Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/20-a/title20-Asec1466.html
Timestamp: 2017-07-22 12:59:39
Document Index: 72118120

Matched Legal Cases: ['§9', '§9', '§9', '§1', '§2', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§1', '§1', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§1', '§2', '§3', '§9', '§4', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§6', '§7', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§9', '§12', '§7', '§9', '§7', '§12', '§1', '§2', '§1', '§1', '§1']

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 municipality who voted at the last gubernatorial
election must sign the petition to withdraw from the regional school unit. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
B. At least 10 days before the special election called pursuant to this paragraph, the
municipal officers of the municipality within the regional school unit shall hold
a posted or otherwise advertised public hearing on the petition. The municipal officers
shall call and hold a special election in the manner provided for the calling and
holding of town meetings or city elections to vote on the withdrawal from the regional
school unit. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
C. The petition to withdraw from the regional school unit must be approved by secret
ballot by a majority vote of the voters present and voting before it may be presented
to the regional school unit board and the commissioner. Voting in towns must be conducted
in accordance with Title 30-A, sections 2528 and 2529, even if the towns have not
accepted the provisions of Title 30-A, section 2528, and voting in cities must be
conducted in accordance with Title 21-A. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
For the purposes of this subsection, the 30-month period after which a petition to withdraw may be considered in a member municipality
of a school administrative district that was reformulated as a regional school unit
pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section 36, subsection 12 is 30 months after the original operational date of the school administrative district; and the 30-month period after which a petition to withdraw may be considered in a member municipality
of a school administrative district that did not reformulate as a regional school
unit but that became a member entity of an alternative organizational structure is 30 months after the operational date of the alternative organizational structure.
2011, c. 328, §1 (AMD); 2011, c. 328, §2 (AFF)
"Article: Do you favor filing a petition for withdrawal with the board of directors
of regional school unit (name of regional school unit) and with the Commissioner of
Education, authorizing the withdrawal committee to expend $ (insert amount) and authorizing
the (municipal officers; i.e., selectpersons, town council, etc.) to issue notes in
the name of the (name of the municipality) or otherwise pledge the credit of the (name
of the municipality) in an amount not to exceed $ (insert amount) for this purpose?
2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW)
3. Notice of vote. If residents of the municipality vote favorably on a petition for withdrawal, the
clerk shall immediately give written notice, by registered mail, to the secretary
of the regional school unit and the commissioner that must include:
A. The petition adopted by the voters, including the affirmative and negative votes cast;
and [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
B. An explanation by the municipal officers, stating to the best of their knowledge the
reason or reasons why the municipality seeks to withdraw from the regional school
unit. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
A. The commissioner shall direct the municipal officers of the petitioning municipality
to select representatives to a withdrawal committee as follows: one member from the
municipal officers, one member from the general public and one member from the group
filing the petition. The commissioner shall also direct the directors of the regional
school unit board representing the petitioning municipality to select one member of
the regional school unit board who represents that municipality to serve on the withdrawal
committee. The municipal officer and the member of the regional school unit board
serve on the withdrawal committee only so long as they hold their respective offices.
Vacancies must be filled by the municipal officers and the regional school unit board.
The chair of the regional school unit board shall call a meeting of the withdrawal
committee within 30 days of the notice of the vote in subsection 3. The chair of
the regional school unit board shall open the meeting by presiding over the election
of a chair of the withdrawal committee. The responsibility for the preparation of
the agreement rests with the withdrawal committee, subject to the approval of the
commissioner. The withdrawal committee may draw upon the resources of the department
for information not readily available at the local level and employ competent advisors
within the fiscal limit authorized by the voters. The agreement must be submitted
to the commissioner within 90 days after the withdrawal committee is formed. Extensions
of time may be granted by the commissioner upon the request of the withdrawal committee.
(1) The agreement must contain provisions to provide educational services for all
students of the petitioning municipality within the regional school unit. The agreement
must provide that during the first year following the withdrawal students may attend
the school they would have attended if the petitioning municipality had not withdrawn.
The allowable tuition rate for students sent from one municipality to another in the
former regional school unit must be determined under section 5805, subsection 1, except
that it is not subject to the state per pupil average limitation in section 5805,
(2) The agreement must establish that the withdrawal takes effect at the end of the
regional school unit's fiscal year.
(3) The agreement must establish that the withdrawal will not cause a need within
5 years from the effective date of withdrawal for school construction projects that
would be eligible for state funds. This limitation does not apply when a need for
school construction existed prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or when
a need for school construction would have arisen even if the municipality had not
(5) The agreement must provide for administration of the new administrative unit,
which should not include the creation of new supervisory units if at all possible.
