[Amended 11-6-2012]
The School Committee shall be composed of seven members who
shall hold office for a term of two years and until their successors
are qualified. A candidate for School Committee members shall be a
resident of the City of Biddeford for at least six months prior to
the date on/or before which nomination papers are to be filed. Each
Committee member shall be elected at large by the registered voters
of the City of Biddeford; however, there shall be no more than two
members from any one ward. The Committee members-elect shall be sworn
to the faithful performance of their duties at 7:00 p.m. on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in December, following a regular municipal
election, by the City Clerk or person authorized by law to administer
oaths. School Committee members shall receive compensation at the
rate of $10 for every regularly scheduled full Committee meeting attended,
not to exceed $500 per year. The Committee shall meet regularly, twice
a month.
The Mayor shall be the ex officio chair of the School Committee
and shall:
(a)
The School Committee shall have all powers and perform all duties
in regard to the care and management of the City's public schools
pursuant to Maine State law and except as otherwise provided in this
Charter.
(b)
The Committee shall appoint a Superintendent of Schools for a term
not exceeding three years, and the Superintendent shall receive compensation
at a rate determined by the Committee. The duties of the Superintendent
shall be those as prescribed by law and regulations. The Superintendent
of Schools may be removed for just cause. The Superintendent of Schools
shall establish residence within the City of Biddeford within six
months of being hired, unless otherwise approved by the School Committee.
The Superintendent shall cause to be published all agendas of School
Committee meetings in a local newspaper at least 24 hours before such
meetings are to be held, and shall cause to be posted said agendas
on the City bulletin board.
[Amended 11-8-2016]
(c)
With the
exception of the School Committee Standing Committees, residents of
Biddeford shall be allowed to serve on and chair, with full voting
rights, all Subcommittees of the School Committee, including but not
limited to the Policy, Capital Improvement Projects, Curriculum and
Transportation Committees.
[Added 11-6-2012]
[Amended 11-8-2016]
The School Committee shall submit to the City Budget Committee
a budget for operation of the Department of Education, to include
a Capital Improvement 5-Year Budget Plan by the third Monday in March.
After review, the Budget Committee shall forward their recommendations
to the City Council, whose decision on the budget shall be final;
subject to State mandated school budget validation requirements, if
any. The proposed budget shall be comprised of: expenditures for the
functions of instruction, student support, staff support services,
administration, operation and maintenance, pupil transportation, adult
education, debt service, and any other function(s) the Committee wishes
to have funded for the fiscal year.
The total approved for each individual function by a majority
vote of Council shall become the School Committee's aggregate
fiscal year budget after having received its second reading. The School
Committee shall not allow the transfer of funds from one function
to another without first receiving 2/3 vote of the members present
and voting from both the School Committee and the City Council in
separate deliberations.
A vacancy in the membership of the School Committee shall occur
in the event of the following:
(1)
The death of a member;
(2)
The effective date of the resignation of a member;
(3)
The removal of a member from the City;
(4)
The conviction of a member of a felony while in office;
(6)
The employment of a member by the City of Biddeford or the Biddeford
School Department as an employee or agent.
[Added 11-8-2016]
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A member may submit a resignation, in writing directly to the
School Committee Chairperson. Once accepted by the School Committee,
the resignation may not be withdrawn and the member's office
shall become vacant on that date indicated.
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If a vacancy in the membership of the School Committee occurs, the School Committee Chairperson shall nominate a person, consistent with Article V, Section 1, and Article VIII, Section 3 of this Charter, to fill the vacancy in a time period not to exceed 30 days of its occurrence. The nomination shall be subject to the confirmation of the School Committee. The person named to fill a vacancy shall serve until the first Tuesday after the first Monday in December following the next biennial election.
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