McCoy Elementary School
Student Council Constitution
Article One:
The name of this organization shall be the McCoy Elementary School Student Council.
Article Two:
The purpose of the Council shall be to:
Promote leadership and citizenship
Build and encourage friendship across grade levels
Be role models to encourage all students to strive for their highest potential
Help promote school spirit and pride
Respect all citizens and groups in our community
Raise money to fund future service activities in the school and community
Article Three
Section 1: All students in third, fourth and fifth grade shall have the opportunity to apply to and serve in the
McCoy Elementary School Student Council, to offer ideas for Student Council action. Current fourth and fifth
graders on Student Council are able to apply and run for the office of President and Vice President at the end of
the school year for the following school year. Elections for other officer positions will be held at the start of
next year.
Section 2: The McCoy Elementary School Student Council shall have an elected board of officers. The officers
shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Historian, and Treasurer. President and Vice President will be
elected by Student Council members and all other positions will be judged by a panel of community members
and voted on by the school.
Section 3: The principal of McCoy Elementary School shall be the final authority over all actions of the Student
Council.
Article Four (Eligibility for Member in Good Standing)
Section 1: (Qualifications) A student who wishes to be a candidate for the Student Council shall:
1. Be a good citizen in the classrooms, on the playground, in
the lunchroom, and when representing McCoy in the
community on campus or away.
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2. Be a hard-working and diligent student.
3. Relate well to other students and adults.
4. Be interested in being a Student Council member in good
standing.
Section 2: (Nominations/Selections of Officers)
The position of President is open to future fifth grade students, the position of Vice President is only open to
future fourth graders, and Secretary, Historian, and Treasurer are open to fourth and fifth grade students.
Individuals wishing to apply for the position of President and Vice President will announce their desire to run
for office at the April Student Council meeting. They are to write a speech which will be presented at the May
Special Election meeting. Student Council members that wish to run will complete and return the application by
the given due date. The application includes a written composition expressing what leadership skills they
believe they have that would make them a good candidate for a Council office and two teacher recommendation
forms to be completed by the candidate’s homeroom teacher and last year teacher. Secretary, Historian, and
Treasurer will be elected at the start of the school year. They will complete and return the application by the
given due date. The application includes a written composition expressing what leadership skills they believe
they have that would make them a good candidate for a Council office and two teacher recommendation forms
to be completed by the candidate’s homeroom teacher and last year teacher. For third grade they will use two
teachers at McCoy or another teacher from previous years. Candidates will prepare and deliver a speech to a
panel of community members. The panel will then rank each candidate according to his or her application,
speech, and teacher recommendations. Up to three of the highest ranked candidates in each position will be
selected for a school wide run off election. All candidates presenting speeches to the student body will become
automatic members of the student council.
Rules for campaign:
Nominees for Secretary, Historian, and Treasurer school-wide offices will be permitted to make 2 posters for
their candidacy. The posters should be student made using markers,
crayons, photos, computer lettering, etc. Once approved by the sponsors, these posters may be affixed to the
walls in the main building with tape or push pins if on the cork board. All posters must be approved by the
Student Council Sponsors before posting. Approved posters will have the initials of the approving staff member
in the bottom right corner.
Students ARE NOT permitted to make any false promises or make bribes on their campaign posters or speeches
(candy, pencils, buttons, stickers, balloons, money, changing school rules, e.g., extending recess periods) in
order to get votes. Campaign t-shirts are limited to candidates and campaign managers only during the
campaign week on Tuesday and Thursday only.
Students are not permitted to use the telephone to text or call after school hours to seek votes.
Students may no use social media to seek/campaign votes.
Students may not campaign door to door to secure votes.
NOTHING may be exchanged for a VOTE.
Students making false promises or violating these rules will be disqualified from the election.
Section 3: (Nominations/Elections of Class Representatives)
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Each homeroom in third, fourth, and fifth grade shall nominate one boy and one girl to be classroom
representatives. Individuals wishing to apply for the position of classroom representative must complete and
return an application by the given due date. Speeches and elections shall take place in the individual
classrooms, led by the homeroom teacher. The boy and girl receiving the majority of votes shall be declared the
class representatives in third, fourth, and fifth grades.
Section 4: (Powers and Duties)
Each Student Council member shall be responsible for performing the duties of membership including:
participate in student council events, attend officer and/or council meetings, share upcoming events with his or
her class, be an active voice for students in the school, complete council service responsibilities, set a good
example for others, and show school spirit.
Article Five (Officers and Sponsors)
Section 1: The officers shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Historian, and Treasurer.
Section 2: (Duties and Powers) All elected Student Council officers will have the opportunity to attend a
TEPSA Student Council leadership conference. The officers shall receive a copy of the powers and duties listed
for each office in the leadership conference Student Council Handbook.
Section 3: (Term of Office) The term of office for all officers shall be one academic year, from the completion
of the elections to the last day of school. Newly Elected President and Vice President assume responsibilities for
their office over the summer.
Section 4: (Sponsors) The Sponsors shall be members of the school staff who shall be responsible for fulfilling
the duties and responsibilities of a sponsor. Sponsors shall attend a student council workshop annually.
