Wake Early College of Health and Sciences Science Olympiad Constitution

I. Purpose: - To educate, train, and prepare all members on the team on their specific area of competition and tournaments. - To promote science education and participation in science competitions. - To always aim for with 100% commitment towards accomplishing the goals made by the individuals, coaches, and team. - To allow those who want a positive learning and interactive environment a team to be a part of. Duties of Members: - Put towards 100% commitment on everything that they partake in. - Members must study throughout the school year until the conclusion of competition participation. Studying can include but are not limited to the following: reading articles, practice tests, experiments, videos, and talking about the event with another person. - Varsity members are expected and held to a higher standard. - Each member must observe his/her duty and responsibility to the team. (See Commitment Contract for further detail) Every member is expected to sign and complete any forms given to them regarding S.O. - Members may have to pay an annual membership fees. Fees may range from $0 to $35. The fee is determined by the coaches and can be adjusted with each season. - An Entrance fee that utilizes a large down payment with a safety deposit that is given back at the end of the completed season is allowed. This must be made to attention to members. Example: $60 down payments - $35 Deposit = $25 actual payment (less than $30). Deposits shall only be given out if the specific member completes the ENTIRE season. - Members are to respect other individuals including those that are not from Wake Early College. - An entire season is defined as a total of meetings, study periods, tournaments, events, and trips. Not all of these may be used in a particular season. Voting Procedure: - To allow a quick and effective start to the next season, offices will be composed of the same members as the previous members if at least THREE of the FIVE requirements are met: 1. The team reaches the National Stage of competition 2. The team finishes in the top 5 of in the state 3. The team places 1st in the Regional Tournament 4. A majority of coaches agree. 5. A majority of the officers for the year agree to renew the selected officer. - Officers that are graduating or choose not to participate will not be given an automatic renewal of officer status. - Within 28 days of the End of Season Party, a survey form shall be sent out to each student member via website, Facebook, email, or other social media. Surveys can be made available in physical copy form as well. - Members are asked to fill them out and return them by either one of the following procedures:

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Last Updated by the Board on August 28th, 2013. A complete detailed list of edits can be found on the bottom.

A) Send the completed form that is saved with the new adjustments to the official science Olympiad email. B) Turn in a physical copy to the WECHS Science Olympiad box. In the survey, it will include a section that will ask members to decide if they believe that a particular officer should retain their status without any further election. All officers and coaches shall be judged. Members have the option of selecting YES or NO. By selecting YES for a particular officer or coach, they place a Yes vote towards renewing the particular persons status. By selecting NO for a particular officer or coach, they place a NO vote towards renewing the particular persons status. After the 14 day period has elapsed, votes will be tallied up and ANY POSITION that receives a majority YES vote shall be retained by the previous position holder. All others will be up for grabs in the upcoming election. Members have the right to abstain from answering any questions or voting in the survey. Officers or coaches that have been renewed will be notified within 48 hours of the conclusion of the survey period about the results. They will then have 72 hours to give their choice of whether or not they want to accept or decline the renewal. No officer or coach is required to be renewed and can decline. However, once he/she declines, the position will go up for grabs and the particular person loses all rights to reserving their position. This meaning that if they decline, they can later on say that they want their job back. Officers or coaches that have been renewed must be contacted by TELEPHONE OR PERSON. The answer of whether or not they decline or accept must be given by TELEPHONE OR PERSON. The telephone should be made out between the officer/coach and the current President. All answers go to the President as well. Officers or coaches that accept the renewal MAY NOT RUN FOR ANOTHER POSITION. Once they accept the renewal, they must take the position IF THEY ARE ON THE TEAM THE FOLLOWING SEASON. A 7 day grace period after declaration of acceptance is allowed in which the person who accepted the renewal may decline. All non-renewed positions shall be elected upon the upcoming fall. The official day of election shall be the 1st Thursday of October where school is in session. In order to run for a position, the person must be nominated by THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. Nominees will be named on the fourth day of school. Nominees must then campaign to garner up enough votes to be in the top three to be a finalist for the position. Nominee finalist voting shall take place the first Thursday after Labor Day where school is in session. The nominee finalist voting process has each voter writing down who his or her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice is for each available position. Scoring is based on the amount of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place votes a candidate receives. Each 1st place votes counts as 3 points, 2nd as 2 points, and 3rd as 1 point. The three candidates with the most points for each position are named the finalist for the position. Ties are broken based on the number of 1st place votes, then 2nd, and 3rd place votes. A dead tie will result in a vote by the panel of officers and coaches.

Last Updated by the Board on August 28th, 2013. A complete detailed list of edits can be found on the bottom.

