Board Member Freedom of Access Training
CODE: BIC
Maine School Administrative District No. 31
BOARD MEMBER FREEDOM OF ACCESS TRAINING
In accordance with Maine law, beginning July 1, 2008, every Board member must
complete a course of training on the requirements of Maine’s Freedom of Access law
as it relates to public records and proceedings not later than the 120th day after the date
he/she takes the oath of office to assume his/her duties as an elected official. Board
members serving in office on July 1, 2008, must complete the training by November 1,
2008. Freedom of Access training must be repeated within 120 days of taking the oath of
office each time a Board member is elected to serve a new term.
At a minimum, the training course must include instruction in:
A. The general legal requirements of the Freedom of Access law regarding
public records and public proceedings;
B. Procedures and requirements regarding complying with a request for a
public record under the Freedom of Access law; and
C. Penalties and other consequences for failure to comply with the Freedom of
Access law.
A Board member may meet the training requirement by conducting a thorough review
of all the information made available by the State of Maine on the Frequently Asked
Questions portion of its Freedom of Access website, or by completing any other training
course that includes all of this information.
[NOTE: The Frequently Asked Questions portion of the State’s Freedom of Access
website may be found at www.maine.gov/foaa/faq/ each 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 Board
members copies of the State’s sample Certificate of Completion of Freedom of Access
Training form.
Legal Reference: M.R.S.A. §§ 411, 412
Cross Reference: BID – New Board Member Orientation
KDB – Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access
First Reading: 06/17/2009
Second Reading: 07/15/2009
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