School Governance
This section of the Hanover High School Handbook concerns how Hanover High School is governed. Hanover High School is a democratic school. Its Council is comprised of students, staff members, and community members. The Council shapes and informs handbook policies. The Board recognizes its commitment to the regular communication between the Board and the Hanover High School Council. A non-voting, student representative attends Board meetings and is responsible for presenting the interests of The Council to the Board and to bring the Board specific proposals and items of concerns. The Council also has regular meetings with Hanover High School Administration who then brings specific proposals and items of concerns to the Hanover High School staff.
- Dresden School Board
- The Council
- Staff Decision-Making Procedure
- Committee on Program and Procedure
- Class Committees
- Judiciary Committee
- Restorative Practices
Dresden School Board
The Council
The Council
On June 14, 1977, the Dresden Board of School Directors voted unanimously to support the system of governance at Hanover High School known as The Council by instituting the following policy (amended in May 1983): Policy JIBA
Regular meetings of The Council are held once each week (Wednesday 11:00am to 11:50am) during the school year. The meetings will be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order. All Council meetings are open to the public.
The Council Executive serves as Parliamentarian, as a liaison to the Administration, and as a resource to Council Committees and Officers. The Executive is responsible for procedures that facilitate Council business and for maintaining a complete historical record of the Council.
The Council has its own bylaws and has subdivided itself into six standing committees: Administration, Curriculum, Judiciary, Organizational Engineering, Student Activities and Student Life. The committees carry out functions of data gathering, investigations, proposal writing, communications and recommendations around specific tasks.
Council Members
Skip Bean Democratic School Award
Passed by The Council, Spring 2000
The Council sponsors this award that is given to a person or group in the school or community who furthers the purposes and ideals of a democratic school. This award is named in honor of Linwood H. (Skip) Bean, Jr., Associate Principal of Hanover High School from 1970 to 1997. Mr. Bean was a “founding father” of The Council and an outspoken advocate for and supporter of democracy at HHS. To nominate someone for this award, which can be given at any time, any member of the school community may write a short statement telling why the nominee should receive the award and submit the signed statement to Council. The recipient of the award will receive a “bag of beans” -- jelly, coffee, etc. The recipient’s picture will be posted on The Council bulletin board together with the nomination statement. Photos and statements will then be gathered in an award album.
Student Inclusion on Search Committees
The following motion passed at the 9/24/92 meeting of The Council and amended to include head coaches at the 10/1/92 meeting was approved by Committee on Instruction (COI) on 10/22/92.
The Council recommends COI that 2 students be included on all search committees for professional staff, administrators and head coaches. The student(s) will be chosen by the coordinator or the supervisor.
Some Examples of What The Council May Do or May Not Do
The Council May:
- Provide structures to facilitate student evaluation of administration and staff.
- Make decisions on allotment of student activities monies.
- Make decisions regarding rules and regulations governing student involvement in extracurricular activities.
- Make decisions regarding procedures involving school dances, student lounge space, use of athletic facilities.
- Issue statements of support or nonsupport of administrative decisions.
- Make recommendations to administration involving curriculum and scheduling issues.
- Protect due process rights of student body.
- Make recommendations to the appropriate body on hiring of administrative personnel.
The Council May Not:
- Make decisions on scope and substance of curricular and extracurricular activities.
- Make decisions on type of school response to violations of School Board policy, state law, administrative regulation or approved handbook rules.
- Make decisions on staffing patterns in the school.
- Make decisions on appointment of new staff and administrators.
Town Hall Meeting
Council representatives, from each grade level, will hold one town hall meeting each quarter for the purpose of intentionally including the student body in the democratic process, to take place during an Advisory Circle period.
Staff Decision-Making Procedure
HHS Governance and Jurisdictions
Approved by the Hanover High School Staff
October 15, 2021
The Staff is one of HHS’s governing bodies. The Staff shall have the authority to act on all Staff-related matters not controlled by school board policy, state law, contract language negotiated with the district’s professional associations, and administrative regulations established by the Superintendent of Schools. The Staff’s decisions will be binding, subject only to the veto of the Principal, Superintendent, or School Board.
For the purposes of this Plan, the “Staff” will consist of Hanover High School’s Administrators, Coordinators, Teachers, Counselors, Administrative and Educational Assistants, and Nurses. The Staff may, from time to time, extend its membership as herein defined (e.g., Custodial Staff, Coaches).
The Committee on Program and Procedure (CPP) will focus its work on longer-term, programmatic concerns: e.g., the Budget; changes to the Program of Studies (e.g., new course proposals and requirements); and other macro-level issues that exceed the scope of individual departments. Issues that affect the school as a whole, however, may be referred to the Staff through the Rule of Three.
