§302A-1124 Mandate to initiate school community councils. (a) The department, through the board and its superintendent, shall establish a school community council system under which each public school, excluding charter schools, shall create and maintain a school community council. Each school community council shall:
(b) School community councils shall be exempt from the requirements of chapters 91 and 92. The school community councils shall:
(c) Complex area superintendents may require revisions to a school's academic and financial plans if the plans are in violation of law or conflict with statewide educational policies and standards, or are otherwise in the best interests of the school.
(d) The superintendent of education may recommend to the board of education dissolution of a school community council and establish an interim school community council if the school community council engages in any act or omission that would constitute gross negligence, wilful and wanton misconduct, or intentional misconduct. The superintendent may recommend to the board the removal of any member of a school community council. The superintendent shall appoint or facilitate the creation of an interim school community council at any school that has not established a council or has had its council dissolved. In appointing or facilitating the creation of an interim school community council at any school that has had its council dissolved, the superintendent may appoint individuals who were previously members of the council.
(e) Unless otherwise specified, each school community council shall establish policies governing the council's composition, election, staggered terms of office for members, operation, and vacancies; provided that:
For the purposes of this subsection, "primary stakeholders" means students, parents, and community members.
(f) School community councils shall elect officers, including:
(g) The principal shall have the authority to set aside any decision made by the school community council if the principal determines it to be in the best interests of the school; provided that the principal notifies the school community council. If the school community council opposes a decision of the principal, an appeal shall first be brought to the complex area superintendent for resolution and, if necessary, to the superintendent and, finally, to the board of education.
(h) Complex area superintendents shall assist the school community councils and principals within their respective complex areas in: