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School Board Duties and Responsibilities
Maine state law charges school boards
with the responsibility to "manage the schools." This is done essentially
by selecting a superintendent and providing him/her with authority and
direction. It is not the duty of the board to operate the schools but to
see that they are well operated.
The board concerns itself primarily
with board questions of policy rather than with administrative details.
The application of policies is an administrative task to be performed by
the superintendent and his/her staff, who shall be held responsible for
the effective administration and supervision of the entire school system.
Members of the board have authority
only when acting as a board legally in session. The board shall not be
bound in any way by an action or statement of an individual member except
when such statement or action is in pursuance of specific instructions
from the board.
Superintendent Duties and Responsibilities
The position of superintendent of schools
is created by state law to provide each school board with the benefit of
advice from a professional educator. The state statues and rules give the
superintendent the necessary authority to carry out the responsibilities
assigned to him/her in relation to the role assigned to school boards.
Board Meetings
The Caribou School Board meets at 7:00
p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the office of the
Superintendent of Schools. When large audiences are expected, the board
may move to the Caribou Middle School. Agendas are prepared by the Superintendent
and Board Chair. They are published at least four weekdays in advance of
each meeting and are posted in the Superintendent's Office, in each school,
and in the "Aroostook Republican".
Standard Board Agenda
- Call to order
- Adjustment of agenda
- Approval of minutes
- Public comments
- Committee reports
- Old business
- New business
- Communications/Correspondence
- Superintendent's report
- Executive Session
- Adjournment
Executive Sessions
In accordance with the Freedom of Access
("Right-to-Know") law, board meetings are held in public. The board may
go into private or executive sessions, upon vote of 3/5 of the members
present and voting, for consideration of certain matters specified in law
(such as personnel, student suspension/expulsion, contracts to be negotiated,
collective bargaining, legal advice or pending litigation). No final action
may be taken in executive sessions.
Public Participation Policy
Meetings of the board are public in
the sense that they are held in public. This does not mean they are
public meetings in the same sense as a "town meeting." There is
no statutory requirement in Maine that the public be permitted to speak
at board meetings. However, we welcome comments and concerns related
to the matters under consideration by the board, within the guidelines
set forth in board policy BDDH - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS.
Therefore, the Chair will provide an opportunity
under "public comments" for individual input. Please
be aware of these "ground rules" from our policy:
The number of speakers and the
time each speaks may be limited.
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In the case of a large audience, speakers
may be asked to sign up before the meeting so they may be called on most
expediently.
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Anyone with a legitimate interest in the
board's business may speak. Employees or employee groups will not be permitted
to discuss matters for which other, more appropriate forums are provided.
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All speakers are asked to identify themselves.
Gossip, defamatory comments, or abusive or vulgar language will not be
permitted.
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Speakers must address all comments and
questions to the Chair.
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Comments will be heard and considered.
Generally, the board does not discuss or act on an item not on the agenda.
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No complaints or allegations will be allowed
in public concerning any staff member or any person connected to the school
system.
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Speakers are asked not to be repetitious
of comments already made to the board, in the interests of most efficient
use of time.
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The primary purpose of the meeting is
for the board to conduct its business as charged by law. Spontaneous discussion,
as well as disorder and disruption, prevent the board from doing its work
and will not be permitted.
Affirmative
Action/Nondiscrimination
It is the policy of this school system
not to discriminate in educational programs, activities or employment practices
on the basis of race, National origin, religion, sex, age or handicapping
conditions under the provisions of Title VI and IX of the 1972 Educational
Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals
with Disability Education Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990.
The Affirmative Action Plan, as approved
by the board and submitted to the Commissioner of Education, is on file
in the Superintendent's Office. The Affirmative Action Officer is Brenda Felch
who may be reached at 496-6311.
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