The Coordinators Group will focus its work on shorter-term, logistical concerns: calendars; event scheduling; communication with departments; and other operational issues, as needed. Issues that technically fall within these areas but effectively have a far greater impact may be referred to the Staff through the Rule of Three.
Rule of Three
Approved by the Hanover High School Staff
October 15, 2021
Staff Referral
If CPP (or the Coordinators Group) takes up a matter that at least three of its members believe ought to be discussed and decided by the Staff as a whole, those three members shall request that the matter be referred to the Staff for further discussion and a final decision.
The members who invoke the Rule of Three must come from at least two different departments, programs, or areas.
CPP (or the Coordinators Group) must honor this request, suspend its deliberations, and refer the matter to the Staff.
The Administration will add this matter to the agenda of the next available Staff meeting, time permitting.
The Staff will discuss this matter and make a final decision.
Department Referral
If CPP (or the Coordinators Group) takes up a matter that at least three of its members believe ought to be referred to Departments for further discussion and a preliminary departmental vote before a final decision, those three members shall request that the matter be referred to the Departments for further discussion and a preliminary departmental vote.
The members who invoke the Rule of Three must come from at least two different departments, programs, or areas.
CPP (or the Coordinators Group) must honor this request, suspend its deliberations, and refer the matter to the Departments.
Coordinators will add this matter to the agenda of the next available Department meeting, and each Department will discuss this matter and hold a preliminary vote.
Once the Departments have discussed the matter and cast their votes, the matter will return to CPP (or the Coordinators Group) for a final vote. In this final vote, Coordinators must vote with the majority of their respective Departments.
Staff Meeting Procedures
Staff meetings will adhere to the following rules:
- The Staff as a whole will meet at least twice per month from September to May and during June and August, as appropriate. Absent exigent circumstances, Staff Meetings will happen during their regularly scheduled meeting time.
- The Administration will make the meeting’s agenda available to the Staff at least 48 hours in advance. This agenda will be shared with the entire Staff.
- The Principal (or designee) will moderate Staff Meetings. *Note: References to “the Principal” will be understood to mean “the Principal (or designee)” throughout this list of rules.
- The Staff will not conduct business without a quorum. Attendance will be taken to determine if a quorum is present. A quorum will be defined as more than 50% of the Staff.
- The Staff will conduct its business according to a modified parliamentary procedure in one of two ways: (a) discussing a broader issue; (b) processing a specific motion. Votes on parliamentary procedure will occur within Staff Meetings.
- Any member of the Staff may bring an agenda item or a new motion directly to the Staff during the “new business” portion of the Staff Meeting.
- The Staff will not hear new motions and vote on those motions within the same meeting. Motions and broader issues will be presented and discussed at a first meeting; decision-making will follow at a later time.
- A motion to end debate will not be recognized before the Principal has ensured that every Staff member who wishes to speak has spoken at least once and that questions have been adequately addressed. A vote of 2/3 of the Staff in attendance is necessary to end debate and proceed to a vote.
- If, during discussion or debate, the Principal feels that no new ideas or opinions are being presented, the Principal may call for an end to debate.
- The Staff will vote on motions presented at Staff Meetings by a simple majority vote, unless a different threshold has been specified. The Staff will cast votes on motions electronically within a window of 72 hours, unless a different procedure is chosen by the Staff.
- Minutes will be taken at Staff Meetings. Names will be omitted, except for the names of those who make and second motions. These minutes will be made available to the Staff after the meeting within 24 hours and prior to any vote.
The Staff may amend one of its procedural rules (e.g., waiting until the next meeting to vote) by a 2/3 majority vote.
Staff Appeals
Overriding a Decision of CPP or the Coordinators Group
If a member of the Staff believes that CPP or the Coordinators Group has made a decision that ought to have been referred to the Staff, or otherwise disagrees with a decision that CPP or the Coordinators Group has made, this Staff member may, during the “new business” portion of a Staff meeting, present a motion to override that decision. This override motion will pass if at least 2/3 of the Staff who vote on the motion approve its passage.
Appealing a Decision of the Principal
If a member of the Staff disagrees with a decision that the Principal has made (including the veto of a Staff decision), this Staff member may, during the “new business” portion of a Staff meeting, present a motion to appeal the Principal’s decision to the Superintendent. This appeal motion will pass if at least 2/3 of the Staff who vote on the motion approve its passage.
Committee on Program and Procedure
Passed by Staff 4/22
CPP Overview
The Committee on Program and Procedure (CPP) is one of the school’s governing bodies, overseeing matters of program and procedure that exceed the scope of individual departments. Led by the Principal (or designee), this group focuses its work on long-term decision-making.
