School Board

School Board Duties and Responsibilities

Maine state law charges school boards with the responsibility to "manage the schools." This is done essentially by selecting a superintendent and providing him/her with authority and direction. It is not the duty of the board to operate the schools, but to see that they are well operated.

The board concerns itself primarily with board questions of policy rather than with administrative details. The application of policies is an administrative task to be performed by the superintendent and his/her staff, who shall be held responsible for the effective administration and supervision of the entire school system.

Members of the board have authority only when acting as a board legally in session. The board shall not be bound in any way by an action or statement of an individual member except when such statement or action is in pursuance of specific instructions from the board.

Superintendent Duties and Responsibilities

The position of superintendent of schools is created by state law to provide each school board with the benefit of advice from a professional educator. The state statues and rules give the superintendent the necessary authority to carry out the responsibilities assigned to him/her in relation to the role assigned to school boards.

Board Meetings

The MSAD #20 Board meets at 5:30 p.m. generally on the second Tuesday of each month and meetings are held at Fort Fairfield Middle High School. When large audiences are expected, the board may move to another building or area. Agendas are prepared by the Superintendent and Board Chair and can be obtained from the Superintendent's office or found on the district website.

Standard Board Agenda

• Call to order

• Approval of minutes 

• Approval of financials

• Public participation

• Presentation and correspondence

• Superintendent's report 

• Administrative reports

• Old business 

• New business 

• Other matters

• Adjournment

Executive Sessions

In accordance with the Freedom of Access ("Right-to-Know") law, board meetings are held in public. The board may go into private or executive sessions, upon vote of 3/5 of the members present and voting, for consideration of certain matters specified in law (such as personnel, student suspension/expulsion, contracts to be negotiated, collective bargaining, legal advice or pending litigation). No final action may be taken in executive sessions.

Public Participation Policy

Meetings of the board are public in the sense that they are held in public. This does not mean they are public meetings in the same sense as a "town meeting." There is no statutory requirement in Maine that the public be permitted to speak at board meetings. 

However, we welcome comments and concerns related to the matters under consideration by the board, within the guidelines set forth in board policy BEDH – Public Comment at School Board Meetings

Therefore, the Chair will provide an opportunity under "public comments" for individual input. Please be aware of these "ground rules" from our policy:

Individual speakers are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.

Public comment period will not exceed 30 minutes on the agenda of its regular business meetings. The board will hear comments from Fort Fairfield residents first. If there is time remaining, the board will permit comments from non-residents.

All speakers are asked to identify themselves. Gossip, defamatory comments, or abusive or vulgar language will not be permitted.

Speakers must address all comments and questions to the Chair.

Comments will be heard and considered. Generally, the board does not discuss or act on an item not on the agenda.

No complaints or allegations will be allowed in public concerning any staff member or any person connected to the school system.

Speakers are asked not to be repetitious of comments already made to the board, in the interests of most efficient use of time.

The primary purpose of the meeting is for the board to conduct its business as charged by law. Spontaneous discussion, as well as disorder and disruption, prevent the board from doing its work and will not be permitted.

Affirmative Action/Nondiscrimination

It is the policy of this school system not to discriminate in educational programs, activities or employment practices on the basis of race, National origin, religion, sex, age or handicapping conditions under the provisions of Title VI and IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disability Education Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The Affirmative Action Plan, as approved by the board and submitted to the Commissioner of Education, is on file in the Superintendent's Office. The Affirmative Action Officer is Jessica Haley who may be reached at 472-3277.

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