An Act To Allow School Administrative District No. 27 To Transfer Ownership of the St. Francis Elementary School to the Town of St. Francis
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1048
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MARTIN, EDGECOMB

Legislative Document 
No. 1048 
H.P. 717 
House of Representatives, March 24, 2015 
An Act To Allow School Administrative District No. 27 To Transfer 
Ownership of the St. Francis Elementary School to the Town of St. 
Francis 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative MARTIN of Eagle Lake. 
Cosponsored by Senator EDGECOMB of Aroostook. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, School Administrative District No. 27 is the owner of the St. Francis 
Elementary School building and its site in the Town of St. Francis; and  
Whereas, the board of directors of School Administrative District No. 27 and the 
municipal officers of the Town of St. Francis have agreed that it would be in the best 
interests of School Administrative District No. 27 and the Town of St. Francis for School 
Administrative District No. 27 to transfer the St. Francis Elementary School building and 
its site to the Town of St. Francis so that a portion of the property could be leased back to 
School Administrative District No. 27 for educational purposes for continued use as an 
elementary school; and 
Whereas, the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4103, subsection 3 
provides for the transfer of control or ownership of a school building that has been closed 
for lack of need and that does not have any anticipated use as a school building to the 
municipal officers or inhabitants of the town, but does not authorize transfer of a school 
building to a municipality if the school administrative unit intends to continue to use a 
portion of the building for school purposes; and 
Whereas, the 2015-2016 school year may begin before the expiration of the 90-day 
period; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  Authority to convey.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
20-A, chapter 202, the board of directors of School Administrative District No. 27 may 
transfer to the Town of St. Francis ownership of the St. Francis Elementary School 
building and its site, subject to the approval of the voters of the Town of St. Francis.  
Following the transfer of ownership, the municipal officers of the Town of St. Francis 
may lease a portion of the St. Francis Elementary School building and its site back to 
School Administrative District No. 27 for use for educational purposes.  The initial term 
of the lease may be extended for any number of subsequent terms.  Subject to applicable 
law, the municipal officers of the Town of St. Francis are authorized to renovate, use, 
lease, sell, mortgage or otherwise convey any portion of the St. Francis Elementary 
School building and its site, subject, however, to any rights and interests of School 
Administrative District No. 27 as lessee of a portion of the property for educational 
purposes.  As long as School Administrative District No. 27 leases any portion of the 
property for educational purposes, the other uses of the property must be compatible with 
use of the property for educational purposes as reasonably determined by the board of 
directors. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes 
effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This emergency bill authorizes the board of directors of School Administrative 
District No. 27 to transfer ownership of the St. Francis Elementary School building and 
its site to the Town of St. Francis, subject to the approval of the voters of the Town of St. 
Francis.  The bill authorizes the municipal officers of the Town of St. Francis to lease a 
portion of the St. Francis Elementary School building and its site back to School 
Administrative District No. 27 for educational purposes, and, subject to applicable law, 
the town’s municipal officers are authorized to renovate, use, lease, sell, mortgage or 
otherwise convey the property, subject to any leasehold rights of School Administrative 
District No. 27 for educational purposes.  The bill also provides that, as long as School 
Administrative District No. 27 leases any portion of the property, the other uses of the 
property must be compatible with use of the property for educational purposes as 
reasonably determined by the district’s board of directors.