(6) The agreement must make provision for the distribution of financial commitments
arising from outstanding bonds, notes and any other contractual obligations that extend
beyond the proposed date of withdrawal.
(7) The agreement must provide appropriately for the distribution of any outstanding
financial commitments to the superintendent of the regional school unit.
(8) The agreement must provide for the continuation and assignment of collective
bargaining agreements as they apply to the new or reorganized regional school unit
for the duration of those agreements and must provide for the continuation of representational
(9) The agreement must provide for the continuation of continuing contract rights
under section 13201.
(10) The agreement must provide for the disposition of all real and personal property
and other monetary assets.
(11) The agreement must provide for the transition of administration and governance
of the schools to properly elected governing bodies of the newly created administrative
unit and must provide that the governing body may not be elected simultaneously with
the vote on the article to withdraw unless the commissioner finds there are extenuating
circumstances that necessitate simultaneous elections. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
B. Within 60 days of the receipt of the agreement, the commissioner shall either give
it conditional approval or recommend changes. The changes must be based upon the standards
set forth in paragraph A and the commissioner's findings of whether the contents of
the agreement will provide for appropriate educational and related services to the
students of the petitioning municipality and for the orderly transition of assets,
governance and other matters related to the petitioning municipality and the regional
C. If the commissioner gives conditional approval of the agreement, the commissioner
shall notify the regional school unit board and the municipal officers by registered
mail of the time and place of a public hearing at least 20 days prior to the date
set for the hearing to discuss the merits of the proposed agreement of withdrawal.
The chair of the regional school unit board shall conduct the hearing.
(1) The regional school unit board shall post a public notice in each municipality
of the time and location of the hearing at least 10 days before the hearing.
(2) Within 30 days following the hearing under this paragraph, the withdrawal committee
shall forward the final agreement to the commissioner. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
(3) Indicate that the corrected agreement must be returned to the commissioner for
conditional approval before it goes to public hearing as set forth in paragraph C. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
A. The commissioner shall determine the date upon which the voters of the petitioning
municipality must vote upon the agreement submitted to them. The election must be
held as soon as practicable, and the commissioner shall attempt to set the date of
the vote to coincide with a statewide election. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
B. At least 35 days before the date set in paragraph A, the commissioner shall give written
notice of the date by registered or certified mail to the town clerk or city clerk
of the municipality petitioning to withdraw. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
C. The town clerk or city clerk shall immediately notify the municipal officers upon
receipt of the notice under paragraph B, and the municipal officers shall meet and
immediately issue a warrant for a special town meeting or city election, as the case
may be, to be held on the date designated by the commissioner. No other date may
be used. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
D. In a warrant under paragraph C, the municipal officers shall direct that the polls
are to be open by 10 a.m. and remain open until 8 p.m. [2013, c. 167, Pt. A, §1 (AMD).]
2013, c. 167, Pt. A, §1 (AMD)
A. At least 10 days before the election, the municipal officers shall hold a posted or
otherwise advertised public hearing on the withdrawal question. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
B. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the voting at the meeting held in a
town must be conducted in accordance with Title 30-A, sections 2528 and 2529, even
if the town has not accepted the provisions of Title 30-A, section 2528. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
C. The voting at the meeting held in a city must be conducted in accordance with Title
21-A. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
"Article: Do you favor the withdrawal of the (name of municipality) from the regional
school unit (name of regional school unit) subject to the terms and conditions of
the withdrawal agreement dated (insert date)?
8. Ballots; posting of agreement. The withdrawal agreement need not be printed on the ballot. Copies of the agreement
must be posted in the municipality in the same manner as specimen ballots are posted
under Title 30-A, section 2528.
9. Required vote. Before the municipality may withdraw from the regional school unit, the withdrawal
agreement must be approved by a majority vote of those casting valid votes in the
municipality, and the total number of votes cast for and against withdrawal at the
municipal vote must equal or exceed 50% of the total number of votes cast in the municipality
for Governor at the last gubernatorial election.
2013, c. 461, §1 (AMD)
9-A. Required vote; exception for a municipality of a school administrative district that
was reformulated as a regional school unit. A 2/3 vote of those casting valid votes in the municipality is required before a municipality
that is a member municipality of a school administrative district that was reformulated
as a regional school unit pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section
36, subsection 12, as amended by Public Law 2007, chapter 668, section 48, may withdraw from the regional school unit. [
2013, c. 461, §2 (AMD)
9-B. Required vote. [
2013, c. 461, §3 (RP)
10. Restriction on withdrawal petitions. A municipality within a regional school unit may not petition for withdrawal within
2 years after the date of:
A. A municipal vote on a petition for withdrawal if the petition received less than 45%
of the votes cast; or [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
2013, c. 461, §4 (AMD)
10-A. Restriction on withdrawal petitions for a municipality of a school administrative
district that was reformulated as a regional school unit. A municipality that is part of a school administrative district that was reformulated
36, subsection 12, as amended by Public Law 2007, chapter 668, section 48, may not
petition for withdrawal within 2 years after the date of:
of the votes cast; or [2013, c. 461, §5 (NEW).]
