Membership. There shall be a School Committee consisting
of seven members, each of whom shall be elected from the Town at large
by the electors of the Town of East Greenwich at the regular biennial
elections held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
in the even-numbered years for a term of four years and until his
or her successor is elected and qualified. Four members of the School
Committee shall be elected at the first said election after the adoption
of the Charter (1974) and at said elections every fourth year thereafter,
and three members shall be elected at the subsequent biennial election
(1976) and at said elections every fourth year thereafter. The School
Committee shall elect from within its own membership a Chair and Vice
Chair at its first meeting following its certification by the Board
of Canvassers.
Vacancies. If there is a vacancy in the membership
of the School Committee which shall occur when there is one year or
more remaining in the term of that member, the Town Council shall,
within 30 days after the vacancy occurs, set a date for a special
election for the purpose of filling such vacancy; and if there is
a vacancy in the membership of the School Committee which shall occur
when there is less than one year remaining in the term of that member,
the Town Council shall appoint someone to finish the term.
Compensation. The School Committee may receive such annual compensation
as may from time to time be fixed by the Town Council and in accordance
with the Charter.
[Amended 6-12-2017 by Ord. No. 871]
Members of the School Committee shall have the
same qualifications and shall be subject to the same restrictions
as are provided by this Charter for members of the Town Council.
The School Committee shall determine and control all
policies affecting the administration, maintenance and operation of
the public schools and has all the powers and is subject to all the
duties prescribed by the laws of the state.
The appointment and removal of all school employees
shall be made by the School Committee upon recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, except as may be provided otherwise by the laws of the
state.
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.
The School Committee shall supervise and be responsible
for the purchase, lease, storage, distribution and maintenance of
such supplies, equipment, materials or services as are required by
the public schools. Purchases by the School Committee shall be subject
to the same rules and regulations for competitive bidding as for the
Town.
Costs for requests for Town employees to maintain
and care for school buildings, grounds and other property shall be
charged by the Finance Director against the appropriation for the
public schools.
The School Committee shall prepare a complete report
of its finances and activities at the close of the fiscal year. Such
report shall be included as a separate section in the annual report
to the Town Council by the Town Manager.
The meetings of the School Committee except when in
executive session shall be open and accessible to the public. Final
action shall be taken only in open meeting, except on disciplinary
and other personnel matters, the disclosure of which, in the opinion
of the School Committee, would be detrimental to any pupil or member
of school personnel involved. When the School Committee considers
the disclosure in said cases detrimental as aforesaid, its action
shall be recorded separately and may be kept confidential and shall
not be considered a public record.