New Board Member Orientation
CODE: BIA
Maine School Administrative District No. 31
NEW BOARD MEMBER ORIENTATION
In order that newly elected Board members may cast informed votes and function
effectively as board members, the Board and Superintendent will extend to them the
fullest measures of courtesy and cooperation, and will make every reasonable effort to
assist newly elected Board members in understanding the Board’s functions, policies,
procedures and current issues.
A.In the interim between a new member’s election or appointment and his/her
assuming office, the 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.
B.The Board, through the Superintendent, will provide new members with
copies of appropriate publications, such as the Board policy manual,
student handbook(s), collective bargaining agreements, and current budget
documents.
C.The Board Chair [or designee] will remind 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 Chair [or designee] will provide Board members with
information regarding available training options. 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
Certification of Completion of Freedom of Access Training form.
D.The 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
Board Chair, in consultation with the Superintendent, and is subject to the
availability of funds.
E.The Chair and Superintendent will schedule and arrange for an orientation
session for new Board members as soon as practicable after election or
appointment. A reasonable amount of time will be provided for discussion
of:
Page 1 of 2
CODE: BIA
1. The roles and responsibilities of the Board and individual members;
2. Basic operational procedures of the Board;
3. Placement of items on the agenda;
4. The role of committees, subcommittees and advisory committees;
5. How and why executive sessions may be held;
6. What is considered confidential or privileged information;
7. 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;
8. How the Board responds to complaints involving personnel;
9. General information about the school system and its resources;
10. How Board members, in fulfilling their duties, may request
information concerning schools and District operations, finances and
personnel;
11. How Board members may make arrangements to visit schools and
the protocol for such visits;
12. Protocol for dealing with the media; and
13. Other relevant topics.
All Board members 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 Board members.
Legal Reference: 1 M.R.S.A. § 412
Cross Reference: BIC – Board Member Freedom of Access Law Training
First Reading: 06/17/2009
Second Reading: 07/15/2009
Page 2 of 2