Title 20-A, Title 20-A

The residents of 2 or more school administrative units may form a regional school unit that is a body politic and corporate pursuant to this section. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Notice of intent. Each school administrative unit shall file with the commissioner a no…

As used in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, "regional school unit board" means the initial regional school unit board elected pursuant to section 1472‑A. From the time of election of the regional school unit board to July 1st of the regional school unit's fir…

1. Notice of intent. A school administrative unit may file with the commissioner a notice of intent to engage in planning and negotiations with other school administrative units for the purpose of developing a reorganization plan to form an alternative organizational structure in…

Upon the formation of a regional school unit pursuant to this subchapter, the transfer of school property and assets is governed by this section. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Board of directors. The directors of the board of each regional school unit established in …

1. Operational date. A regional school unit board of directors becomes operational on the date set by the state board as provided in this chapter. 2. Transfer of governing authority. The regional school unit board of directors, on the date established pursuant to subsection 1, sh…

1. Assumption of obligations, duties, liabilities and rights. On the operational date established pursuant to section 1463, subsection 1, the regional school unit board of directors shall assume all of the obligations, duties, liabilities and rights of the participating school ad…

1. Assumption of obligations, duties, liabilities and rights. On and after the operational date of an alternative organizational structure, teachers and other employees whose positions are transferred from a school administrative unit or school union to the alternative organizati…

A school administrative unit not originally a member of a regional school unit may be included in the regional school unit in accordance with this section. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Notice of intent. A school administrative unit shall file with the commissioner a…

1. Petition. Beginning January 1, 2012, the residents of a municipality that has been a member of a regional school unit for at least 30 months may petition to withdraw from the regional school unit in accordance with this subsection. A. Ten percent of the number of voters in the…

1. Petition to commissioner. Two regional school unit boards may petition the commissioner by joint resolution to permit a municipality to transfer from one regional school unit to the other. 2. Transfer agreement. The 2 regional school unit boards and the municipal officers of t…

A regional school unit or other interested party may request that the state board reconsider decisions made by the commissioner under this subchapter. The state board has the authority to overturn decisions made by the commissioner. In exercising this power, the state board is li…

A regional school unit board must be established in accordance with this section. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Size. Following the initial certification of a regional school unit, any change in the size, composition or apportionment of the regional school unit board…

1. Method A: subdistrict representation. Under the method of representation referred to as "Method A," directors represent subdistricts. A. The subdistricts, as far as practicable, must be whole municipalities. If the municipalities are divided into subdistricts, then they must b…

1. Election; interim secretary; duties. Within 30 days of the issuance of a certificate of organization for the regional school unit by the state board pursuant to section 1461, subsection 7, the members of the school boards of the school administrative units within the regional …

Notwithstanding section 1471, subsection 2, the initial directors elected to a regional school unit board shall meet and draw lots for their term lengths as specified in this section. [PL 2007, c. 668, §9 (NEW).] 1. Municipalities with annual elections. In municipalities with ann…

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a regional school unit board may place an article before the voters in the member municipalities of the regional school unit that would permit the regional school unit board to establish a single common date for beginning th…

For the purpose of nominations, regional school unit board directors are considered municipal officials and must be nominated in accordance with Title 30‑A, chapter 121 or with a municipal charter, whichever is applicable. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Initial meetin…

1. Definition of vacancy. A vacancy on a regional school unit board occurs: A. When the term of office of a regional school unit board director expires; [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] B. When a regional school unit board director changes residency from the municipality o…

The commissioner shall determine the necessity for reapportionment. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Duties of commissioner. The commissioner shall determine if a regional school unit is apportioned in accordance with the one-person, one-vote principle if: A. The commis…

The regional school unit board: [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Regional school unit name. May select an unofficial name for the regional school unit; 2. Finance committee. May elect a finance committee of 3 or more members, who must be directors; 3. Operating schools.…

A majority of the regional school unit board directors in number and voting power constitutes a quorum.

