When a school committee member must be absent from a regular meeting of the School Committee for any reason, that member shall contact the School Committee Chair and request to participate virtually or be excused from the meeting. The Chair or Vice-Chair shall determine whether or not the request shall be granted, unless otherwise ruled by a majority of the School Committee.  The minutes of each meeting shall reflect the names of the members present, those absent with excuse (if any) and those absent without excuse (if any).

If the Chair must be absent, he/she shall contact the Vice-Chair.   

The School Committee will take the following action when a member is absent without excuse.

1. After two consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings, the member shall be notified in writing by the School Committee informing him/her that a third consecutive unexcused absence from a regular meeting will constitute cause for the School Committee to consider declaring his/her seat on the School Committee vacant.

2. After three (3) consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings, the School Committee shall notify said member in writing that the Committee will consider declaring his/her seat vacant at the next regular meeting of the Committee or at a special meeting called for the purpose of considering this matter.

3. At the meeting where the declaration of a vacancy, in accordance with this policy, is being considered, the Committee member who is the subject of the action shall be provided the opportunity to present his/her reasons why the Committee should not declare a vacancy.

4. Following the deliberation outlined in sections 2 and 3 of this policy, the Committee shall vote whether or not to declare a vacancy.

5. Should a vacancy be declared in accordance with this policy, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of 20-A M.R.S.A. § 2305.

6. An absence for any of the following reasons shall be routinely considered an excused absence: illness of the member or members of his/her immediate family, death in  the member’s family, a short-term family obligation, or an unavoidable commitment related to the member’s employment (so long as such a commitment is not of the type which prevents the member from attending on a regular basis).  Absences for reasons other than those identified above shall be considered by the Committee on an individual basis.

Legal Reference: 20-A M.R.S.A § 2305

Adopted:   February 12, 2008

Revised:   November 14, 2024