2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 2: SCHOOL ORGANIZATION › Chapter 103: SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS › Subchapter 3: SCHOOL DIRECTORS › 20-A §1251. Board of directors

§1251. Board of directors
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 one director from each municipality or subdistrict.
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
2.  Term of office.
In municipalities with annual elections, directors shall serve a 3-year term. In municipalities with biennial elections, directors shall serve a 4-year term. A director shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified.
[PL 1983, c. 806, §13 (AMD).]
3.  Terms of office under district formation.
The newly elected directors under a district formation or reapportionment plan shall meet and draw lots for the length of term specified as follows.
A. In municipalities with annual elections, 1/3 of the directors shall serve one-year terms, 1/3 shall serve 2-year terms and 1/3 shall serve 3-year terms. If the number of directors is not evenly divisible by 3, the first remaining director shall serve a 3-year term and the 2nd a 2-year term.   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
B. In municipalities with biennial elections, 1/2 of the directors shall serve a 4-year term and 1/2 a 2-year term. If the number of directors is not divisible by 2, the remaining director shall serve a 4-year term.   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
C. The directors shall serve their terms as determined at the organizational meeting and an additional period until the next regular election of the municipalities. Thereafter, the directors' terms of office shall be established in accordance with the provisions of section 1003.   [PL 1983, c. 485, §9 (AMD).]
[PL 1983, c. 485, §9 (AMD).]
4.  Compensation.
Compensation for attendance at a school board meeting shall be between $10 and $25 per meeting. Whenever the directors recommend to increase their compensation, they shall submit their recommendation to the district voters for approval.
A. On notification by the school board, the municipal officers shall, at the next regular or special town meeting or city election, prepare a warrant or ballot for the purpose of voting on the proposed increase.
The question shall be in the following form.
"Should the School Administrative District No.     directors be paid compensation at the rate of $     for each meeting which each director attends?"
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
B. No increase in compensation is effective unless approved by a majority of the voters voting on the question.   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
5.  Secretary and treasurer.
The superintendent shall serve as secretary and treasurer of the school board and shall give a bond to the district of a sum and with the sureties as the school board shall determine. The bond shall be deposited with the chairman. The expense of that bond shall be paid by the district. The bond premium, compensation paid directors for attendance at meetings and expenses of the district shall be paid from funds of the district by the treasurer on vouchers presented and certified by the superintendent and approved by a majority of the school board or a finance committee duly elected annually by that board.
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
6.  Oath of office.
Before their first meeting, newly elected directors must take the following oath or affirmation before a dedimus justice or notary public.
"I ................ do swear that I will faithfully discharge to the best of my abilities the duties encumbent on me as a school director of School Administrative District No........ according to the Constitution and laws of this State. So help me God."
A. A director shall take the oath or affirmation and return a certificate documenting that the oath has been taken to the secretary of the district to place in the district records.   [PL 1987, c. 736, §40 (AMD).]
B. If a director is conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath, the word "affirm" may be used instead of "swear" and the words "this I do under the pains and penalty of perjury" instead of the words "so help me God."   [PL 1991, c. 655, §2 (AMD).]
[PL 1991, c. 655, §2 (AMD).]
7.  Election of officers.
The board of directors shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman and other officers as may be necessary.
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1981, c. 693, §§5,8 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 485, §9 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 806, §§13,14 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 736, §40 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 655, §2 (AMD).