Lewiston School CommitteeWelcome!As Chairperson of the Lewiston School Committee, I encourage you to participate in our process. A space is reserved for public input at each meeting, but some people prefer not to speak in public. That does not diminish your issue or concern. Please feel fee to contact Committee either through the office of our Superintendent, or your School Committee reprsentative. In addition, I may be contacted by phone at 784-1959, or on the internet at . We can make good schools better...together. Thomas P. Shannon Our Job:The Lewiston School Committee is responsible for providing an educational program for all of the students within our system. We do this primarily by establishing the policies that direct the instructional and support programs within the system, and by employing a superintendent to whom we give the authority and responsibility to supervise the effective implementation of those policies. It is not our duty to operate the schools, but to see that they are well operated. Members of the School Committee have authority only when acting as a School Committee legally in session. We cannot be bound in any way by an action or statement of one of our members acting alone, unless we have specifically instructed that person to act on our behalf. Our functions and duties include:
The Role of the Superintendent:
Who We Are:Members of the Lewiston School Committee are residents who are elected to represent the community for a two-year term. All of us have been elected to serve January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009. (Student representatives serve a one-year term.)
Our Meetings:The Lewiston School Committee meets at 6:45 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month during the school year. Meeting agendas are prepared in advance by the Superintendent and School Committee Chairperson. Agendas are posted at least three weekdays in advance of each meeting in the Superintendent's office, in each school, and at Lewiston City Hall. To request that an item be considered for a regular School Committee agenda, contact the Superintendent or the Chair at least one week prior to the meeting date. Most of our meetings are held in the Dingley Building; the specific location of a meeting is posted with the agenda. A Typical Meeting Agenda:
Meeting Schedule for January 2008 through June 2008:Revised 2/11/08
Meeting Agendas & Minutes (PDF files)Participating at one of our meetings:Meetings of the Lewiston School Committee are public in the sense that they are held in public. Our primary purpose for meeting is to conduct our business as charged by law. Our "Public Input" agenda item permits members of the audience to address the School Committee on non-agenda items, excluding comments concerning items which must be reserved for executive session. Additionally, the Chairperson will provide an opportunity during the consideration of each major agenda item for public comment. Comments from audience members are welcomed during these times within the following guidelines:
Executive Sessions:In accordance with the Freedom of Access ("Right-to-Know") law, School Committee meetings are held in public. The committee may go into private or executive session upon a vote of 3/5 of the members present to consider certain matters specified by law, such as personnel matters, student suspension/expulsion, contracts to be negotiated, collective bargaining, legal advice, pending litigation, or student records which are confidential by nature. No final action may be taken during executive sessions. Policy Manual:Our complete Policy Manual is now available online. (The file is a 5.8MB PDF file; it might take awhile to download, and you need a pdf viewer to view it.) Strategic Plan:With the adoption of its Strategic Plan on 6 September 2000, the Lewiston School Committee identified five goals to set the direction of the school department for the five following years. The goals center on learning results, professional development, technology, community and facilities. Each goal has measures by which progress can be assessed periodically. The strategic plan was developed with broad community participation and has important beliefs about learning and community as its foundation. Additionally, the plan and the goals it contains guide budget development. Every year the School Committee adopts new strategies that will help the school department achieve the goals identified in the strategic plan. Conflict Resolution:In the Lewiston School Department, most issues and concerns can and should be resolved by school personnel before being brought before the School Committee. At this level, teachers and principals can be very helpful. If a conflict needs more attention beyond the school, the next step is to contact the Superintendent or one of his staff. If the issue is still not resolved, then it may be brought to the attention of the School Committee. The Superintendent will assist in contacting the School Committee. Affirmative Action / Non-Discrimination Statement:The Lewiston School Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, national origin, sex, religion, or physical or mental disability in admission to, access to, treatment in or employment in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Thomas E. Jarvis, Director of Human Resources, Lewiston School Department, Dingley Building, 36 Oak Street, Lewistion, ME 04240, telephone: 207-795-4100. Inquiries concerning the application of nondiscrimination policies may also be referred to the Regional Director, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, S.W. McCormack POCH, Room 222, Boston, MA 02109-4557. Contact Information:Lewiston School Committee
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