ARTICLE X. - PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Sec. 10-1. - School committee.#

(1)

There shall be a School Committee consisting of five (5) members. One (1) member shall be elected from the City at large, and one (1) member shall be elected from each of the four (4) wards of the City at the regular City elections to serve for terms of two (2) years or until a majority of the newly elected School Committee have qualified and have taken office.

(2)

Any vacancy in the membership of the School Committee shall be filled by the City Council until the next regular City election.

(3)

The first meeting of a newly elected School Committee shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January following a City general election.

Sec. 10-2. - Qualifications of school committee members.#

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 City Council.

Sec. 10-3. - School committee; powers and duties.#

(1)

The School Committee shall elect a chairperson and a clerk from its membership and shall adopt its own rules and order of business.

(2)

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 the duties as prescribed by the laws of the state.

(3)

The School Committee shall appoint a superintendent of schools as its chief administrative agent.

(4)

The processes and procedures for appointment or removal of all school employees are set forth by the general assembly and preempt any provision herein. The provisions of this section only apply to the extent that they do not conflict with state laws as enacted and as may be amended by the general assembly. 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.

(5)

The School Committee shall submit budget estimates in the same manner as other departments, but the budget estimates and appropriations shall be considered by the Council in total only. The allocation of the amounts appropriated shall be determined by the School Committee.

(6)

The finance department of the City 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 required by the public schools. The costs for such supplies and materials shall be charged against the appropriation for the public schools.

(7)

No member of the School Committee shall vote in the matter of any contract, job, work or service or the purchase of any property in which he or she is interested directly or indirectly nor shall he or she take any official action relating thereto. All such transactions shall be by the authority of the School Committee with the interested member not voting.

(8)

At the request of the School Committee, the City Council may direct the department of public works to maintain and care for school buildings and grounds, provided that the costs are charged against the appropriation for the public schools.

(9)

The School Committee shall prepare a complete report of its finances and activities at the close of the fiscal year. Such reports shall be included as a separate section in the annual report to the City Council by the Mayor.

(10)

The meetings of the School Committee shall be open and accessible to the public.

Sec. 10-4. - Ratification of collective bargaining agreements.#

No collective bargaining agreement between the City of East Providence, including School Committee and any labor organization, shall become effective unless and until ratified by majority vote of the East Providence City Council.