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If there are less than 5 candidates for a given position, only the top two will be voted on and each voter will select two candidates with each vote valued equally. - Finalists MUST be present on Election Day in order to be voted on. Only members that are present may have their vote counted. Electronic voting, early voting, late voting, and mail-in votes are not considered valid votes and shall be disregarded. - The finalists of each position will be given one 150-second time slot to speak what they choose. The order of the finalists will be determined based on the score of the primary elections. The candidate with the highest score will have the opportunity to SELECT his/her position of speaking. Score on last nominee ballot determines seeding. The order of speaking and voting is non-negotiable. Each voter including coaches are given one ballot in which they write the name of the person they believe does the best in convincing them that they will perform the duties of their position to their best. - The person with the most votes for each position wins the election. Seeding breaks ties. - Nominees are nominated only by S.O members of the previous year and are due by the end of the school year. - Nominee Primary Voting is done only by S.O members of the previous year. - Election Day voting is open to all eligible members and coaches. Regardless of age and class. - Discrimination is prohibited. - Votes will be tallied by the coaches and must be done in an empty room with TWO coaches and ONE officer from the previous year in present. The officer may not look or touch the ballots. The coaches count up the votes and if there is a discrepancy in counting, only then shall the selected officer be permitted to look and touch the ballots. The coachs total that most reflects the officers count is the final count. - Recounts are prohibited. All results are final. - The results shall be posted on the website, Facebook page, and hub within 24 hours of completion of counting. - The final roster, officers, and coaches shall be published BY October 31st on the website. - Only the following officers will be recognized as official offices. President Vice President North Representative J.V Representative Secretary 2 Additional Officers (The president of that season may appoint two additional officers to their respective offices that will be recognized as official offices for only that season.) Selection of Officers, Qualifications, and Term of Office: - Nominees are determined by survey and each member is allowed two nominations for each available position. - All members of the team are eligible to vote as long as they hold team status on Election Day. - Nominees have the right to decline. -

Last Updated by the Board on August 28th, 2013. A complete detailed list of edits can be found on the bottom.

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Election day is held on the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences campus unless deemed unfit by the cabinet. - No person may run for more than two offices. If a candidate is elected to two positions, then the position with the largest margin of victory is awarded. Ties are broken by rank of office. - Members with renewed status may NOT run for any office. - Members with renewed status MUST attend the inauguration ceremony to be officially renewed. Until then, they are recognized as the previous seasons officers. - Rank of officers: 1) President (PR) 2) Vice President (VP) 3) North Representative (NR) 4) Secretary (SR) 5) J.V Representative (JVR) 6) Promoted Office A 7) Promoted Office B - During all meetings, the student leader is the highest ranked officer. If there are no officers present, then seniority rules. - A term for an officer runs from inauguration until the inauguration of another person for their position. Under special cases, an officers term may end sooner. Death, Sickness, Suspension, Succession, or Resignation are a few. Succession under Unusual Circumstances/Officer Removal/Petition: - An officer will be placed on suspension if they do not meet academic requirements. - Succession requires 75% vote from team, majority cabinet, and majority coaching staff. - Succession is defined as the permanent forced removal of status. - Resignation is defined as the permanent removal of status based on free will of officer. - Suspension is defined as the temporary removal of status based on choice, sickness, academic issues. - In the case of a vacant cabinet member, the president is the only one who may propose no more or less than three replacements. The President is not required to nominate three replacements unless a petition is signed. - Petition is defined as a formal written complaint made by the team and must have at least 75% of the teams signature on it. Petitions must be reviewed by the President and Cabinet and an official statement is required with 14 days of receiving the petition. - Cabinet is defined as the 7 officers. - Board is defined as the Cabinet + Coaching Staff - Heads is defined as the coaching staff. - The replacement candidates will be voted upon using the Election Day process. Activities of the Group: - Science Olympiad competition. The members of the Science Olympiad teams will compete in the Regional level of Science Olympiad. If possible, teams will compete at the State and/or National levels. - Club, study, and engineering meetings. - Presidents are responsible for the organization of club, study, engineering, and town-meeting meetings both during and out of school. Club meeting activities include but are not limited to: information sessions for members, -

Last Updated by the Board on August 28th, 2013. A complete detailed list of edits can be found on the bottom.

