BEF

REMOTE PARTICIPATION

A. Purpose

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee affirms that all members should be in regular, physical attendance at its meetings. However, the Committee recognizes that occasionally it may be in the best interest of the District to permit a member to participate remotely.

B. Who may Participate and Vote

This policy clarifies the Committee’s stance with regard to remote participation in any meeting subject to open meeting statute.

As approved by a majority vote at the May 26, 2015 School Committee meeting, in accordance with the provisions of 940 CMR 29.10, a Committee member may participate and vote remotely in any meeting of the full School Committee or any meeting of a School Committee Standing Sub-Committee of which s/he is a member.

Also, any individual may participate and vote remotely in any meeting of an Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee to which said individual has been duly appointed. The ‘Right to Vote’ of a non School Committee member is subject to compliance with AWRSD Bylaws §7.2.2.

C. Guidelines and Restrictions

Remote participation by any other individual not covered in the above paragraphs shall be allowed only by majority vote of the committee so affected. Note: there are no statutory regulations governing remote participation by individuals who are not members of the Committee.

In addition to the regulations established by the Attorney General of the Commonwealth, a summary of which is included in the AWRSD Policy Manual as “BEF-R Remote Participation Regulations,” the Committee hereby establishes the following:

1. No more than one member may participate remotely for any given meeting. In the event more than one member requests remote participation for the same meeting the chair shall decide who shall participate, giving preference to the order of request submission

2. .

3. Unless the chair directs otherwise, any technical problems occurring at full committee meetings shall immediately result in a return to “no remote participation status,” and all that such status implies regarding minutes, votes, etc., for the remainder of the meeting.

4. The chair may allow remote participation by the Superintendent and Director of Finance and Business Operations for any special or emergency meeting of the full committee.

5. Although unforeseen circumstances may be considered, requests for remote participation shall be submitted to the chair at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting and preferably at the meeting preceding the meeting for which such request is made.

6. A request for remote participation in excess of 2 times by any member in any current term may be summarily rejected by the chair, without prejudice.

7. When remote participation is expected notice to that effect shall be published in the meeting agenda under item - Call to Order. Note: there is a requirement that the remote participant be identified at the beginning of the meeting and such information, including the reason, be recorded in the minutes.

8. It should be understood that the availability and operation of equipment used at the participant’s remote location is solely the responsibility of the participant and must be compatible with the equipment used at the District location. Neither District personnel nor the Committee is under any obligation to ensure such compatibility.

LEGAL REF: 940 CMR 29.10

M.G.L. c. 30A, sec 20(d)

M.G.L. c. 39, sec. 23D

Regulation: BEF-R Remote Participation Regulation

First Reading: 8/18/15 Second Reading: 9/8/15 Adopted: 9/22/15. Reviewed: 03/16/2