Maine Revised Statutes Title 20-A. Education § 1463. Operational date and transfer of authority

1. Operational date. A regional school unit board of directors becomes operational on the date set by the state board as provided in this chapter.

2. Transfer of governing authority. The regional school unit board of directors, on the date established pursuant to subsection 1, shall assume responsibility for the management and control of the public schools and programs within the school administrative units in existence prior to the operational date of the new regional school unit that are within the regional school unit. Those school administrative units in existence prior to the operational date of the new regional school unit on the date established in subsection 1 have no further responsibility for the operation or control of the public schools and programs within the school administrative unit except those pursuant to section 1481.

3. Transfer of school accounts. Notwithstanding section 15004 or any charter of a municipal school unit, school administrative district, community school district or regional school unit, the balance remaining in the school accounts of the former municipal school unit, school administrative district, community school district or regional school unit within the new regional school unit must be paid to the treasurer of the new regional school unit and verified through the annual audit process pursuant to chapter 221, subchapter 2. 1 The balance from each of the former municipal school unit, school administrative district, community school district or regional school unit must be used to reduce that unit's or district's local contribution to the regional school unit. Payment may be made in equal monthly installments during the implementation year.

4. Transfer of teachers and employees. Except as limited by paragraph A, all teachers and school employees who are employed by a participating school administrative unit on the day prior to the date established pursuant to subsection 1 must be transferred to and employed by the regional school unit as of the date established pursuant to subsection 1. Except as limited by subsection 2, the regional school unit shall assume all of the legal obligations and duties that the participating school administrative units owed to their employees, including but not limited to those obligations and duties arising under federal law, state law, collective bargaining agreements and individual employment contracts. It is the intent of this chapter to neither decrease nor increase the rights and benefits of transferred employees or the employer. The regional school unit shall also maintain and honor any agreements, contracts or policies regarding the rights and benefits of retirees and former employees created by a participating school administrative unit that is dissolved as a result of its inclusion within a regional school unit.

5. Superintendent contracts. The contracts between the superintendents and school administrative units within the regional school unit are transferred on the date established pursuant to subsection 1 to the regional school unit board of directors. The regional school unit board of directors shall determine the superintendents' duties within the regional school unit.