RSU BOARD OF DIRECTORS VS POWERS AND DUTIES OF LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEES:
Note  and (Disclaimer):  For RPC discussion purposes, the U98 administration has completed the exercise below using Model "4".  It should be noted that this administration feels strongly that whatever system we set-up should have the flexibility built in to allow for changes to occur with respect to the distribution of the powers delegated below to include possible consideration of moving towards a Model "5" approach to running our schools in the future which would include "K-8 Neighborhood Schools with local school committees" feeding MDIHS, all of which would be funded by an equitable funding formula method for all K-12 education.
TOPIC: RSU BOARD OF DIRECTORS: LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
ELECTION OF MEMBERS  EACH TOWN WILL ELECT BETWEEN 3 AND 7 MEMBERS TO THE RSU BOARD WHO WILL SERVE ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED VOTING WEIGHT PROCEDURES OF THE RSU AT RSU BOARD MEETINGS  ALL ELECTED RSU BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND ONLY RSU ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WILL ALSO SERVE AS THE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR K-8 STUDENTS
OVERALL SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES OVERSEE THE OPERATION OF MDI HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THE OPERATION OF THE CENTRAL OFFICE (THE HIGH SCHOOL TRUSTEES WOULD CEASE TO EXIST AND THERE WOULD NOT BE A SEPARATE 9-12 SCHOOL COMMITTEE) OVERSEE THE LOCAL K-8 SCHOOL WITH THE SPECIFIC POWERS AND DUTIES AS LISTED BELOW:
BUDGETING RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGET AND THE MDI HIGH SCHOOL BUDGET AS WELL AS  REPORTING THE COMBINED RSU K-8 BUDGET OF ALL SCHOOLS TO THE STATE DOE AS ONE K-12 BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE RSU RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE K-8 BUDGET FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOL, SUBMITTING THE BUDGET TO THE TOWN MEETING FOR APPROVAL AND REPORTING THE APPROVED BUDGET TO THE RSU BOARD FOR STATE DOE REPORTING PURPOSES
REFERENDUM PROCEDURES RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLDING AN ANNUAL RSU MEETING DEALING WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGETS AND HOLDING THE REQUIRED REFERENDUM ON THAT PORTION OF THE OVERALL RSU BUDGET ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED TIMELINES IN THE LAW RESPONSIBLE FOR SEEING THAT A REFERENDUM IS HELD IN THEIR TOWN TO VALIDATE THEIR K-8 PORTION OF THE RSU BUDGET ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED TIMELINES IN THE LAW AND REPORTING THE RESULTS TO THE RSU BOARD.  THE K-8 BUDGET WILL THEN BE FOLDED IN TO THE ENTIRE RSU BUDGET (K-12) FOR REPORTING PURPOSES TO THE DOE
LOCAL ASSESSMENTS ASSESS LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE RSU FOR CENTRAL OFFICE COSTS BY ENROLLMENT SHARE AND HIGH SCHOOL COSTS BY THE ESTABLISHED FORMULA LOCAL TOWNS MAKING UP THE RSU WILL ASSESS THEIR CITIZENS FOR THEIR K-8 SCHOOL'S PORTION OF THE RSU BUDGET AND DIRECT THOSE FUNDS TO THE RSU BOARD FOR OPERATING PURPOSES
OVERALL BUDGET REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL RECORD KEEPING FOR THE ENTIRE RSU COMBINED K-12  BUDGET AND FOR FILING ALL REQUIRED STATE REPORTS RELATED TO THE K-12 BUDGET.  THIS RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDES DEPOSIT, WITHDRAWAL AND INVESTING OF ALL RSU FUNDS RECEIVE MONTHLY REPORTS FROM THE RSU BOARD THROUGH THE CENTRAL OFFICE ON THE STATUS OF ITS  K-8 BUDGET FUNDS
BALANCES AND CARRYOVER FUNDS CONTROL THE BALANCES AND CARRYOVER FUNDS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTRAL OFFICE ACCOUNTS AND PROVIDE RECORD KEEPING FOR ALL K-8 SCHOOL'S BALANCES AND CARRYOVER FUNDS RECEIVE AN ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE RSU BOARD THROUGH THE CENTRAL OFFICE TO BE USED IN THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AT THE K-8 SCHOOL LEVEL
GENERAL RESERVES ESTABLISH GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION RESERVES FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AS ALLOWED BY LAW AND PROVIDE BOOK KEEPING AND INVESTING OF THE RESERVES ESTABLISHED BY  EACH K-8 SCHOOL ESTABLISH GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION RESERVES FOR THEIR K-8 SCHOOL AS ALLOWED BY THE LAW WHICH WILL BE OVERSEEN BY THE CENTRAL OFFICE
SPECIAL EDUCATION RESERVES****** (KELLEY SANBORN?) THE RSU WILL ESTABLISH A COMBINED SPECIAL EDUCATION RESERVE TO COVER UNANTICIPATED  OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS (FOR THE "UNBUDGETED" YEAR) FOR ALL RSU SCHOOLS K-12…A PLAN MUST BE DEVELOPED BY THE RPC FOR HOW THIS MUTUAL FUND WILL BE ACCESSED AND RE-FUELED OVER TIME THE PRESENT HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION RESERVE WILL BE USED AS THE "SEED" MONEY TO CREATE THIS "MUTUAL" RESERVE AND THIS RESERVE WILL BE REFUELED AND INCREASED IN AMOUNT THROUGH THE RSU HIGH SCHOOL BUDGETING PROCESS EACH YEAR
