Title 20-A

Provisions for a board of directors shall be as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Size. The size shall be determined by the joint meeting under section 1203 or by the reapportionment committee under section 1255, but shall not be less than 5. It shall include at least…

The following are methods of representation. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Method A: Subdistrict representation. Directors shall represent subdistricts. A. The subdistricts, as far as practicable, shall be whole municipalities. If the municipalities are divided into subdist…

For the purpose of nominations, school directors shall be considered municipal officials and shall be nominated in accordance with Title 30‑A, chapter 121, or with a municipal charter, whichever is applicable. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §§37, 106 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989…

Declaration and filling of vacancies shall be as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Definition of vacancy. A vacancy occurs: A. When the term of the office of a school director expires; [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] B. When a school director changes residency from th…

The commissioner shall determine the necessity for reapportionment. [PL 1987, c. 395, Pt. A, §53 (AMD).] 1. Duties of commissioner. The commissioner shall determine if a district is apportioned in accordance with the principles of one person, one vote, if: A. The commissioner rec…

The board of directors: [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. School district name. May select an unofficial name for the district; 2. Finance committee. May elect a finance committee of 3 or more members who must be directors; 3. Operating schools. May authorize and oversee the op…

At least a majority of the board of directors in number and voting power shall be a quorum.

A school administrative district shall maintain a program which includes kindergarten to grade 12. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Secondary school. A district shall provide a secondary school facility as follows. A. A district which enrolls more than 700 pupils in grades 9 t…

A school administrative district may raise money for establishing and maintaining public schools, erecting buildings and providing equipment. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Methods of sharing costs. The costs of operating a school administrative district must be shared among…

The district budget shall be prepared as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Preparation by board. The board of directors shall annually prepare a budget for: A. Operational costs; [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] B. Bonds falling due; [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] C.…

The school board shall hold a district budget meeting at a time it determines. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Warrant. The budget meeting shall be called by a warrant. The warrant shall: A. Be signed by a majority of the board of directors; [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] B…

The following procedures shall be used at a district meeting. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Election of moderator. The secretary of the board of directors, or when absent, the chairman of the school board, shall open the meeting and call for the election of a moderator, re…

If requested before January 31, 2001 by a written petition of at least 10% of the number of voters voting in the last gubernatorial election in the municipalities within the district, the board of directors shall cause the following article to be voted on by the voters of the mem…

Notwithstanding any other law, school administrative district budgets developed after January 1, 2008 must conform to the format and referendum procedures for regional school units as set forth in sections 1485 and 1486. A school administrative district is deemed to be a regional…

The board of directors shall determine the budget format unless it is established by the district voters. [PL 1989, c. 414, §4 (AMD).] 1. Petition. An article establishing the budget format may be placed on the next warrant if authorized by a majority vote of the board or if a wr…

If the school budget format requires specific line categories, then in preparing the warrant and conducting the budget meeting, the following shall apply. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Separate articles. Each category shall be included in a separate warrant article. 2. Tran…

If a budget for the operating of the district is not approved prior to July 1st, the latest budget as submitted by the board of directors is automatically considered the budget for operational expenses for the ensuing year until a final budget is approved, except that, when the s…

The school board may call a special budget meeting when it declares an emergency exists. The voters of the district may authorize the directors at a special district budget meeting to expend additional funds from the district's undesignated fund balance or to pledge the credit of…

District assessments shall follow these procedures. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (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 Treasurer of State for taxes, the board of di…

A school administrative district may borrow money as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Board of directors. The board of directors may borrow money to pay for: A. Current operating expenses of the district if the loans are repaid within 13 months of the date of borrowin…

School administrative districts may establish a reserve fund as follows. [PL 1989, c. 132, §1 (AMD).] 1. Establishment. A school administrative district may establish a reserve fund for school construction projects, financing the acquisition or reconstruction of a specific or typ…

The following shall apply to bids. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Written bids. Bids shall be in writing, sealed with outside envelope or wrapper plainly marked "Bid, not to be opened until (with appropriate date inserted)," and mailed to or filed with the superintendent of…

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

The school board: [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Authority to call a district referendum. Shall initiate a district referendum: A. To approve the issuance of bonds or notes for school construction projects; [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] B. To approve a change in the selec…

A district referendum shall be initiated by a warrant prepared and signed by a majority of the board of directors. The warrant shall be countersigned by the municipal officers in the municipality where the warrants are posted. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Municipal officer…

The following procedures apply to a district referendum. [RR 2009, c. 2, §43 (COR).] 1. Ballots. The board of directors shall prepare and furnish the required number of ballots for carrying out the referendum as posted, including absentee ballots. It shall prepare and furnish all…

The procedure to reconsider votes taken at a district referendum shall be as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Time limit. The board of directors shall, within 60 days, initiate a new district referendum to reconsider the vote of the previous referendum if, within 7 d…

It is declared the policy of the State to provide sufficient resources to support the reorganization of school administrative units into regional, state-approved units of school administration to provide: [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).] 1. Opportunity. Equitable education…

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, schools operated by the regional school units established in accordance with this chapter are the official schools of the participating municipalities. The provisions of general law relating to public education apply to these …

For purposes of the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 8, Subsection 3, a regional school unit is a school administrative district.

The state board may adopt rules to carry out this chapter. Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑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…