BOARD MEMBER FREEDOM OF ACCESS TRAINING

In accordance with Maine law, every Board member , whether elected or appointed, must complete a course of training on the requirements of Maine’s Freedom of Access law as it relates to public records and proceedings not later than the 120^th day after the date he/she takes the oath of office to assume his/her duties.

Freedom of Access training must be repeated within 120 days of taking the oath of office each time a Board member is elected to serve a new term. Board members shall complete Freedom of Access training each time he/she is elected to serve a new term.

At a minimum, the training course must include instruction in:

A. The general legal requirements of the Freedom of Access law regarding public records and public proceedings;

B. Procedures and requirements regarding complying with a request for a public record under the Freedom of Access law; and

C. Penalties and other consequences for failure to comply with the Freedom of Access law.

A Board member may meet the training requirement by conducting a thorough review of all the information made available by the State of Maine on the Frequently Asked Questions portion of its Freedom of Access website, or by completing any other training course that includes all of this information.

Each Board member shall attest by means of a written or electronic record that he/she has completed the training and provide a copy of such record to the Superintendent’s Office.

To facilitate documentation of training, the Superintendent will make available to Board members copies of the State’s sample Certificate of Completion of Freedom of Access Training form. Training documentation shall be maintained at the Superintendent’s Office for ease of complying with “right to know” requests.

Legal Reference: 1 M.R.S.A. §§ 411, 412

Cross Reference: BID – New Board Member Orientation

KDB – Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access

BICE- CERTIFICATION OF COMPLETION OF FREEDOM OF ACCESS TRAINING REQUIRED BY 1 M.R.S.A. § 412

Adopted: May 18, 2020