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registration procedures, updates regarding the status of event preparation, and election notifications. Study meeting activities include but are not limited to: large group study sessions involving research and preparation for events in general, small group study sessions for event-focused members to collaborate, pair or trio study sessions for event-specific teams, and mock competitions. Engineering meeting activities include but are not limited to: design, construction, and testing of engineering apparatuses. Town-meeting meetings are required and should be held only for important issues to be discussed where the members of the team must physically be present. The President may deem certain meetings mandatory, giving one weeks notice. A town-meeting meeting must be announced on the website, Facebook page, or email at least 72 hours in advance. - Additional activities. The Presidents and advisors may agree to introduce additional activities to the club, including new competitions. Additional activities must be deemed by all Presidents and an advisor as reasonable expenses of money, time, and effort for club members, officers, and advisors. Presidents and advisors will determine leadership processes for the introduction year of the activity. If kept, the activity and its related leadership will be included in the constitution of the following year. Finances and Expenses: - Is the duty of the Board. - It is each Board members duty to be honest in all dealings. Amendments and Ratification: - Amendments to the Constitution require a petition to be considered. - The Board will review amendments at the next Board Meeting after 72 hours once the Amendment is received. - Any member has the right to file a petition for a change, addition, or subtraction to the Constitution. - A majority from both sides is required to allow passage of ratification. - The President can veto a petition and then require 75% of the team to agree based on a vote on the next town meeting day in addition to the standard majority of both officers and coaches. - Any ratification will be effective 14 days after the election. Until the 14-day timeframe has passed, the Board can challenge the ratification and only requires a revote of 6/9 of the Board. After the 14-day window, a proper action necessary as defined above is required to remove a law is to be done. - An amendment is defined as any change to the wording, description, or meaning of any part of the constitution no matter how small. - Grammar edits are permitted as long as the meaning is not tainted. Emergency Code An emergency code may be enacted by the president at any time during the season. The President has the right to grant up to 4 Emergency Codes per season. Additional E.C must be granted by the cabinet with majority approval. Two E.Cs, which last 14 days from official enactment. TWO E.Cs, which lasts 24 days from official enactment. Additional E.Cs granted by the cabinet are 14-day E.Cs. During an emergency code period, Science Olympiads priority is heightened. Typically, E.Cs are enacted close to tournament time or times of crisis.

Last Updated by the Board on August 28th, 2013. A complete detailed list of edits can be found on the bottom.

Meetings held are ALL town meetings (required) and only require 72-hour notice. - An emergency code form must be filled out only by the president and handed in to the secretary or coach to be officially enacted. - All voting need only to be voted on by Board members in order to save time. - The president may end the E.C at any time but requires a 48-hour waiting period for it to officially end from the time of ending. X. Application and Event Signup - Teams are composed of members that would give Wake Early College the best chance to advance to Nationals. In the beginning of each season, each person will have the opportunity to sign-up for an event. - Members who placed in the top 10 in the state or medal in the region will have the opportunity to automatically retain their spot for their specific event if they so choose to do so. The decision must be made within a week once team cuts have been made. - Varsity is assembled based on the discretion of the Board however the Coaches will ultimately be the final say. - The criteria for Varsity is based on team-qualities, which include dedication, attitude, and attendance, but also talent. - All students barring those that have qualified for an automatic spot will have to apply using an application. The application process is open to any student attending Wake Early College. - Automatic spots are given to students who: 1) Was a participant of the Varsity Team last year AND met Board majority approval. 2) Placed 1st in any JV event. 3) Was an officer the previous year. - JV is made only if 22 or more members are on the team. A 2nd JV team may be made if there are 35 ore more members. No more than 50 members shall be accepted on the team. - The State and National Science Olympiad committee determines maximum capacity on Varsity and JV. - The Varsity team that reaches the National Level where there is a discrepancy in maximum capacity will be evaluated. Members that contribute the most (Officers, multiple events, high placing) will be selected first. If additional members are required, then the best JV members shall be called up. - JV team members may be called up to the Varsity team at any point to fill in the place of a suspended member or absent one on tournament day. - Event distribution is made by the President and reviewed by the Heads. - A signup sheet/form must be filled out to allow criteria to be taken into consideration. - Members that medalled in the Regional level, top 10 in the state, or participated in the National level or given first priority to have their event back. - This rule does not apply for JV members transferring up. - Note that events change each year. - The varsity and junior varsity (if needed) results will be posted online and in the school and you will need to fill out a confirmation letter AND team commitment contract BEFORE the first meeting. Those who are unprepared by the 2nd meeting will be removed and alternates will be selected. - Event set up is different than team cuts. These require an additional application process and will determine which students make Varsity and which make JV. No student may be a part of both teams due to organization laws. -

Last Updated by the Board on August 28th, 2013. A complete detailed list of edits can be found on the bottom.

Event set up is finalized no later than October 31st and after that, changes may only be made with president and cabinet approval. If the team were to advance to the State or National tournament, changes to the event line up are allowed. Changes are made by Board and must be done within 14 days following the conclusion of the preceding tournament. This is to allow for modifications to build an even stronger team.

Signatures of the Inaugural Wake Early College of Health and Sciences Science Olympiad season team. Season Opening: 2012-2013 Presidents Signature: X _________________________________ Vice Presidents Signature: X _____________________________
Head of Life Sciences: X __________________________________ Head of Physical Sciences: X______________________________ Head of Engineering: X __________________________________ Team Signatures: ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___

______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___ ______________________________________ ___

List of Edits since the Signing of the Original in January, 2013 Board voted 8-29-13 to change the name and requirements for HS Representative Officer to JV Representative Officer.

Last Updated by the Board on August 28th, 2013. A complete detailed list of edits can be found on the bottom.

Moved Secretary to #4 on the rank of officers and JV Representative to #5.

Last Updated by the Board on August 28th, 2013. A complete detailed list of edits can be found on the bottom.