2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 2: SCHOOL ORGANIZATION › Chapter 103-A: REGIONAL SCHOOL UNITS › Subchapter 3: SCHOOL GOVERNANCE; PROGRAM › 20-A §1471. Regional school unit board

§1471. Regional school unit board
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 must be determined by a joint meeting of all the municipalities within the regional school unit. Unless determined otherwise pursuant to section 1472, each regional school unit board must include at least one director from each municipality or subdistrict.
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
2.  Term of office.
In municipalities with annual elections, directors serve 3-year terms. In municipalities with biennial elections, directors serve 4-year terms. A director serves until a successor is elected and qualified.
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
3.  Compensation
. Compensation for attendance at a regional school unit board meeting must be between $10 and $25 per meeting for each director. Whenever the directors recommend increasing their compensation, they shall submit their recommendation to the voters in the regional school unit for approval.
A. On notification by the regional school unit 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 must be in the following form.
"Do you favor paying a member of the regional school unit board of directors compensation at the rate of $.... for each meeting that member attends?"   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
B. An increase in compensation is not effective unless approved by a majority of the voters voting on the question set out in paragraph A.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
4.  Secretary and treasurer
. The superintendent serves as secretary and treasurer of the regional school unit board and shall give a bond to the regional school unit board of a sum and with the sureties as the regional school unit determines. The bond must be deposited with the chair of the regional school unit board. The expense of that bond must be paid by the regional school unit. The bond premium, compensation paid directors for attendance at meetings and expenses of the regional school unit must be paid from funds of the regional school unit by the treasurer on vouchers presented and certified by the superintendent and approved by a majority of the regional school unit board or a finance committee duly elected annually by that board.
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
5.  Oath of office
. Before a newly elected director's first regional school unit board meeting, that director 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 incumbent on me as a regional school unit board director of (name of regional school unit) according to the Constitution of Maine 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 or affirmation has been taken to the secretary of the regional school unit to place in the regional school unit board records.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
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" may be used instead of the words "so help me God."   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
6.  Election of officers.
The regional school unit board shall elect a chair and vice-chair and other officers as may be necessary.
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).