The text
Section 11.01. - Number, Term, Constituency.#
There shall be a School Committee consisting of seven (7) members, each of whom shall be elected at large at the regular elections in even-numbered years to serve for a term of four (4) years and until their successor is elected and qualified.
(Election of 11-8-2022)
Section 11.02. - Commencement of Term.#
The Town Clerk shall reorganize the School Committee and administer the oath of office to newly elected officials. The terms of a school committeeperson shall begin at the first meeting of the School Committee to be held after the issuance of a certificate of election.
Section 11.03. - Qualifications.#
A member of the School Committee shall hold no other employment in the service of the Town of Burrillville nor shall he/she serve in any office or on any board or commission appointed by the Town Council, except in a non-voting ex officio capacity. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the School Committee members from serving on subcommittees of the School Committee. A member of the School Committee shall not be eligible for appointment to any paid office in the School Department during the term for which he/she was elected to the School Committee or for one (1) year thereafter.
Section 11.04. - Forfeiture of Office.#
A school committeeperson shall forfeit his/her office if he/she: A.
Lacks, at any time during his/her term of office, any qualifications for the office prescribed by this Charter, or by law;
B.
Violates any express provision of this Charter;
C.
Is convicted of a crime which would constitute a felony under the laws of the State of Rhode Island;
D.
Fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular School Committee meetings without being excused by the School Committee;
E.
Is removed from the School Committee via recall as specified in § 2.07.
(Elec. of 11-2-2010, § (7.))
Section 11.05. - Vacancy.#
The office of school committeeperson shall become vacant upon his/her death, a resignation in writing filed with the school clerk, removal from office in any manner authorized by law, or by forfeiture of office.
Section 11.06. - Filling Vacancy.#
A vacancy in the office of a school committeeperson shall be filled by the qualified candidate for School Committee with the next highest vote total in the last general election. Said person shall serve only until the next general election. If no qualified candidate is available, the Town Council shall appoint a qualified elector to fill the vacancy until the next general election, as follows: (A)
The Town Council will refer the selection process over to a screening subcommittee of the Town Council. The subcommittee will provide for one advertisement for candidates, meet outside of normal planned meetings to consider the application of candidates and review candidates. The subcommittee will rank the candidates and submit the top three (3) ranked candidates to the Town Council for consideration.
(B)
The candidates submitted to the Town Council shall have the opportunity to appear before the Town Council prior to the vote of the Town Council, to give all Town Council members a chance to speak with them and ask questions.
At the next general election, the voters shall elect a person to fill any unexpired term. The replacement candidate shall be sworn into office within sixty (60) days from the occurrence of the vacancy.
(Election of 11-8-2022)
Section 11.07. - Judge of Election and Qualification of Members.#
The Town Council shall be the judge of the election and qualification of the School Committee, and of the grounds for forfeiture of their office and for that purpose shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of evidence.
Section 11.08. - Compensation.#
The annual compensation of a school committeeperson shall be determined by the Town Council.
Section 11.09. - Organization Rules and Meetings.#
(A)
The School Committee shall elect from its membership a chairman and a vice-chairman, both of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the School Committee. The chairman shall preside at meetings of the School Committee. The chairman shall have the right to speak and vote as any other member. The vice-chairman shall act as chairman during the absence or temporary disability of the chairman The School Committee shall also appoint a clerk, who shall be a member of the School Committee and shall serve at the School Committee's pleasure. The chairman and the clerk may sign any orders and official papers. The clerk, under the direction of the School Committee, shall keep a journal of the proceedings of the School Committee. The School Committee shall adopt its own rules and order of business.
(B)
The School Committee shall hold at least twelve (12) regular meetings in every year at such time and place within the Town as the School Committee shall by general order fix and determine, pursuant to the applicable provisions of State law.
(C)
The School Committee shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings which shall be available for public inspection and shall provide certified copies of the approved minutes of all proceedings to the Town Clerk in accordance with Section 4.02(E).
Section 11.10. - Powers and Duties.#
(A)
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 duties prescribed by the laws of the State and may provide rules and regulations for the use, operation and maintenance of public school properties, and for vacations of all officials and employees of the School Department.
(B)
The School Committee shall appoint and establish the compensation of 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 Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education. The Superintendent shall be subject to removal at the discretion of the School Committee by a vote of a majority of all members of the School Committee, with a public hearing, if the Superintendent shall request the same. There shall be no right of appeal from the decision of the School Committee.
(C)
The fixing of school employee salaries 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. The School Committee, after consultation with the Town Council, shall establish wages, salaries and benefit programs for all school employees which are consistent with wage and salary and benefit programs currently in effect or proposed for a similarly-rated classification in the classified employment of the Town of Burrillville. 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, except as noted above, shall be handled by the Superintendent or other administrative officers to whom he/she delegates the work.
(D)
The School Committee shall submit budget estimates in the same manner as other departments.
(E)
The Department of Finance shall have the responsibility of maintaining records of all expenditures and obligations of funds by the School Department, of charging the same to the various line items in the school budget, and of keeping the School Department informed of the status of its various accounts.
(F)
The Department of Finance shall assume all the purchasing functions of the School Committee, in accordance with the requisitions of the School Committee, and shall purchase and distribute such supplies and materials as are used by both the public schools and their administrative departments, provided the costs thereof are charged to the respective departments. All such purchases shall be made in accordance with the provisions set forth in Sections 8.11 through 8.15.
(G)
The School Committee shall prepare a complete report of its finances and activities annually, the date to be set by the Town Council, and make available for public inspection copies of the report at the offices of the School Committee and of the Town Clerk.
(H)
At the request of the School Committee, the Manager may direct appropriate departments under his/her jurisdiction and control to maintain, care for or otherwise provide services for school buildings, grounds, motor vehicles and equipment; provided that the costs be charged against the appropriation for the public schools, such costs to be determined by the Manager and paid at the direction of the School Committee.
(I)
The School Committee shall have the power to issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify and produce records as prescribed by State law.
(J)
The School Committee shall make the facilities under its jurisdiction available to the Recreation Commission for the use of said Commission in its programs, upon request, provided that the making available of such facilities, or of any specific facility, does not interfere with same scheduled use for school purposes.
(K)
The School Committee shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as prescribed by State law and as are not inconsistent with this Charter.
(Election of 11-8-2022)