TRANSPORTATION RESERVES RAISE FUNDS FOR AND MAINTAIN A RESERVE FOR HIGH SCHOOL BUS PURCHASES ESTABLISH A LOCAL RESERVE FOR EACH K-8 SCHOOL'S K-8 BUS PURCHASES
BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT INDIVIDUAL TOWNS WILL MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THEIR SCHOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECTS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL K-8 SCHOOL
DEBT RESPONSIBILITY HIGH SCHOOL DEBT RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE SHARED BY ALL RSU TOWNS THROUGH THE APPROVED HIGH SCHOOL FORMULA AND ANY FUTURE HIGH SCHOOL DEBT WILL BE APPROVED BY THE RSU BOARD AND THE RSU VOTERS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL K-8 DEBT WILL REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL AS WILL ANY FUTURE APPROVED K-8 SCHOOL DEBT
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS MAINTAIN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AND OVERSEE ANY K-8 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER ANY SPECIFIC K-8 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
SPECIAL FUNDS MAINTAIN ANY SPECIAL HIGH SCHOOL FUNDS AND OVERSEE THROUGH THE CENTRAL OFFICE ANY SPECIAL K-8 FUNDS MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER ANY SPECIFIC SPECIAL K-8 FUNDS (I.E. "CATHERINE JOHNSON", "HERB WATSON" ETC…
STUDENT ACTIVITY FUNDS MAINTAIN AND CONTROL THE HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITY FUNDS TO BE MAINTAINED AND CONTROLLED AT THE LOCAL K-8 SCHOOL LEVEL 
FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS MAINTAIN AND CONTROL ALL FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT FUNDS (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA)
FILING OF REQUIRED STATE REPORTS ETC… RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING ALL REQUIRED RSU STATE REPORTS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMISSION OF ALL DATA REQUIRED FOR STATE REPORTING TO THE RSU CENTRAL OFFICE FOR FILING PURPOSES
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES (HIRING/REHIRING ETC) ALL STAFF WILL BECOME RSU EMPLOYEES.  THE RSU BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIRING AND ALL SUBSEQUENT EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES FOR ALL RSU PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO STATE LAW AND NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR INTERVIEWING ALL OF THEIR K-8 EMPLOYEES AND RECOMMENDING THE TOP CANDIDATE FOR HIRING BY THE RSU BOARD
SUPERVISION AND EVALUATION OF STAFF THE RSU BOARD WILL ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION AND EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR ALL RSU EMPLOYEES  SUPERVISION OF K-8 STAFF WILL OCCUR AT THE BUILDING LEVEL ACCORDING TO THE RSU DEVELOPED PROCEDURES
NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE RSU CONTRACT WITH THE RSU TEACHERS.  THE RSU BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGOTIATING SUCCESSOR AGREEMENTS WITH THE NEW RSU TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA)
STAFF SENIORITY AND REDUCTION IN FORCE PROCEDURES (TO BE DETERMINED THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS) (TO BE DETERMINED THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS)
PERSONNEL RECORDS ALL PERSONNEL RECORDS WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE RSU CENTRAL OFFICE (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA)
ASSIGNMENT OF STAFF TO SCHOOLS DETERMINE HIGH SCHOOL STAFF ASSIGNMENTS (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA FOR K-8 SCHOOLS) DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL
ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA) DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL AS IS PRESENTLY THE PRACTICE
ESTABLISHING SCHOOL GRADE STRUCTURES (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA) DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL
STAFFING PATTERNS AND CLASS SIZE DETERMINE HIGH SCHOOL STAFFING GUIDELINES (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA FOR K-8 SCHOOLS) DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL
PROGRAMMING DECISIONS DETERMINE ALL  HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING DECISIONS  DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL
CURRICULUM DECISIONS AND SELECTION OF EDUCATION MATERIALS APPROVE THE RSU K-12 CURRICULUM AND APPROVE THE SELECTION OF ALL 9-12 EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS APPROVE THE SELECTION OF ALL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AT EACH K-8 SCHOOL TO SUPPORT THE APPROVED K-12 CURRICULUM
POLICY MAKING ALL POLICIES WILL BE DEVELOPED, APPROVED AND MODIFIED AT THE RSU LEVEL OVER TIME THE LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE WILL OFFICIALLY REVIEW, MAKE NECESSARY LOCAL CHANGES AND ADOPT ALL RSU POLICIES 
