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Policy BIA

New School Board Member Orientation

In order that newly elected School Board members may cast informed votes and function effectively as School Board members, the School Board and Superintendent will extend to them the fullest measures of  courtesy and cooperation, and will make every reasonable effort to assist newly elected School Board members in understanding the School Board’s functions, policies, procedures and current issues.

  1. In the interim between a new member’s election or appointment and his/ her assuming  office, the School Board, through the Superintendent, will invite newly elected members to  attend meetings, except those held in executive session, and provide newly elected  members with agenda, minutes and reports applicable to those meetings. During the time  between election or appointment and the assumption of office, the status of the future member remains that of a private citizen and not that of an elected or appointed official. 

  1. The School Board, through the Superintendent, will provide new members with copies of  appropriate publications, such as the School Board policy manual, student handbook(s),  collective bargaining agreements, and current budget documents. 

  1. The Superintendent will remind School Board members of their obligation to complete, not  later than the 120th day after the date of taking the oath of office, training on the  requirements of Maine’s Freedom of Access Law. The Superintendent will provide School  Board members with information regarding available training options. Each School Board  member shall attest by means of a written or electronic record that he/she has completed  the training and provide a copy of such record to the Superintendent’s Office. To facilitate  documentation of training, the Superintendent will make available to School Board  members copies of the State’s sample Certification of Completion of Freedom of Access Training form. 

  1. The School Board will encourage new members to attend appropriate in-district and out-of district orientation and/or boardsmanship workshops. Reimbursement for such activities must be approved in advance by the School Board Chair, in consultation with the  Superintendent, and is subject to the availability of funds. 

  1. The Chair and Superintendent will schedule and arrange for an orientation session for new  School Board members as soon as practicable after election or appointment. A reasonable  amount of time will be provided for discussion of: 

  • The roles and responsibilities of the School Board and individual members;

  • Basic operational procedures of the School Board; 

  • Placement of items on the agenda; 

  • The role of committees, subcommittees and advisory committees; How and why  executive sessions may be held; 

  • What is considered confidential or privileged information; 

  • Appropriate responses of an individual member when a request or complaint is  made directly to him/her by a student, parent or member of the community; 

  • How the School Board responds to complaints involving personnel; General  information about the school system and its resources; 

  • How School Board members in fulfilling their duties, may request information  concerning schools and the school unit’s operations, finances and personnel; 

  • How to use social media appropriately as a member of the Board; 

  • How School Board members may make arrangements to visit schools and the  protocol for such visits; 

  • Protocol for dealing with the media; and 

  • Other relevant topics. 

  1. All School Board will be invited to the orientation session and encouraged to attend. The orientation is  intended to serve as a useful review of basic boardsmanship concepts for experienced members, as well  as an opportunity to provide information and counsel to new School Board members. 

Adopted: November 13, 2019

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