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Maine RSU 21

Maine Regional School Unit 21

Arundel · Kennebunk · Kennebunkport

BBBDA - BOARD-DECLARED VACANCY CAUSED BY ABSENTEEISM 

  • Section B: Board Governance and Operations

BBBDA - BOARD-DECLARED VACANCY CAUSED BY ABSENTEEISM 

When a member must be absent from a regular meeting of the School Board of Directors (Board) for any reason, that member shall contact the Board Chair and request to be excused from the meeting; if the Chair must be absent, they shall contact the Vice Chair.  The Chair (or Vice Chair) shall determine whether or not the request shall be granted, unless otherwise ruled by a majority of the Board.  The minutes of each meeting shall reflect the names of the members present, those absent with excuse if any and those absent without excuse if any.

The Board shall take the following action when a member is absent without excuse.

  1. After two consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings, the member shall be notified in writing by the Board informing them that a third consecutive unexcused absence from a scheduled meeting will constitute cause for the Board to consider declaring their seat on the Board vacant.

  2. After three (3) consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings, the Board shall notify said member in writing that the Board will consider declaring their seat vacant at the next scheduled meeting of the Board or at a special meeting called for the purpose of considering this matter.

  3. At the meeting where the declaration of a vacancy, in accordance with this policy, is being considered, the Board member who is the subject of the action shall be provided the opportunity to present their reasons why the Board should not declare a vacancy.

  4. The Board shall vote whether or not to declare a vacancy.

  5. Should a vacancy be declared in accordance with this policy, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the appropriate provisions of MRSA Title 20-A.

  6. An absence for any of the following reasons shall be routinely considered an excused absence:  Illness of the member or members of their immediate family, death in the member’s family, a short-term family obligation, or an unavoidable commitment related to the member’s employment (so long as such a commitment is not of the type which prevents the member from attending on a regular basis).  Absences for reasons other than those identified above shall be considered by the Board on an individual basis.

Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA § 2305

Adopted: 06/01/09
Revised: 05/15/17
Revised: 4/25/22

  • Section B