The Executive Board of the Brooklawn Student Council is chosen each Spring in a General Election of the 6th and 7th grades. The second place finisher for each office also joins the Executive Board as a member of the Board of Directors. In the days that follow the President-elect, Vice President-elect and Advisor work together to appoint two additional members, completing a Board of ten student leaders. Each member of the Executive Board is vital to the success of the Brooklawn Student Council and all its activities. The newly elected and appointed students work closely with the outgoing Executive Board members as they prepare to take over leadership of the Student Council when the gavel is formally passed at the Moving Up Ceremony in late June.
Candidate Training is required before any 7th grade student can run for President or Vice President. This course takes place for two hours on each of four afternoons during the month of March. A student cannot take this course unless they have demonstrated their academic and disciplinary eligibility to run for office. Candidate Training is designed to give potential candidates an overview of how the Student Council works, and includes various teamwork and character building experiences to prepare them to assume a leadership role in it.
Each member of the Executive Board has various responsibilities. There is much more to their jobs than getting out of class for work sessions, General Assembly meetings, or to attend NJASC State Conferences. To learn more about what these student officers really do, the Fifth Article of our Constitution details their primary responsibilities. These are listed below, along with other responsibilities that usually come with each office.
PRESIDENT
Our Constitution specifically outlines the following responsibilities:
- To assist the Advisor in various tasks, as necessary.
- To prepare an agenda for each meeting of the General Assembly after consulting with the other officers, committee chairpersons, and Advisor.
- To preside over meetings of the General Assembly, ensuring a fair and full hearing to all concerns and the maintenance of order at all times.
- To appoint individuals (with consent of the Advisor) to chair standing and special committees, and to monitor the progress of each committee.
- To be a member of all standing and special committees.
Some additional responsibilities of the PRESIDENT:
- To do the daily morning announcements with the Vice President.
- To assign duties at dances and other Student Council events to all members of the Executive Board, and to supervise all student workers at these events.
- To assist the Advisor in ensuring that all members of the Executive Board are fulfilling their responsibilities, Constitutional and otherwise.
- To assist the Advisor in preparing seventh grade members of the Executive Board to develop the qualities necessary for being successful in higher office.
- To supervise and regularly evaluate all Special Committees.
VICE PRESIDENT
Our Constitution specifically outlines the following responsibilities:
- To assist the President and Advisor in various tasks, as necessary.
- To preside over meetings of the General Assembly in the absence of the President.
- To be ready at all times to temporarily or permanently become President. In this case, the succession procedures in the Sixth Section of the Fourth Article will be invoked to ensure continuity.
- To be a member of all standing and special committees.
Some additional responsibilities of the VICE PRESIDENT:
- To do the daily morning announcements with the President.
- To assign selling and other work duties that take place during lunch periods to all members of the Executive Board, and to supervise all student workers as they perform these duties.
- To prepare and deliver reports to each meeting of the General Assembly, to inform its’ members of major Student Council activities and inspire their active participation in them.
- To assist the Advisor and President in preparing seventh grade members of the Executive Board to develop the qualities necessary for being successful in higher office.
- To supervise and regularly evaluate all Standing Committees.
TREASURER
Our Constitution specifically outlines the following responsibilities:
- To assist the President and Advisor in various tasks, as necessary.
- To assist the Advisor in collecting all funds due to the Student Council and preparing them for submission to the school Bursar.
- To prepare and present periodic summaries of financial records to the General Assembly.
- To prepare and maintain accurate records of Student Activity Card sales and keep a current listing of all cardholders.
Some additional responsibilities of the TREASURER:
- To stamp or number all tickets and prepare sign-in books for dances and other ticketed activities.
- To handle the Student Council cash box and help supervise the outer gate ticket table at dances and other ticketed activities.
- To assist the Vice President in coordinating and conducting Student Council fundraising activities.
- To dedicate oneself to work hard and actively learn the inner workings of the Student Council, in preparation to possibly assume higher office in the eighth grade.
SECRETARY
Our Constitution specifically outlines the following responsibilities:
- To assist the President and Advisor in various tasks, as necessary.
- To keep accurate minutes for each meeting of the General Assembly.
- To maintain a calendar of school events and a complete file of minutes and correspondence.
- To maintain accurate attendance records for the General Assembly, and notify members at risk of removal due to excessive absences.
Some additional responsibilities of the SECRETARY:
- To provide an accurate participant count and help supervise the inner gate ticket table at dances and other ticketed activities.
- To keep accurate minutes of Executive Board and Committee meetings, upon request by the Advisor, President, or Committee chair.
- To assist the President in constructing agendas for meetings of the General Assembly.
- To dedicate oneself to work hard and actively learn the inner workings of the Student Council, in preparation to possibly assume higher office in the eighth grade.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Constitution specifically outlines the following responsibilities:
- To assist the Advisor, President, and other elected Officers in various tasks, as necessary.
- Members of the Board of Directors must act as chairperson of one of the six Standing Committees the Sixth Article of Our Constitution requires: Community Service, Decorating, Graduation, Leadership, Liaison, Publicity.
- Encourage active participation in their Committee by members of the General Assembly as well as the Student Body.
- Conduct regular meetings, maintaining a Committee Book that includes accurate attendance records, detailed minutes of each meeting, and written reports of its progress to be reviewed by the President or Vice President and presented before the General Assembly.
- With consent of the President, designate an Assistant Chairperson who may serve as acting Chairperson in case of absence, but will not become a member of the Executive Board.
Some additional responsibilities of members of the BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
- To fully participate in all Executive Board meetings and work sessions, as well as to regularly report to the General Assembly on the progress of their committee.
- To maintain a Committee Book that is thorough, organized, and current; ready to be reviewed by the President, Vice President, or Advisor at any time.
- To attend and work hard at all Student Council events, faithfully performing all duties as directed by the President or Advisor.
- Members of the Board of Directors must be prepared to stand in and perform the duties of any elected officer (except the President) in case of their absence, as directed by the President or Advisor.
- To assist the President and Advisor as necessary to carry out Student Council business.
- To dedicate oneself to work hard and actively learn the inner workings of the Student Council, in preparation to possibly assume higher office in the eighth grade.