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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