[Amended 11-2-2004; 11-4-2014]
There shall be a School Committee consisting of five (5) members each of whom shall be elected from the Town at large by the registered voters of the Town at the regular biennial elections held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the even numbered years, to serve for a term of four (4) years and until a successor is elected and qualified. Three (3) members of the Committee shall be elected at the first election after the adoption of this Charter (1960) and at elections every fourth year thereafter, and two (2) members shall be elected at the subsequent biennial election (1962) and at elections every fourth year thereafter. All members of the School Committee in office shall continue in their positions as members of the School Committee until the expiration of the terms for which respectively they were chosen.
[Amended 11-2-2004; 11-4-2014]
Any vacancy in the School Committee shall be filled for the unexpired term by a vote of the registered voters of the Town. Such vacancy shall be filled at the next regular or special election to be held in the Town or the Council may call a special election for the purpose of filling the vacancy. If a vacancy in the School Committee shall occur more than nine (9) months prior to the time for the holding of an election, the Council shall, within thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs, call a special election for the purpose of filling such vacancy.
[Amended 11-5-2024]
School Committee members may receive such annual salaries as may from time to time be fixed by the Financial Town Referendum.
The School Committee shall determine and control all policies affecting the administration, maintenance and operation of the public schools and shall have all the powers and be subject to all the duties as prescribed by the laws of the State.
The School Committee shall elect from its membership a Chairperson and a Clerk either of whom may sign any orders or official papers, and may be removed at the pleasure of the Committee. The Clerk, under the direction of the Committee, shall keep a journal of the proceedings of the Committee and shall have all the powers and duties of the Chairperson during any absence or disability of the Chairperson. The Committee shall adopt its own rules and order of business.
[Amended 11-4-2014]
The School Committee shall hold at least nine (9) regular meetings in every year at such time and place within the Town as the Committee shall fix and determine. Meetings of the School Committee, except where in executive session, shall be open and accessible to the public
[Amended 11-2-2004; 11-4-2014]
The School Committee shall appoint a Superintendent of Schools as its chief administrative agent, who shall have, under the direction of the School Committee, the care and supervision of the public schools. No person shall be employed as Superintendent of Schools unless such person holds a certificate of qualification issued by, or under the authority of, the State Board of Education. The School Committee shall conduct an annual performance review of the Superintendent to be completed no later than July 1.
Except as otherwise provided in any contract between the Superintendent and the School Committee, the Superintendent shall serve at the pleasure of the School Committee and shall be subject to removal at the discretion of the School Committee by a vote of a majority of all the members thereof; provided, however, that the Committee shall give the Superintendent a written statement of the reasons for discharge, which such statement shall be a public record. There shall be no right of appeal to any other Town board, agency or commission from the decision of the School Committee in dismissing the Superintendent.
The School Committee shall have the power to determine the number and duties of all employees in the department subordinate to the Superintendent of Schools and shall have power to remove all certified personnel upon recommendation of such Superintendent, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State. Except as may otherwise be provided by the laws of the State all non-certified personnel employed by the Department shall be subject to removal at the discretion of the Superintendent for the good of the school system; provided, however, all non-certified personnel employed for less than one year shall be deemed probationary personnel, shall serve at the pleasure of the Superintendent, and shall be subject to removal by the Superintendent at any time during such probationary period with or without cause.
Except for the purpose of inquiry, the School Committee, as far as is consistent with the laws of the State, shall deal with the administration of the public schools solely through the Superintendent of Schools, and neither the School Committee nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the Superintendent of Schools, either publicly or privately. All details of administration shall be handled by the Superintendent or other administrative officers delegated by the Superintendent.
[Amended 11-4-2014; 11-5-2024]
The School Committee shall have the right to place special resolutions for specific or unusual expenditures before the Financial Town Referendum for special consideration. Such special resolutions shall conform to Section 7-1-15 of the Charter. The School Committee shall not have the power of deficit spending or obligating the Town financially beyond the budget voted at the Town Referendum, except as outlined in General Laws now in effect or hereafter enacted.
[Amended 11-4-2014]
At the request of the School Committee, the Town Manager may direct the Department of Public Works to maintain and care for school buildings, grounds and motor vehicles, provided that the costs be charged against the appropriation for the public schools, such costs to be based on the expenses incurred in the prior year.
The School Committee shall do all purchasing pertaining to the public schools and shall maintain records of receipts and expenditures in such manner as shall be required by the State and by the department of finance of the Town. Records shall at all times be available showing receipts, expenditures, and encumbrances upon expended appropriations. Expenditures[1] of funds allocated to the school department shall be made only by authorized vouchers signed by the Superintendent of Schools or a delegate.
[1]
Editor's Note: Spelling of "expenditues" corrected.