Senate enacts Rafferty bill to increase communication between school boards and educators

AUGUSTA – On Monday, the Maine Senate enacted a bill from Sen. Joe Rafferty, D-Kennebunk. LD 816, “An Act To Improve Communication between School Boards and Educators by Requiring Notice of Discussion of Labor Matters,” would increase communication between school boards and educators. 

“From my several decades of education experience, I can tell you that each superintendent has varying approaches to the channels of communication between them and the teachers they work with. Some had a laissez-faire communication style while others were more democratic,” said Sen. Rafferty, who was a longtime educator at Kennebunk High School. “Whatever the case, our main goal should always be doing whatever provides the best outcomes for our students. This bill makes it so that school board members have to be more accountable to the communities they serve, and ensures that all parties involved have a voice in the decision making process.” 

LD 816 would require public notices be given at least 10 days in advance of meetings between a school board and representatives of public employees. Additionally, such meetings must occur at regularly scheduled school board meetings.

The bill now goes to Gov. Janet Mills who has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.