The Community School District (CSD) School Committee and Board of Trustees agreed on several proposed changes to the district charter at a joint meeting Nov. 13. The move is a step forward in a months-long process, after 2023 charter revisions removed much of the trustees' authority, according to members of both boards. 

The boards passed three motions by a wide majority in separate votes that proposed draft revisions. One stated the trustees “shall” have authority over the district's capital reserve expenditures and act as a building and facilities governing committee with authority over the budget for maintaining, repairing, replacing and improving the CSD’s buildings, facilities, and capital purchases, excluding instructional equipment. The proposed language also states trustees have authority over the district's capital reserve funds. 

In addition, the boards agreed on a joint procedure to prepare the annual budget. Draft language stated the trustees should prepare revenues and expenditures for the facilities and capital portion of the budget, and the committee should prepare expenditures for the operation portion.  

The boards also approved changes directing trustees to call a district meeting for capital bonds over $250,000. According to Alternative Organizational Structure 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler, the process is the same as municipalities follow and would fulfill resident approval requirements without the cost of a referendum, which could be around $10,000. 

Board members also agreed that bylaws be created, as necessary, through a joint process with both boards to implement the charter.  

However, a motion to adjust the district’s cost-sharing ratio soundly failed. The charter states the district splits budget responsibilities by 60% and 40% between Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor based on the resident students in each municipality. The proposal would have changed that to 70% and 30%.  

A placeholder bill was sent to the state legislature earlier this fall, and the process allows revisions. Kahler said he sent the proposed changes from the joint meeting to attorneys for review before it is sent to the Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay selectboards for their approval. He said the language is scheduled to move to the legislature sometime in December.