Request removal of teacher

[Guest Mel]

A teacher in a private school is under attack by 3 parents who demand the removal of the teacher. The demands were stated at a school board meeting. All school board members found the complaints and demands totally unfounded. The parents made a veiled threat to take farther action. The school board operates under the authority of an assembly of parents meeting, who have monthly meetings and generally follow the recommendations of the board. The complaining parents may take their demands to the assembly, and the assembly will most likely back the school board decision. Should the complaining parents not like the fact that the assembly decided against them, what action can the assembly take by the assembly to stop the matter from continually becoming a topic at assembly meetings, month after month?

[Chris Harrison]

Two options come to mind:

1) A Special Rule of Order could be adopted by the assembly to prevent the topic from being brought up at meetings for a specific period of time (or forever). However, that Special Rule can be suspended by a 2/3 vote which would allow it to be brought up. To adopt a Special Rule of Order requires previous notice and a 2/3 vote or without notice a majority of the entire membership would be required (RONR p. 17 ll. 28-35). Or...

2) As soon as someone makes a motion relating to this topic a member can immediately object to the consideration of the question (RONR pp. 267-270) which requires a 2/3 vote to keep it from being considered. However, for this one to work the Chair would need to keep the meeting on track by not allowing someone to go off on a tangent about something without a motion pending (if someone does start doing that the Chair should interrupt them and request a motion be made or they need to move onto the next item of business).