Article Six (Removal from office)
Any officer or representative may be removed from office by the Student Council Sponsors and the Principal
for poor attendance at Council meetings and/or events, a conduct grade below “S+”, failure to perform required
or requested duties, unsatisfactory academic performance, excessive unexcused school absences/tardies, failure
to follow school rules or class rules, office referrals or misconduct in accordance with the GISD code of
conduct, or failure to be a positive role model to fellow students and/or the community. Each nine weeks a
grade sheet will need to be turned in to the advisors. Grades or conduct below satisfactory will result in
removal from student council.
Article Seven (Meetings)
Section 1: Student Council meetings shall take place at least once a month to conduct the business of the
council. During each Council meeting officers and representatives will update the budget, review activities from
the previous month, discuss upcoming events or new business, and address any ideas/suggestions/concerns.
Section 2: Student Council Officers and Sponsors will meet prior to each month’s Council meeting to prepare
the agenda and discuss any upcoming events.
Section 3: Student Council members will be informed of meetings through letters, email, website, and morning
announcements. Council members are expected to attend all meetings. If a Council member must miss a
meeting, a sponsor should be notified in advance. The exception to this is an excused absence from school.
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Council members that have an unexcused absence from a meeting will receive a demerit. If a member receives
two demerits, they will be removed from student council.
Article Eight (Amendments)
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Student Council members.
MCCOY ELEMENTARY
Student Council Election Proceedings
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The Election Proceedings for Student Council President and Vice President will be held in May of each year.
Other officers and Classroom Representatives shall be completed each September. The timeline will be
communicated to students through letters, school-wide morning announcements, and classroom announcements.
OFFICERS
Applications: All McCoy Elementary School Student Council Officer candidates must meet all of the
requirements as set forth in the McCoy Student Council Constitution, including submitting a completed
application with a written composition expressing what leadership skills they believe they have that would
make them a good candidate for a Council office and two teacher recommendations. The candidate must have
all grades above an 80, at least an S+ in conduct and score at least a 3 on each teacher recommendation. The
position of President is open to fifth grade students, the position of Vice President is 4th grade, and Secretary,
Historian, and Treasurer are open to fourth and fifth grade students.
Speeches: Candidates for the Secretary, Historian, and Treasurer office will prepare and deliver a speech to a
panel of community members after school. The candidates are encouraged to describe leadership skills and/or
experience they have that prepare them for the office.
Selection Process: Each candidate is ranked according to his or her application, speech, and teacher
recommendations. The rankings are combined, and no more than three of highest ranked candidates in each
position will be selected to participate in a run off election. These scholars will campaign for one week, create
two posters and give a speech to the entire student body. Upon completion of the campaign week, a student
body vote will determine the officer positions. The candidates that are not selected as officers will become
automatic Student Council members.
Results: Student Council Officers will be announced through letters given to the candidates at the end of the
following day. The officers will then be announced to the rest of the student population through the following
morning announcements.
Duties:
President: Represent the student body at school and district meetings, develop an agenda for and preside at
student council meetings Vote when there is a tie. Conduct him/herself with academic integrity and exemplary
conduct.
Vice President: Represent the student body at school, district, and civic meetings (as requested by the
president) Serve in the absence of the president. Coordinate the work of committees and head important
committees. Conduct him/herself with academic integrity and exemplary conduct.
Secretary: Keep accurate minutes of meetings. Handle all council correspondence.
Report the previous meeting’s minutes at each meeting. Type materials for student council officers and
committee chair people. Conduct him/herself with academic integrity and exemplary conduct.
Treasurer: Present proposed budget of activities to the Student Council. Handle all funds. Keep accurate
records on income and expenses. Report on money matters at each meeting. Coordinate fundraising
projects of the student council. Conduct him/herself with academic integrity and exemplary conduct.
Historian: Keep a history of the McCoy Elementary Student Council, including items such as contests, honors,
celebrations, championships, and other items of interest.
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Enter the history in a book, provided by the school, along with clippings, photographs, and any other
memorabilia, which will add interest or beauty to the book. Conduct him/herself with academic integrity and
exemplary conduct.
CLASSROOM REPRESENTATIVES
Applications: All McCoy Elementary School Student Council Classroom Representative candidates must meet
all of the requirements as set forth in the McCoy Student Council Constitution, including submitting a
completed application and two teacher recommendations. The candidate must have all grades above an 80, at
least an S+ in conduct and score at least a 3 on each teacher recommendation.
Speeches: Candidates for classroom representatives will prepare and deliver speeches to their classmates in their
individual classrooms. The speeches will be led by homeroom teachers. This should be a silent vote.
Election Process: Following all speeches, students in each class will vote for one boy and one girl to become
the classroom representatives in fourth and fifth grades. Two third grade class representatives will be chosen
per classroom. The elections will be led by homeroom teachers.
Results: Student Council Classroom Representatives will be announced to each classroom by the homeroom
teacher following the elections. A letter will be sent to each elected Student Council Classroom Representative
to inform his or her parents.
Sponsors for 2013-2014
Mrs. Janae Pierce, Mrs. Heather Hill, Mrs. Ella Elliott
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