SCHOOL CLOSURE MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE FUTURE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING TO BE MAINTAINED AND CONTROLLED AT THE LOCAL K-8 SCHOOL LEVEL 
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS CONTROL THE HIGH SCHOOL EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA FOR K-8 SCHOOLS) DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL
EXPULSION POWERS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EXPULSION HEARINGS RESPONSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL K-8 SCHOOL STUDENT EXPULSION HEARINGS
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIP, LATE BUS AND EXTRACURRICULAR TRANSPORTATION ISSUES RESPONSIBLE FOR K-8 INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AS WELL AS DAY TO DAY TRANSPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN TO AND FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL
BUS PURCHASES DECIDE ON HIGH SCHOOL BUS PURCHASES AND MAINTAIN THE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL RSU BUS PURCHASES AND REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING OF ALL RSU BUS PURCHASES AS PER STATE LAW DETERMINE PURCHASING CYCLE FOR K-8 BUS PURCHASES AND BUDGET AT THE K-8 SCHOOL LEVEL FOR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BUS PURCHASES
LUNCH PROGRAMS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AND FOR THE BOOK KEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL RSU SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL
ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS ETC… RESPONSIBLE FOR GIFTS MADE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND BOOK KEEPING FOR ALL K-8 GIFTS THROUGH THE RSU CENTRAL OFFICE DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL
ESTABLISHMENT OF ANNUAL SCHOOL CALENDAR DEVELOP AND APPROVE THE K-12 SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR ALL RSU SCHOOLS THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MAY MAKE UNIQUE CHANGES TO THE AGREED UPON RSU CALENDAR
INSURANCES ALL INSURANCE POLICIES WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE RSU BOARD (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA)
ASSORTED OUTSIDE CONTRACTS (HEAT/SNOW ETC…) RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING OUTSIDE CONTRACTS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE CENTRAL OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING OUTSIDE CONTRACTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL…EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO COMBINE CONTRACTS FOR EFFICIENCY AT THE RSU LEVEL
LEASE AGREEMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING OUTSIDE LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE CENTRAL OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING OUTSIDE LEASE AGREEMENTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL...EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO COMBINE LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR EFFICIENCY AT THE RSU LEVEL
DISTRIBUTION OF STATE SUBSIDY DISTRIBUTION TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS OF STATE SUBSIDY PROVIDED TO THE NEW RSU WILL BE DETERMINED BY AN AGREED UPON METHOD BY THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE YET TO BE DETERMINED (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA)
CENTRAL OFFICE COSTS FOR "EXEMPT" ISLAND SCHOOLS THE RSU BOARD WILL ESTABLISH A COST STRUCTURE FOR "EXEMPT" ISLAND SCHOOLS WHO CHOOSE TO FILE AN ALTERNATE PLAN AND WISH TO CONTRACT FOR CENTRAL OFFICE SERVICES FROM THE NEW RSU (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA)
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IN BAR HARBOR ?????????? ??????????
REDISTRIBUTION OF POWERS BETWEEN THE RSU BOARD AND THE LOCALLY CREATED SCHOOL COMMITTEES TO BE DETERMINED AT THE RSU BOARD LEVEL AND SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS OF THE RSU FOR APPROVAL ACCORDING TO AN APPROVED AND AGREED UPON METHOD WHICH MUST BE DETERMINED FOR THE RPC PLAN (…...) (NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA)
QUESTIONS TO STILL BE ANSWERED: 1.  SHOULD WE SHARE TRANSPORTATION COSTS IN SOME WAY AS THE RSU?                           2.  HOW SHOULD THE SPECIAL EDUCATION RESERVE BE DEALT WITH?                                       3.  WHAT WILL THE PROCESS BE TO CHANGE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEES IN THE FUTURE                                                                                                4.  WHAT WILL THE COST STRUCTURE FOR CENTRAL OFFICE COSTS BE FOR "EXEMPT" ISLAND SCHOOLS THAT CHOSE TO CONTRACT FOR CENTRAL OFFICE SERVICES?                     5.  HOW WILL STATE SUBSIDY BE DISTRIBUTED TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS?