House Council Governance

House Council Advisors

• Stephanie Spurlock

• Aaron Teffeteller

• Kandace Bowen

2022-2023 HOUSE COUNCIL EXECUTIVE BOARD

• President: Charles Robinson ’23

• Vice-President: Youseph Ali ’23

• Secretary-Treasurer: Carly Galbreth ’23

2022-2023 HOUSE PREFECTS

• Dossett: Alex Middlecoff ’24, Jay Nathan ’23

• Haslam: Cooper Cameron ’24, Saroja Ramchandren ’23

• Henslee: Meg Atkins ’24, Abby Beaty ’23

• Hudson: Evan Lyke ’24, Seth Nagle ’23

• Pfeifer: Eliza Roberts ’24, Rose Beall ’23

• Sawney: Eli Vickers ’24, Agni Lolis ’23

Constitution of the Webb Upper School House Council

Preamble

The students, faculty and administration hereby establish the Upper School House Council. The Council shall be the means by whereby students share in the government of the school. The conditions herein stated are those which all persons affiliated with the school recognize as the privileges, rights and responsibilities of the students.

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Upper School House Council of Webb School of Knoxville (House Council).

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to inspire high morale in the student body by fostering a close working relationship between students and faculty, maintaining a high standard of conduct of the student body as it affects the operation and reputation of the school, and promoting organized and diverse areas of extracurricular activities through student-sponsored clubs and committees. Should a situation arise when school policy and/or philosophy is in conflict with the specific language of this Constitution, the policy and greater aim of the school shall take precedence.

ARTICLE III: THE STUDENT BODY

Section 1. All students in grades 9 through 12 of Webb School of Knoxville shall be voting members of the Upper School House Council.

Section 2. Members will ratify the Constitution and any amendments by electronic ballot.

Section 3. Voting members will elect the president, vice president and secretary who will constitute the Executive Board of the Upper School Student Council. Seniors will not vote in elections for the following year.

Section 4. All members of the student body will be assigned to a House as a new student at Webb, beginning in the sixth grade or thereafter.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the House Council (known as the Executive Board) shall be:

The President

1. Is elected head of the House Council.

2. Calls meetings of the House Council and shall preside over such meetings.

3. Represents the House Council.

4. Serves as the point of contact for House prefects.

The Vice President

1. Assumes the duties of the President in the event of absence.

2. Makes monthly communications to the student body, including social media communications.

The Secretary

1. Sees that an agenda is distributed to House Council members before each meeting.

2. Keeps minutes of House Council and student body meetings (these minutes are to be distributed).

3. Takes roll at House Council meetings.

4. Reports House Council proceedings of general interest to the school publication – WebbPress.

Shared Responsibilities for Executive Board

1. Appointing committee members (each executive member will serve on a committee).

2. Keeping track of House Cup points.

Section 2. Nomination procedures and requirements shall be as follows:

NOTE: All House Council officers must not have received a suspension in the 12 months prior to their candidacy.

Officers – President, Vice President, Secretary

1. Candidates must be juniors in the year of election.

2. Candidates must not have been convicted of an honor offense in the year prior to or the year of their candidacy (pending student body approval).

3. Candidates must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of their candidacy. Weighted GPAs with all classes, including fine arts, shall be used in determining candidacy.

4. Petitions for these offices shall be distributed starting the last week of March.

5. Candidates must present a petition of 20 signatures from eligible voting members and one teacher signature supporting their candidacy to the Election Committee. Each student may sign only one candidate’s petition for each office.

6. Candidates must not have more than the equivalent of five school days of unexcused absences in the year of candidacy.

7. Candidates must be up to date on community service hours required by Webb’s Upper School.

Grade-Level Representatives

1. To be eligible to serve as a grade-level rep, candidates must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 at the time of candidacy, must not have been convicted of an honor offense in the year of candidacy, and must be up to date in service hour requirements.