B. A municipal vote on a withdrawal agreement if the agreement received less than 60%
of the votes cast. [2013, c. 461, §5 (NEW).]
2013, c. 461, §5 (NEW)
11. Cost of advisors. The expense of employing competent advisors by the municipality petitioning to withdraw
must be borne by the municipality, and the expense of employing competent advisors
by the regional school unit must be borne by the regional school unit with the municipality
bearing its share according to the regional school unit's cost-sharing agreement.
12. Determination of vote. The town clerk or city clerk shall, within 24 hours of determination of the result
of the vote in the municipality, certify the total number of votes cast in the affirmative
and the total number of votes cast in the negative on the article to the commissioner.
13. Determination of results; execution of agreement. Except for a school administrative district that was reformulated as a regional school
unit pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section 36, subsection 12, as amended by Public Law 2007, chapter 668, section 48, if the commissioner finds that a majority of the voters voting on the article has
voted in the affirmative and the total number of votes cast for and against the article
equal or exceed 50% of the total number of votes cast in the municipality for Governor
at the last gubernatorial election, the commissioner shall notify the municipal officers
and the regional school unit board to take steps for the withdrawal in accordance
with the terms of the agreement for withdrawal. For a municipality that is part of
a school administrative district that was reformulated as a regional school unit pursuant
to Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section 36, subsection 12, as amended by Public Law 2007, chapter 668, section 48, if the commissioner finds that at least 2/3 of the votes validly cast in the municipality
are in the affirmative, the commissioner shall notify the municipal officers and the
regional school unit board to take steps for the withdrawal in accordance with the
terms of the agreement for withdrawal.
2013, c. 461, §6 (AMD)
13-A. Determination of results; execution of agreement; effective date. [
2013, c. 461, §7 (RP)
A. If, within 7 days of the computation and recording of the results of the voting, the
municipality requests to the commissioner in writing a recount of the votes, the commissioner
shall immediately cause the checklists and all the ballots cast in the municipality
to be collected and kept at the commissioner's office so they may be recounted by
the municipality. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
B. The town clerk or city clerk of the municipality is authorized to deliver the checklists
and ballots to the commissioner, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
15. Execution of agreement; certified record; certificate of withdrawal. When the agreement for withdrawal has been put into effect by the municipality, the
municipal officers shall notify the commissioner by certified mail that the agreement
of withdrawal has been executed. A complete certified record of the transaction involved
in the withdrawal must be filed with the commissioner. The commissioner shall immediately
issue a certificate of withdrawal to be sent by certified mail for filing with the
regional school unit board and shall file a copy in the office of the Secretary of
A. Whenever a municipality withdraws from a regional school unit having outstanding indebtedness,
the regional school unit remains intact for the purpose of securing and retiring the
indebtedness. The withdrawal agreement may provide for alternate means for retiring
outstanding indebtedness. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
B. For the purposes of this subsection, "outstanding indebtedness" means bonds or notes
issued or assumed by the regional school unit board and lease-purchase agreements
issued or assumed by the regional school unit, but does not include any indebtedness
of the withdrawing municipality assumed by the regional school unit at the time of
formation. [2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW).]
17. General purpose aid. When a municipality withdraws from a regional school unit, the general purpose aid
for the municipality must be computed in accordance with chapter 606-B.
18. Committee recall. If the commissioner determines that the withdrawal committee has failed to comply
with the requirements of this section, the commissioner may authorize the municipal
officers to appoint new representatives to the withdrawal committee.
19. Transfer of property. The regional school unit board may negotiate with the withdrawal committee regarding
an equitable division of the regional school unit's property between the regional
school unit and the municipality represented by the withdrawal committee and transfer
title of the property to the municipality following withdrawal. The regional school
unit board shall determine that the regional school unit's educational program will
not be disrupted solely because of the transfer of any given property before it may
20. Reorganization; penalties. [
2011, c. 251, §12 (AFF); 2011, c. 251, §7 (RP)
2009, c. 580, §9 (NEW). 2011, c. 251, §7 (AMD). 2011, c. 251, §12 (AFF). 2011, c. 328, §1 (AMD). 2011, c. 328, §2 (AFF). 2011, c. 678, Pt. J, §§1-5 (AMD). 2013, c. 167, Pt. A, §§1, 2 (AMD). 2013, c. 461, §§1-7 (AMD). The Revisor's Office cannot provide legal advice or
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