The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-12-26
Maine School Supefintendents.

+ State Supt. Smith of the public
schools of Maine has had printed for
! distribution a pamphlet entitled, ''Su-
perintendence of Maine Schools
through the Union Of Towns" which
contains an extract from the school
laws Of the State, together with an ex
PLANTATION of their meaning. Included
also In the contents of the pamphlet is
summary of the provisions of the law.
which is as follows:
l.. The State will double the amount
paid by the group Of towns to the limit.
annually, on the part of the State, of
q The union may include not less
IMAM ~. nor more than SO schools.
o.. In choosing superintendent each
.ucat COMMITTEES votes in proportion to
.ne snare OF the salary paid by the
.own IL represents. The time given by
tne superintendent to each town of the
basis WHO '"lno
4. The superintendent of a union
must hold State certificate
3. The duties of the sunerintendent
are the same for each town as in the
case OF the local superintendent.
Q. a vote taken by town to form
union holds for three years. except that
q union may be dissolved within that
time by tWO-thirds vote of the Joint
committee.
!. Each town is required to raise
only the amount of its own share in the
superlntendent's salary. The amount
due from the State is paid to the su.
perintendent directly from the State
treasury.
8. While the union formed under
Sec. 40 must continue for three wears
after its first formation, unless dissoly
ed by the joint committee, as provided
In Sec. 43, it should be understood that
the superintendent may be elected an
nually and changed annually, if the
COMMITTEES deem change advisable.
y. There is no restriction as to the
number of towns. The only require
ment is with regard to the number of
schools. In counting schools, each
room in charge of a teacher is to be
counted as a school.
10. There is no restriction as to rel.
alive location of towns forming a union
They may be in the same or different
counties and may be contiguous or
not. Towns formed by the union of
two or more towns. are entitled to the
full benefit of the provisions of the
above law the same as if they had re-
maiued separate municipalities.
IL. The formation of a union must
be authorized by vote of the several
towns uniting. This vote may be taken
at the regular town meeting, or at
special meeting called for that purpose.
-. The secretary of the joint CON-
mittee, upon the formation of a union
must certify to the treasurers of the
several towns uniting and to the State
superintendent, as required in Sec. Al.
Sec 40 of the law, referred to above, pro-
vides that the school committees of two
or more towns, having under their care
and custody an aggregate of not less
than 20, Gor more than so schools,
many unite in the employment of "a SUI
perintendent of schools, provided they
have been SO authorized by a vote of
their towns at the regular town meet
ings, or special town meetings called
for that purpose.
The pamphlet contains 10 pages of
matter explanatory of the law, and
also the blank form for an article to be
be inserted in town meeting warrants
in case it is the desire of towns to see
if they will authorize their superinten-
ding school committee to join with 9th
er towns in the employment of super
intendent of schools in accordance with
the provisions of the law.