BIC: SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER FREEDOM OF ACCESS TRAINING
In accordance with Maine law, beginning July 1, 2008, every School Committee member must complete a course of training on the requirements of Maine’s Freedom of Access law as it relates to public records and proceedings not later than the 120th day after the date he/she takes the oath of office to assume his/her duties as an elected official. School Committee members serving in the office on July 1, 2008, must complete the training by November 1, 2008. Freedom of Access training must be repeated within 120 days of taking the oath of office each time a School Committee member is elected to serve a new term.
At a minimum, the training course must include instruction in:
a) The general legal requirements of the Freedom of Access law regarding public
records and public proceedings;
b) Procedures and requirements regarding complying with a request for a public record under the Freedom of Access law; and
c) Penalties and other consequences for failure to comply with the Freedom of Access law.
A School Committee member may meet the training requirement by conducting a thorough review of all the information made available by the State of Maine on the Frequently Ask Questions portion of its Freedom of Access website, or by completing any other training course that includes all of this information.
Each School Committee member shall attest by means of a written or electronic record that he/she has completed the training and provide a copy of such record to the Superintendent’s Office. To facilitate documentation of training, the Superintendent will make available to School Committee members copies of the State’s sample Certificate of Completion of Freedom of Access Training form.
Adopted: April 7, 2009
Reviewed PC: March 29, 2011
Legal Reference: 1 M.R.S.A. §§ 411, 412
Cross Reference: BID – New School Committee Member Orientation
KDB – Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access