Maine School Administrative District #1

School Board Duties and Responsibilities

Maine state law charges school boards with the responsibility to "manage the schools." This is done essentially by selecting a Superintendent and providing him with authority and direction. It is not the duty of the Board to operate the schools but to see that they are well operated.

The Board concerns itself primarily with broad questions of policy rather than with administrative details. The application of policies is an administrative task to be performed by the Superintendent and his staff, who shall be held responsible for the effective administration and supervision of the entire school system.

Members of the Board have authority only when acting as a board legally in session. The Board shall not be bound in any way by an action or statement of an individual member except when such statement or action is in pursuance of specific instructions from the Board.

Standard Board Agenda

• Call to order
• Announcements
• Public participation
• Approval of minutes
• Financial report
• Bills and Warrants signed to date
• Committee reports
• Superintendent's report
• Old business
• New business
• Adjournment

Board Meetings

The MSAD# l Board of Directors meets at 5:00 P.M. on a monthly basis at one of the school district's five schools. Agendas are prepared by the Superintendent and Board Chair. They are published at least four week days in advance of each meeting, and are posted in the Superintendent's office and in each school, and are printed in local newspapers.

Executive Sessions

In accordance with the Freedom of Access ("Right-to-Know") law, board meetings are held in public. The Board may go into private or executive sessions, upon vote of 3/5 of the members present and voting, for consideration of certain matters specified in law (such as personnel, student suspension/expulsion, contracts to be negotiated, collective bargaining, legal advice or pending litigation). No final action may be taken in executive sessions.

Public Participation Policy

Meetings of the Board are public in the sense that they are held in public. This does not mean they are public meetings in the same sense as a "town meeting." There is no statutory requirement in Maine that the public be permitted to speak at board meetings. However, we welcome comments and concerns related to the matters under consideration by the Board, within the guidelines set forth in Board policy BDDH--PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS.

Therefore, the Chair will provide an opportunity for public comment under the public participation segment of each agenda. Please be aware of these ground rules from our policy:

• Public participation will take place during the public participation segment of the Agenda.
• Public participation will be limited to a total of 15 minutes with each speaker allotted a maximum of three minutes.
• Prior to the opening of the meeting each speaker must submit to the Superintendent or Chairman of the Board his name, address, and the agenda item he wishes to discuss or other items approved by the Chairman.
• Anyone with a legitimate interest in the Board's business may speak. Employees or employee groups will not be permitted to discuss matters for which other, more appropriate forums, are provided.
• All speakers are asked to identify themselves. Gossip, defamatory comments, or abusive or vulgar language will not be permitted.
• Comment will be heard and considered. Generally the Board does not discuss or act on an item not on the agenda. No complaints or allegations will be allowed in public concerning any staff member or or any person connected with the school system.
• Speakers are asked not to be repetitious of comments already made to the Board, in the interest of most efficient use of time.
• The primary purpose of the meeting is for the Board to conduct its business as charged by law. Spontaneous discussion, as well as disorder and disruption, prevent the Board from doing its work and will not be permitted.

Affirmative Action/Nondiscrimination

It is the policy of this school system not to discriminate in educational programs, activities or employment practices on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, age or handicapping conditions under the provisions of Title VI and IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments.