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Policy
The Newtown High School Technology Team, in order to preserve order and promote a more productive and effective Team, do establish this Policy for the current and future Newtown High School Technology Team. The Technology [Tech] Team, from here on referred to as the Team, exists to provide a social medium for the exchange of knowledge among students with a preexisting understanding and a never-ending curiosity regarding technology of all kinds, as well as a learning environment to increase the Team’s ability as a whole. Members from here on refer to people who are active in the club, and follow all expectations and requirements as defined in Article 2. Probationary Members, also known as Probies, from here on refer to people who are active in the Team but have not been voted in as a Member.
Members of the Team will be expected to take responsibility for any of their own actions, including, but not limited to, directions given to Probationary Members, activity in productions, attendance to meetings, and other Team tasks they take part in. Activity in all aspects of the Technology Team must be evident: members are expected to attend both meetings a week, and required to attend at least one. If a reason is given to the Secretary prior to the meeting or by the next meeting, it will be recorded as an excused absence and will not count toward grounds of a strike. Failure to contact the Secretary will result in the absence being marked as unexcused. After 5 unexcused absences, a strike may be brought up. Members are required to either attend or edit, at least one event or 5 hours worth a month depending on the amount of available events. Members are also expected to be working on Personal Projects, progress on which is to be shown at select meetings.
Each member is responsible for voting on all new policies, rules, members and all agenda topics brought to a vote. Members are responsible to be present for voting, and if they cannot be present, attempt to voice their opinion in said vote if possible. If a member is unhappy with a decision they can bring it back up for a revote. If a member finds that they have a conflict of interest in a vote where they have something personal to gain from a vote, or they feel they would act in favoritism, they are responsible to bring it forward and relinquish their vote.
Elected Positions are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Broadcast Director, Production Manager, Technical Director, and Project Manager. Elections will occur no more than two months prior to the end of the school year, and any position that is not filled in the Election will be appointed within the first month of the following school year. It is the responsibility of all Members to vote on those who will fill these roles annually. If a position is not filled or needs to be filled, then members of the Team will be nominated. After nominations are taken, a vote will take place among all members similar to how one occurs when an executive originally takes position. It is also the responsibility of those not in an official position to work with those who are and follow their decisions. Should a decision be questioned, a vote may be proposed, and majority ruling within the Team will enable it to be overturned.
Tech Team has claim over and uses the rooms B253 (i.e. Lockdown) and B132 (i.e. Headend). The cleanliness and presentability of these rooms falls under the responsibility of all Members and Probationary Members. All members of Tech are required to follow the rules that come with the room as designated by the current executives. The room, although not being overseen by an adult must be treated as though there is one in the room. This includes but is not limited to keeping a regular voice level, lack of profanity; no exceptions for public displays of affection or lewd or sexual conduct. No persons from outside of the Team are allowed in either room at any time, excluding custodians and other school staff.
Membership in the Tech Team is primarily earned through trust as well as contribution and display of ability. Candidates for membership are required to work with, and contribute to, the Team, in order to be eligible for membership. A candidate will be immediately expected to begin working at becoming a Member when the Probationary Member displays their continued desire or attends two meetings to become a part of the Tech Team. In certain cases, prospective probationary members may submit applications to be exempt from the two meeting requirement due to scheduling conflicts. If this is the case, then they must submit a plan and show progress on a project, and complete production hours equivalent to attending one production unless there are not an adequate number of productions in a given month to fulfill these hours. Membership is the official association of the Team with a Member. A Member will have access to B253, the resources of the Tech Team as designated by their access level, an ID card allowing them to exit out of study halls and cafeterias, and the ability to vote upon various Team decisions (including, but not limited to, the induction of new Members). A failed attempt at membership does not immediately preclude Probationary Members from subsequent attempts, except in extenuating circumstances as defined by the current President and Vice President. In the event that they are not voted in, they are given a one-month waiting period, after which they are able to choose to be voted on again at their discretion.
It is the duty of all existing members of the Team to evaluate and observe Probationary Members in all school areas on their behavior, participation, work ethic, hygiene, general participation, and any other qualities that members of the Team would require. Once a Probationary Member becomes a Member, these expectations are not dropped. In order to remain a member of the Team, they must follow the responsibilities mentioned in Article 1 Section 1 and adhere to all school rules outlined in the Student Handbook. This includes, but is not limited to, unexcused absences or tardiness in school, bullying of other students and/or staff, harassment in any form of other students and/or staff, theft, vandalism, and wearing inappropriate clothing.
All Members must adhere to standards of the Tech Team in the following: professional standards of behavior and participation of events (including but not limited to Board of Education meetings, Team meetings, school-sanctioned sports events, and staff related services), upholding personal responsibilities and Team-wide responsibilities, continuous activity within the Team, and anything defined by the sitting President or Vice President as an expectation.
A strike is where the Team takes action over an instance regarding the breaking of any of the rules regarded in the Policy, as well as when any member deems that a strike may be in the Teams best interest. Strikes, although covering many aspects, cannot cover the breaking of school rules. These aspects include but are not limited to misuse of equipment, failure to follow instructions, unexcused absences, and/or lack of contribution to the team. If a strike is brought to the Team that is seen as a violation of school rules it, then it will be presented to the administration and regarded as a school issue and not a Tech Team one. A strike is presented to the Sitting Adviser and executive staff. They will then present it to all members in a meeting, who will then determine whether or not the strike is justified based on the information given. If they need more information or they believe the grounds for the strike are limited, then the strike will be declined. However if they see that there are enough grounds, then they will determine to strike the individual(s) and add additional consequences if needed. After the strike is decided upon, the Adviser either agrees or vetoes the strike. Strikes occur and count on a year to year basis and strikes that occur in previous years do not carry over. We use this as part of the belief that people can change. If someone cannot be responsible year in and out, they will continue to receive strikes.
Each Member has a certain number of strikes available to them, and certain punishments based on how many they have already received.
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On a Member’s first offence they receive, the consequence is a minimum two week suspension of their card. All permissions of a full member are to be returned to them at the end of the defined period.
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On a Member’s Second offence, they are demoted to Probationary Status and suspension of their card until they regain membership.
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This offence is the final straw. Any Member that receives this strike will be suspended from the Team for the remainder of the year. They are no longer allowed to be in our rooms, use our equipment, or utilize any of the perks of being in the Team. However, they will be allowed to rejoin at the beginning of the next year with a clean slate.
When a student joins the Team as a probationary member they are very vulnerable to this system. A probationary is given one strike at which they can receive. The probationary period is used by the Team to determine if we can trust them. If they receive a strike during their probationary period, they will be removed from the Team for the remainder of the year (in accordance with the final offence). When a member is voted into the Team, that shows our belief that we can trust them; with that trust allows for a cushion. That of which you are able to receive two extra strikes before their final offence terms are put into action. This means that a Member receives their first and second offence consequences before they are able to receive their third.
This document may only be revised in the case that there is a supermajority vote to do so. Minor changes may be voted on by the current elected position holders while major changes must be voted on by all present members of the Team. Major changes would include but are not limited to the redefinition of positions, how membership is attained, how a position is attained; redaction or addition to the current placed system, etc. Minor changes would include but are not limited to spell corrections, formatting corrections, etc. All members who have previously agreed to the Terms also agree to any future additions so long as they remain a member of the Team.