Section 3. Election procedures shall be as follows:

1. Elections for the offices of President and Vice President should take place no later than one month after the distribution of petitions. The exact date will be set before petitions are distributed.

2. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, then a runoff will occur between the top candidates.

3. Elections for Secretary should take place approximately one week after the elections for President and Vice President.

4. Elections for Grade-Level Representatives should take place before final exams.

Section 4. The terms of officers shall begin the day following the last day of school for graduating seniors and will continue for one year. In the short interval between elections and the seniors’ last day, the newlyelected House Council shall attend all Council meetings as non-voting members and act in matters pertaining to the following school year.

ARTICLE V: HOUSE COUNCIL

Section 1. The House Council shall be the legislative and executive agency of the House System.

Section 2. The functions of the House Council shall be:

1. To cooperate with the faculty in legislating matters regulating student life.

2. To make recommendations about matters outside of the House Council’s control.

3. To serve as a medium through which student opinion may be heard and acted upon.

4. To coordinate student activities.

Section 3. The voting members of the House Council shall be:

1. The Executive Board

2. Twenty-four Grade-Level Representatives; one from each grade in each House, 9-12

Section 4 . A faculty advisor appointed by the Head of the Upper School shall serve as a non-voting member of the Council and be present at all meetings.

Section 5. The faculty advisor(s) shall regulate House Council campaigns and elections.

Section 6. Any member of the House Council shall be allowed to present proposals to the House Council. These proposals must be presented to the House Council Secretary three days prior to a meeting in which they are to be discussed. After a discussion and affirmative vote of the Council, the proposal shall be presented to the Upper School Head.

Section 7. The meetings of the House Council shall be held at least twice a month unless otherwise announced.

1. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board with the consent of the faculty advisor(s). Special meetings may also be called by the faculty advisor(s).

2. An agenda shall be distributed to the members of the House Council on the day prior to each meeting.

3. The Council shall not act without a quorum of ten members, with each elected class represented.

Section 8. The House Council may establish temporary committees to carry out the programs of the House Council.

ARTICLE VI: HOUSE PREFECTS

Section 1. Requirements

1. To be eligible to serve as a House Prefect, candidates must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 at the time of candidacy, must not have been convicted of an honor offense in the year of candidacy, and must be up to date in service hour requirements.

2. One senior Prefect and one junior Prefect will be elected from each House.

Section 2. Elections

1. Will take place during the last House meeting of the year.

2. Faculty House advisors will lead House Prefect elections according to their individual House guidelines.

3. All members of the House – rising grades 7-11 –will vote for their House Prefects.

Section 3. Roles and Responsibilities

1. Work with faculty House leaders to plan and execute House meetings.

2. Lead their respective Houses in completing House Cup challenges.

3. Keep track of House points.

4. Communicate with House members on events, information, etc.

ARTICLE VII: REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

Section 1. Removal of a Council member or Prefect:

1. If a House Council member or Prefect shall be found guilty of an honor offense by the Upper School Honor Committee, he or she will automatically be removed from office.

2. Habitual disregard of rules or duties for which any House Council member or Prefect is responsible may be grounds for removal from office.

3. Repeated failure to attend meetings may be grounds for removal from office.

4. Gross misconduct that misrepresents the House Council may be grounds for removal from office.

ARTICLE VIII: SPECIAL ELECTIONS

Section 1. Filling any vacant position shall be left to the discretion of the faculty advisor, the remaining Executive Board members, and the Head of the Upper School.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments may be proposed by any member of the House Council. Proposed amendments must be approved by the Council and presented to the faculty before being presented to the student body for ratification.

Section 2. Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be made available to the House Council (student body) one week prior to the time of voting.

Section 3. A majority of votes cast shall be necessary for the approval of amendments to the constitution.

Section 4. Any amendments successfully made to this constitution shall be announced to the student body.

ARTICLE X: RATIFICATION

This constitution shall become effective when passed by a three-fourths majority vote of the House Council.