BCC - Nepotism

NEPOTISM

Committee Membership

It shall be the policy of the Acton School Committee to not have more than one member from the same immediate and extended family serve on the Committee.

Employment

It shall be the policy of the Acton School District not to employ as school unit staff any person who is a member of the immediate family of a Board member or of the Superintendent/Principal. The immediate family of Board members or the Superintendent/Principal who are employed by the school unit on the revision date of May 12, 2015 of this policy are not affected by this paragraph.

By Maine law (20-A M.R.S.A. § 1002(2)), a Board member’s spouse is precluded from employment under any circumstances in any public school within the jurisdiction of the Board to which the member is elected.  In accordance with 20-A MRSA § 1002(2A), a Board member’s spouse may not serve as a volunteer when that volunteer has primary responsibility for a curricular, co curricular or extracurricular program or activity and reports directly to the Superintendent/Principal, Athletic Director or other school administrator.

Supervision and Evaluation

No person shall be employed in a position that is within the administrative supervision of a member of his/her immediate family, or in a position in which he/she is supervised or evaluated, in whole or in part, by a member of his/her immediate family.

Exceptions

In extraordinary circumstances, the Committee and Superintendent may approve an exception to the prohibitions on the employment of immediate family so long as the candidate is qualified for the position, the hiring is in the best interest of the school system and its students, the School Committee is notified of the relationship, and the candidate is not the spouse of a Committee member.

Definitions

For the purpose of this policy and included in 20-A MRSA § 1002(1A) and (1A-1):

  1. “Immediate family” includes spouse/domestic partner, brother, sister, parent, son, or daughter.


  1. “Extended family” includes grandparent, grandchild, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or in-law


  1. “Employee” means a person who receives monetary payment or benefits, for personal services performed for the school administrative unit.


  1. “Stipend employee” means a person who receives limited monetary payment or benefits, through a series of payments or in a lump sum, for personal services performed in an advisory, mentoring or coaching capacity for a school administrative district.


  1. “Volunteer” means a person who performs personal services for a school administrative unit without monetary payment or benefits of any kind or amount.


  1. “Administrators” includes the Special Education Director, Athletic Administrator, Superintendents/Principals, Assistant Principals, Business Manager, Facilities Director, Food Service Director, Technology Director and Transportation Director.

Legal Reference:  20-A MRSA § 1002

Cross Reference:  BCB - School Committee Conflict of Interest

Adopted:   December 8, 2009

Revised:  December 9, 2021