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Sec. 501. - School committee membership.#
There shall be a school committee of five members, each of whom shall be elected at large from the town by the electors of the town of Jamestown at the regular town election to serve for a term of four years and until the successor is elected and qualified. The names of all candidates for the school committee who shall have qualified to appear on the ballot shall be listed under their respective party designation (in the order determined by the board of canvassers by the drawing of lots). Those persons receiving the greatest number of votes for an office, not exceeding the number of persons to be chosen for the office, shall be declared elected to office. All members of the school committee in office at the time this Charter is adopted shall continue to hold office until their normal terms have expired.
(Amend. of 11-5-2002, § V; Amend. of 11-3-2009, prop. 1)
State Law reference— School committees and superintendents, G.L. 1956, § 16-2-1 et seq.
Sec. 502. - Qualifications.#
School committee members shall be qualified electors and residents of the Town of Jamestown and shall hold no other paid office, or employment in the service of said town, except that of notary public, justice of the peace, town constable, volunteer firefighter, volunteer ambulance members or special police officer. If a committee member shall cease to possess any of these qualifications or shall be convicted of crime involving moral turpitude, the office shall immediately become vacant.
(Amend. of 11-5-2002, § V)
Sec. 503. - Vacancies.#
If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the school committee, for other than the expiration of the member's term, the town council shall select a qualified person to fill the vacancy to serve until the next regularly scheduled state or town election, at which time the electors shall select a qualified person to complete the unexpired portion of the term.
(Amend. of 11-3-1992, § XV; Amend. of 11-5-2002, § V; Amend. of 11-8-2016; Amend. of 11-5-2024)
Sec. 504. - Conflict of interest.#
Refer to Section 105 Conflict of Interest and Ethics.
(Amend. of 11-5-2002, § V)
Sec. 505. - Organization.#
The school committee shall determine its own rules and order of business and the time of its meetings consistent with Rhode Island General Laws Title 42, Chapter 46 (Open Meetings) [G.L. 1956, § 42-36-1 et seq.].
(Amend. of 11-3-1992, § II)
Sec 506. - Powers and duties.#
The school committee, in addition to its other powers and duties, shall have the power to inquire into the conduct of any office, department or activity of the public schools and make investigations as to school affairs. It 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 town report.
Sec. 507. - Appointments and removals.#
The appointment and removal of all school employees shall be made by the school committee upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools, except as may otherwise be provided by law. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the school committee and its members 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 subordinates of the superintendent of schools, either publicly or privately.
Sec. 508. - Budget.#
The school committee shall submit line item budget estimates in the same manner as other departments, but the budget estimates and appropriations shall be considered by the town administrator and town council in total only. The allocation of the amounts appropriated shall be determined by the school committee.
(Amend. of 11-3-1992, § XVI)
Sec. 509. - Buildings and grounds.#
The department of public works, at the request of the school committee and with the approval of the town administrator may maintain and care for school buildings and grounds, provided that the costs are charged against the appropriations for the public schools.