1. Formation. A reorganization plan under section 1461 or a regional school unit board may authorize the formation of a local school committee for a member municipality established in accordance with chapter 111, subchapter 1. 2. Delegation of functions. A reorganization plan tha…

A regional school unit shall maintain a program that includes kindergarten to grade 12 except for the school administrative districts that did not operate kindergarten to grade 12 that were reformulated into regional school units in accordance with Public Law 2007, chapter 240, P…

1. Apportionment of costs for regional school unit. A regional school unit may raise money, in addition to the local contribution pursuant to section 15690, subsection 1, for establishing and maintaining public schools, erecting buildings and providing equipment for educational p…

1. Preparation by regional school unit board. A regional school unit board shall annually prepare a budget for: A. Operational costs; [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] B. Bonds falling due; [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] C. Interest on bonds or other obligations; […

A regional school unit board shall hold a regional school unit budget meeting at a time it determines. [PL 2007, c. 668, §17 (NEW).] 1. Warrant. The budget meeting must be called by a warrant. The warrant must: A. Be signed by a majority of the regional school unit board; [PL 200…

The following procedures must be used at a regional school unit annual budget meeting. [PL 2007, c. 668, §18 (NEW).] 1. Election of moderator. The secretary of the regional school unit board or the chair of the regional school unit board when the secretary is absent shall open th…

1. Content. Beginning with the budget for the 2008-2009 school year, a regional school unit shall include in its budget document: A. The regional school unit's total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12, its non-state-funded debt service, if any, and any…

Beginning with the budget for the 2008-2009 school year, prior to a vote on articles dealing with regional school unit appropriations, the moderator of a regular or special regional school unit budget meeting shall require the clerk or secretary of the regional school unit board …

After January 31, 2008, the format of the annual budget of a regional school unit must be in accordance with this section. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Cost center summary budget format. The regional school unit budget must consist of the following cost centers and …

After January 31, 2008, the procedure for approval of the annual budget of a regional school unit must be in accordance with this section and section 1485. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Budget validation. Following development of the annual regional school unit budge…

If a budget for the operation of a regional school unit is not approved prior to July 1st, the latest budget approved at a regional school unit budget meeting and submitted to the voters for validation at a referendum in accordance with section 1486 is automatically considered th…

The regional school unit board may call a special budget meeting when it declares that an emergency exists. The voters of the regional school unit may authorize the regional school unit board at a special regional school unit budget meeting to expend additional funds from the reg…

Regional school unit assessments must follow the procedures set out in this section. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Warrant. In accordance with the budget approved by the voters at an annual budget meeting and in substantially the same form as the warrant of the Treas…

1. Regional school unit board. A regional school unit board may borrow money to pay for: A. Current operating expenses of the regional school unit if the loans are repaid within 13 months of the date of borrowing and are limited to an amount reasonably required for current operat…

1. Establishment. A regional school unit may establish a reserve fund for school construction projects, financing the acquisition or reconstruction of a specific or type of capital improvement, financing the acquisition of a specific item or type of capital equipment or any of th…

1. Written bids. Bids must be in writing, sealed with the outside envelope or wrapper plainly marked "Bid, not to be opened until (appropriate date)" and mailed to or filed with the superintendent. 2. Time of opening . A director on the regional school unit board or an employee o…

A contract made by the regional school unit board during the term of a member who is pecuniarily interested in that contract, either directly or indirectly, is void, unless the regional school unit board has advertised for sealed bids for that contract and that advertisement for …

1. Authority to call a regional school unit referendum. The regional school unit board shall initiate a regional school unit referendum: A. To approve the issuance of bonds or notes for school construction projects; [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] B. To approve a change i…

A regional school unit referendum must be initiated by a warrant prepared and signed by a majority of the regional school unit board directors. The warrant must be countersigned by the municipal officers in the municipality where the warrants are posted. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXX…

1. Ballots. The regional school unit board shall prepare and furnish the required number of ballots for carrying out the referendum as posted, including absentee ballots. The regional school unit board shall prepare and furnish all other materials necessary to fulfill the require…

The procedure to reconsider votes taken at a regional school unit referendum is as set out in this section. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Time limit. The regional school unit board shall, within 60 days, initiate a new regional school unit referendum to reconsider th…

All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued for regional school unit purposes by a regional school unit for major capital expenses, bus purchases or current operating expenses, including tax or other revenue anticipation notes, are general obligations of the region…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Existing debt" means any bond, note, loan agreement, lease-purchase agreement or other debt instrument issued prior to July 1st of the first opera…

A school operated within the regional school unit may not be closed for lack of need unless closure of the school is approved at a regular or special meeting of the regional school unit board by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the elected membership or voting power of those serving…

1. Vote; cost of election. A school in a member municipality of a regional school unit may not be closed unless the voters in the member municipality vote on the article in accordance with the referendum procedure set forth in this chapter."Article: Do you favor authorizing the b…