BB School Committee Legal Status

SCHOOL COMMITTEE LEGAL STATUS

State law provides that:

Every town at its annual meeting shall in every year when the term of office of any incumbent expires, and except when other provision is made by law, choose by ballot from its registered voters the following town officers for the following terms of office:

. . . five members of the School Committee for terms of three years . . .

The School Committee is the governing board of the town's public school system. Although it functions as a duly elected Committee of town government, the School Committee has, unlike other town boards, autonomous and absolute authority within limitations estab­lished by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to carry out the educa­tional policies of the state and guide the educational process.

Established by law

LEGAL REFS.: M.G.L. c. 41:1 and 71:37 specifically, but powers and duties of School Committees are established throughout the General Laws of Massachusetts Relating to School Committees

CROSS REFS.: AA, School District Legal Status

BBA, School Committee Powers and Duties