation of all standing committees.
2. Prepare a calendar of all meetings and activities of the groups in the Association.
3. Plan all Association benefits and special programs.
4. Approve and make arrangements for printing

programs for functions.

5. Secure budgets from all organizations to which the Student Association appropriates funds and present these to the student body for approval.
6. Make the arrangements for the auditing of all Association financial records at the end of each year.
7. Authorize the President to assign special responsibilities to various officers of the Association.
8. Act as a liaison between the students and faculty by receiving student opinion.
9. The Student Association will have full voting privileges as a member of the School Board.
10. Attend all Student Association functions.

2. Student Association Senate

1) Membership: The membership of the Senate shall consist of two representatives from each of the academy grades (one from each gender). They shall be popularly elected from their respective classes. The President of the Senate shall be the Vice-President of the S.A. He/she shall not vote, unless they be equally divided.

2) Description: As a representative body, the S.A. Senate shall be given authority to meet at their own pleasure and to give support and recommendations to the Student Association Executive Committee. They shall act as a mediator between the academy classes and the Student Association.

Section 2: Officers

1. Responsibilities of the President of the Student Association

1. Give leadership to the SA activities so that the goals set for all officers

and groups may be achieved.

2. Represent the SA at school and community functions.
3. Preside at meetings of the Association.
4. Be an ex-officio member of all committees of the SA.
5. The president has the privilege of representing the students in the

faculty meetings during which issues relevant to the student body as a whole are discussed. He/She must have permission from the principal prior to the meeting.

6. The president will also be a voting member of the school board.
7. Attendance of S.A. meetings required unless absent from school.

2. Responsibilities of the Vice-President of the Student Association

1. Assume the duties and responsibilities of the President in the absence

of the President. In case of permanent absence, he/she shall become

President and a new Vice-President shall be elected.

2. Secure approval from the Faculty for all persons nominated to SA

offices.

3. Make all arrangements for voting procedure pursuant to ARTICLE II,

Section 3, of the Constitution, including the receiving of all petitions, the election itself, and the tabulation of all results. A certified report of all election returns shall be kept on file.

4. Be the President of the S.A. Senate
5. Assume those duties assigned by the President.
6. Attendance of S.A. meetings required unless absent from school.

3. Responsibilities of the Secretary of the Student Association:

1. Take minutes of the meetings of the Association, record in a minute book. Present copies of these minutes to the Faculty Advisor of the Student Association and each Association member.
2. Take care of official correspondence, and maintain a permanent file of all SA records.
3. Serve as chairman of Public Relations Committee.
4. Assume those duties assigned by the President.
5. Attendance of S.A. meetings required unless absent from school.

4. Responsibilities of the Public Relations Committee:

1. Coordinate the publicity of all Association activities.
2. Publicize information about all candidates running for office preceding each election.
3. Maintain a permanent file of all advertising materials.
4. The committee shall meet as scheduled in the Association calendar when deemed necessary by the chairman.
5. Be responsible for any Academy day events as assigned by the principal of the school.

5. Responsibilities of the Treasurer of the Student Association

1. Have custody of all Student Association funds and disburse these funds under the supervision of the President or faculty advisor. These funds shall be maintained by the treasurer of the school except as

specific authorization to the contrary is received from the school

administration.

2. Prepare with the advisor’s approval and submit a tentative budget to

the SA officers within three weeks after the beginning of school. He/She shall present this general Student Association Budget to the Assembly for approval.

3. Present a financial statement to the General Assembly at the last

regular meeting of the school year.

4. Be a member of the Executive Committee.
5. Assume those duties assigned by the President.
6. Be responsible for printing tickets, ticket sales, and coordinating ushering for all Student Association programs.
7. Serve as Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee.
8. Attendance of S.A. meetings required unless absent from school.

6. Responsibilities of the Fund Raising Committee:

1. Help in supplementing SA funds for the Student Association.
2. Organize fund raising projects as authorized by the chairman.
3. Aid the chairman in obtaining ideas for fund raising.
4. All committee members subject to the approval of the SA.

7. Responsibilities of the Pastor/Pastorette of the Student Association:

1. Coordinate the religious activities of the Association.
2. Be the chairman of the Religious Activities Committee.
3. Be a member of the Executive Committee.
4. Assume those duties assigned by the President.
5. Be responsible for a devotional at each SA meeting.
6. Community service.
7. Attendance of S.A. meetings required unless absent from school.

8. Responsibilities of the Religious Activities Committee:

1. Advise and help the Pastor perform his responsibilities.
2. Institute and foster special religious projects.
3. Help in organizing religious clubs on campus.
4. All members of the committee subject to the approval of the SA.

9. Responsibilities of the Social Secretary of the Student Association

1. Coordinate all social activities of the Association and secure approval of the officers of the SA for all these activities.
2. Be a member of the Executive Committee.
3. Be a chairman of the Social Activities Committee.
4. Assume those duties assigned by the President.
5. Attendance of S.A. meetings required unless absent from school.

10. Responsibilities of the Social Activities Committee:

1. Social Activity Committee shall be composed of the Social Secretary as the chairman and appointed S.A. members.

11. Responsibilities of the Cultural Secretary

1. Coordinate all cultural activities of the Association.
2. Be chairman of the Cultural Activities Committee.
3. Be a member of the Executive Committee
4. Assume those duties assigned by the President.
5. Attendance of S.A. meetings required unless absent from school.

12. Responsibilities of the Cultural Activities Committee

1. Advise and help the cultural secretary in his/her responsibility.
2. Provide information and ticket service for cultural activities in the area, sponsor special programs of interest to the students, and stimulate intellectual and creative activities on campus.
3. The committee shall be organized into a sub-committee: Dress and Decorum. Dress and Decorum shall include informing the students on proper etiquette and shall include the bringing in of people trained in this area to speak before the Association.
4. All members of the committee shall be chosen by the SA officers and are subject to the approval of the Student Association.

13. Responsibilities of the Girls and Guys Athletic Directors

1. Coordinate all athletic activities of the Association.
2. Keep an accurate system of records and statistics on individuals and teams.
3. Be a member of the Executive Committee.
4. Assume all duties assigned by the President.
5. Attendance of S.A. meetings required unless absent from school.