Its scope encompasses these areas:
- Approving new courses or major course changes (including MI)
- Proposing and approving budgets for the following year
- Addressing major, systemic concerns (e.g., homework overload, multiple learning management systems, student health and safety policies)
- Addressing other issues as requested by its members or the Staff
CPP Decisions
CPP is a deliberative body, whose decisions are binding on the school, subject only to the veto of the Principal, Superintendent, or School Board. If a CPP decision is vetoed by the Principal, this veto must be submitted within ten (10) school days and must be accompanied by an addendum outlining the reasons for the veto. By a 2/3 majority vote, CPP may submit an appeal to the Superintendent to override a Principal’s veto.
CPP Membership
CPP’s membership, which meets in an open meeting on Mondays after school every week, consists of the leaders of HHS’s various programs, departments, and other areas; to represent a wide array of stakeholder constituencies, it also includes voices from the Teachers, Support Personnel, Students, the Community, and the School Board.
Please note that these individuals hold membership in CPP through different circumstances:
- Administrators, the Athletic Director, and Department Coordinators obtain membership by virtue of their positions.
- At-large Representatives obtain membership by election: Teacher Representatives will be elected by HHS Staff who are included in the HEA bargaining unit; Support Staff Representatives will be elected by HHS Staff who are included in the Hanover SSEA bargaining unit as well as by administrative assistants.
- The Community Representatives obtain membership through appointment by the Principal.
- The Council Representative obtains membership by election from the Council body during Council leadership elections every spring.
- The Dresden School Board Representative obtains membership by appointment/election from the Dresden School Board.
Note 1: The Principal will serve as the meeting Moderator. In the Principal’s absence, an Associate Principal (or designee) will act as the meeting Moderator. The Associate Principals will represent Extracurriculars for the time being; the issue of Extracurricular representation should be revisited in the near future.
Note 2: As a point of clarification, ten (10) of CPP’s voting members teach 4-5 classes; ten (10) of its voting members do not.
CPP Elections
CPP Elections
The HHS Staff will elect CPP’s at-large members to two-year terms.
- Teacher Representatives will be elected by HHS Staff who are included in the HEA bargaining unit.
- Support Staff Representatives will be elected by HHS Staff who are included in the Hanover SSEA bargaining unit as well as by administrative assistants.
- The winners of this election will be the four Teachers and the one Support Staff member with the highest number of votes. The Teachers who win the first, second, and third most votes will serve as Teacher Representatives with voting power; the teacher who wins the fourth most votes will serve as an Alternate Teacher Representative.
- If one of these three Teacher Representatives is absent for a meeting, the Alternate Teacher Representative will act as a substitute with full voting rights for that meeting.
Class Committees
CLASS COMMITTEES
(Article VIII of the Council Bylaws, March 2013)
Class functions are organized by Class Committees. Class Committees are formed and governed under Article VIII of the Council Bylaws.
A. Membership
Sign-ups for Class Committee will be held the same week as Council Elections. Any student can sign-up, but they must maintain steady involvement in meetings and fundraisers in order to be considered a member.
B. Purpose
1. To raise funds for activities it deems appropriate. Possible activities include:
- Graduation
- Senior Prom
- Yearbook
- A gift that is donated to the school
- Class trips and activities
2. Communication with the class.
The Class Committee has the ability to call a class meeting, with reasonable notice.
C. Structure
1. There is no formal structure that is required within the Class Committee (i.e. chairperson, secretary, treasurer, etc.) as long as the Committee is functional.
2. One person must be in contact with a Council member.
D. Class Advisor
1. Purpose
To work closely with the Class Committee to set up yearly class activities and fundraisers.
E. Participation
1. Class Committee members need to actively participate in order to achieve class goals. Failure to participate and/or attend meetings diminish this.
2. Advisors should review transcripts of activities to verify active participation in Class Committee meetings and activities. At the end of the year, the advisor will send a list of active members to Guidance.
Judiciary Committee
The appeal of a disciplinary action will be made in writing by the appellant by 3:00 PM of the school day following such disciplinary action. Students wishing to use this committee should download an Appeal Form or get one from the Main Office and contact the Chairperson on the same day of the Administrative Decision.
Copies of Rules of Operation for this committee may be obtained in Article VII F of the Council Bylaws or from the Chairperson of the Committee, Principal or the Associate Principal of the school.
Members of the Judiciary Committee will be elected from the general student body.
- Students may run for council as well as JComm.
- Elections will take place during the Council elections in the spring.
- Freshmen will vote in the fall during orientation.
- There will be two students from each grade as well as two staff members.
- Nomination forms are required but other forms of campaign are not required.
- Individuals will vote for two members from their grade (or staff).
