BDE: SCHOOL COMMITTEE STANDING COMMITTEES

The School Committee believes that standing committees can be useful to its decision-making process and in the transaction of School Committee business.  The School Committee may establish such standing committees as it deems necessary to facilitate school unit governance and address ongoing school unit needs.  A standing committee has only such authority as specified by the School Committee. 

All standing committees shall include less than a majority of the School Committee.

All standing committee meetings are open to the public except as provided by the Freedom of Access Law and the Municipal Public Employees Labor Relations Law.  Notice of public standing committee meetings will be posted.

Establishment and Functions of Standing Committees

The following provisions apply to the establishment and functions of standing committees:

A.    All standing committees shall be established by vote of the School Committee.  A motion to establish a standing committee shall state the purpose and responsibilities of the committee (the “charge”) and set the number of members comprising the committee.

B.    The School Committee Chair will appoint School Committee members to a standing committee and approve community members as needed.  For existing standing committees, appointments will be made at or as soon as practicable after the School Committee’s annual organizational meeting following the November election.

C.    The School Committee Chair may also make appointments to standing committee vacancies on standing committees that occur prior to the Board’s next organizational meeting following the November election.

D.    The term of appointment to a standing committee shall be until the next organizational meeting following the November election.

E.     A standing committee may invite school administrators, staff or others to its meetings for the purpose of obtaining input or recommendations, but only appointed members of the standing committee may vote.

F.     Any School Committee member may attend standing committee meetings, but shall have no vote.

G.    Except as authorized by law or School Committee action, a standing committee may research issues and make recommendations for School Committee action, but may not act for the School Committee.

H.    A standing committee may be abolished at any time by a vote of the School Committee.

I.      The number of members on a standing committee and/or the responsibilities of a standing committee may be modified at any time by a vote of the School Committee.

Authorization/Appointment of Standing Committees

The School Committee shall have the following standing committees:

·               Facilities, Finances, & Safety Committee

·               Negotiations Committee

·               Policy Committee

·               Curriculum Committee

The School Committee may establish other standing committees it deems necessary in accordance with this policy.

Adopted:   March 15, 2011

Revised:    December 18, 2019;  September 3, 2024

Legal Reference:  1 M.R.S.A. § 401 et seq.