RSU 29

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 statutes 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 RSU 29 Board generally meets on the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Agendas are prepared by the Superintendent and Board Chair and can be obtained from the Superintendent's office or found on the district website. Meetings frequently rotate between district buildings.

Upcoming 2025–2026 Schedule:

• August 11, 2025 | Adult Education, @ Summit

• September 8, 2025 | Houlton Middle/High School

• October 6, 2025 | Houlton Southside School

• November 3, 2025 | Houlton Elementary School

• December 1, 2025 | Houlton Middle/High School

• January 5, 2026 | Adult Education, @ Summit

• February 2, 2026 | Houlton Southside School

• March 2, 2026 | Houlton Elementary School

• April 6, 2026 | Summit Academy, @ Summit

• May 4, 2026 | Houlton Elementary School

• June 1, 2026 | Houlton Southside School

Standard Board Agenda

• Call to order

• Adjustment of agenda

• Approval of minutes

• Administrators / Committee reports

• Public comments

• Old business

• New business

• Communications/Correspondence

• Superintendent's report

• Executive Session

• Adjournment

Executive Sessions & Public Participation

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 a proper vote for consideration of certain matters specified in law (personnel, student suspension/expulsion, negotiations, legal advice).

While meetings are held in public, they are not "town meetings." The board welcomes comments related to matters under consideration during the designated "public comments" portion of the agenda, provided speakers adhere to the ground rules set forth in the board's public participation policy.

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 Co-Officers are DeWayne Morse and Lori Cleary, who may be reached through the district office at 207-532-6555.