Mount Desert Island RPC
Progress Report
13 June 2008 [DRAFT: 6/09/2008]
The following reflect tentative decisions taken by the Mount Desert Island RPC regarding the formation of an Alternative Organizational Structure, proposed to be called the Mount Desert Island Regional School System.
These decisions are subject to review of counsel and revision by the MDI RPC as it deems necessary.
1. Except as modified by mandated budget validation procedures or the proposed inter-local agreement, municipal schools shall remain under the purview of the elementary school boards now in place. Similarly, MDI High School shall continue to be governed as set forth in the Private and Special Act that created the high school.
2. A Mount Desert Island Regional School System and governing board shall be created in an inter-local agreement. The superintending school committee of each participating school shall designate individuals from its membership to serve on the Mount Desert Island Regional School System board as follows:
Bar Harbor 4
Mount Desert 3
Southwest Harbor 3
Tremont 3
Swans Island 1
Frenchboro 1
Cranberry Isles 1
3. They shall vote in the following manner: each board member shall have one vote.
4. The formula for funding the Mount Desert Island Regional School System shall be the same as Union 98 currently uses for assessments for the central office.
5. The powers and duties of the Mount Desert Island Regional School System board created by the inter-local agreement shall be as follows:
a. Oversee the operation of the Mount Desert Island School System's Central Office.
b. Annually adopt and obtain approval for the central office budget as required by law.
c. Assess each member School Administrative Unit (SAU) for their central office costs in accordance with an agreed-upon formula.
d. Oversee centralized system business services, including accounting, reporting, payroll, financial management, insurance purchasing and auditing.
e. Receive and maintain any balances, carryover funds or general reserves held by the preceding Union 98 board. Approve and create new reserves as allowed by vote of the legislative bodies.
f. Own and manage central office property and equipment.
g. Authorize and administer construction and renovation projects or any part of such projects that pertain to the central administration office.
h. Approve and administer assumption of voter-approved central office debts.
i. Administer all federal and state grants not overseen by SAU boards.
j. File all required state reports.
k. Hire and oversee wages, hours, working conditions and policies that pertain to the employment of central office personnel according to state law.
l. Maintain appropriate supervision and evaluation criteria for all central office employees.
m. Oversee the negotiation and administration of consistent collective bargaining agreements and the maintenance in the central office personnel records of all Mount Desert Island Regional School System employees in accordance with state law.
o. Oversee and maintain a consistent regional K-12 core curriculum and procedures for standardized testing and assessment aligned with the system of learning results established in 20-A M.R.S.A. § 6029.
p. Adopt consistent school policies in conjunction with other boards within the AOS system.
q. Oversee the administration of the transportation system for all Mount Desert Island Regional School System members, including bus purchases.
r. Oversee the administration of bookkeeping and reporting requirements for school lunch programs.
s. Oversee acceptance of gifts to the central office.
t. Adopt a consistent regional school calendar.
u. Oversee outside contracts and lease agreements for central office.
v. Oversee the re-allocation of state subsidies to individual schools by formula to be determined.
w. Oversee the governing inter-local agreement of the MDI Regional School System and, as future boards deem appropriate, propose beneficial amendments for approval by the voters in all affected towns. Failure to win approval in any affected town constitutes a veto of the proposed change.
6. If the inter-local agreement and the plan for reorganization is defeated in any of the towns of Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, and/or Tremont, the MDI Regional School System shall not be formed. If the reorganization plan is not approved by the voters of any of these towns, the proposed members of the MDI Regional School System shall at least once attempt to reconsider the plan and inter-local agreement with the same or other SAUs and, if possible, resubmit it to voters. Rejection of this plan by the municipalities of Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, or Swan's Island shall not prevent formation of the MDI Regional School System.
7. Cost saving: None is anticipated.