A chair, which cannot be a staff member, selected by the members of the Judiciary Committee. It will be the responsibility of the Chair to ensure the proper functioning of the Judiciary Committee. The Council Executive will serve on the Judiciary Committee as a non-voting member and a resource for the chair.
Restorative Practices
The purpose of the Restorative Practices Program is the improvement of citizenship in an individual student resulting in the enhancement of the overall quality of life at Hanover High School. The Restorative Practices Program is designed for students who have a) violated the Academic Integrity Policy (AlP) or b) at the discretion of the Associate Principal, been involved in other significant behavioral incidents. It is designed to help students take responsibility for their actions, recognize that their conduct caused harm to others, make amends, and reintegrate into the community. There are four key principles of the Restorative Practices process: respect, responsibility, restoration, reintegration. Students have the option not to participate in Restorative Practices.
- In cases where the student has accepted responsibility for AIP violations, the Associate Principal will:
- Contact parents/guardians to set up a meeting
- Inform attendees of this meeting:
- of the purpose of Restorative Practices as outlined above
- that the consequences will be determined by consensus during the Conference and recorded in a contract, which will be signed by all parties. If the student does not fulfill the terms of this contract they will receive the base consequences.
- that the Restorative Practices process is outlined in the Student Handbook
- In cases involving other significant behavioral incidents, the Associate Principal will:
- Through discussions with the Restorative Practices Coordinator(s) determine who has been affected by the student’s actions and if the case is appropriate for the program, considering how significant the behavioral incident is, if the student accepts responsibility of the action, and if holding a Restorative Practices Conference would have a positive influence on reintegrating the student into the school community
- If it is determined by the Associate Principal and the Restorative Practices Coordinator(s) that the case is appropriate for the Restorative Practices, the Associate Principal will:
- Contact parents/guardians to set up meeting.
- Inform attendees at this meeting:
- of the purpose of Restorative Practices as outlined above
- that the consequences will be determined by consensus during the Conference and recorded in a contract, which will be signed by all parties. If the student does not fulfill the terms of this contract he or she will receive the base consequences.
- that the Restorative Practices process is outlined in the Student Handbook
Restorative Conference Process Step-by-Step
Passed by Council June 2023
The purpose of the Restorative Conference is the improvement of citizenship in an individual student resulting in the enhancement of the overall quality of life at Hanover High School. Restorative Conferences are offered at the discretion of the Associate Principal and are designed for students who have violated the Academic Integrity Policy (AlP) or been involved in other significant behavioral incidents. A Restorative Conference helps students take responsibility for their actions, recognize that their conduct caused harm to others, make amends, and reintegrate into the community. Student ownership of their responsibility and commitment to making repairs is the foundation to the restorative process. There are four key principles of the Restorative Conference: respect, responsibility, restoration, reintegration.
In cases where the student has accepted responsibility for AIP or behavioral violations and chosen to engage in a Restorative Conference, the Associate Principal will contact parents/guardians to inform them of their student’s choice, and to explain the purpose and process of the Restorative Conference. The Associate Principal will ask the parents/guardians to discuss the student’s choice to engage in the Restorative Conference and then contact the AP to confirm this decision.
- If the student and family decide to pursue the Restorative Conference, the Associate Principal will refer the case to the Restorative Practice Coordinator, a school counselor. The Coordinator will:
- Reach out to the affected parties of the Restorative Conference case to ask if they would like to participate in the Conference. There is no obligation for those contacted to participate.
- Determine the construction of the Conference, after conferring with all concerned parties. At the very least, the Conference will include the Coordinator, the student, and their supporters. It may also include the affected party or parties, their supporters, the Associate Principal, and other members of the staff and/or administration.
- In cases involving more than one student, each student will participate in a separate Conference.
- The Coordinator will schedule a date and location for the Conference and inform all appropriate parties.
- In pre-conference meetings held with all the participants, the Coordinator will preview a list of questions to be asked during the Conference. The Coordinator may pose follow-up questions during the Conference as needed:
Restorative Questions - I (to respond to the challenging behavior)- What happened?
- What were you thinking about at the time?
- What have you thought about since?
- Who has been affected by what you have done? In what way(s)?
- What do you think you could do to make things right or to improve the situation and move forward?
- What did you think when you realized what had happened?
- What impact has this incident had on you and others?
- What has been the hardest thing for you?
- What do you think could happen to make things right?
- During the Conference, the participating parties will generate a record of the outcome, including any expected next steps for the student, which will be emailed to all conference participants. If the student fails to complete the expected next steps, then they will incur the base consequences above.
- The Associate Principals will log the outcome of the Restorative Conference in the student’s internal PowerSchool record.