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An Act To Establish the Middle School of Science and Mathematics
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-C, sub-§8  is enacted to read:
 
8.     
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA c. 314  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 314
Middle School of Science and Mathematics
§ 8481.  School established
The Middle School of Science and Mathematics is established as a public, chartered school pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of providing certain students from 4th grade to 9th grade with a challenging educational experience with an emphasis on math and science. The school is a body politic and corporate and is an instrumentality and agency of the State. The exercise by the school of the powers conferred by this chapter is the performance of an essential public function by and on behalf of the State.
§ 8482.  Intent; funding
The school is established as a public school located on the Blue Hill peninsula and the following provisions apply.
 
1.  Curriculum.     The school's curriculum is designed to exceed existing state educational standards in the content areas of the statewide system of learning results established in section 6209.
 
2.  Tuition; funding.     Students from the region may attend the school free of tuition charges. Funding for students from the region is provided as follows.
 
A.  For each pupil enrolled during the year of allocation, the State shall provide to the school the adjusted tuition and insured value factor amount that is calculated by multiplying the regional average tuition and regional average insured value factor amount by 1.6. This amount must be provided in 4 equal payments, and the payments must be made quarterly during the year of attendance. The first payment for the school year must be made by August 31st. The total amount provided for all pupils is limited to the amount appropriated for this purpose.
§ 8483.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
1.  Board of trustees.     "Board of trustees" means the Board of Trustees of the Middle School of Science and Mathematics.
 
2.  Chartered school.     "Chartered school" means that the school may establish rules that delete, modify or add to current rules of the department.
 
3.  Region.     "Region" means the area within a radius of 25 miles of the school.
 
4.  School.     "School" means the Middle School of Science and Mathematics established under section 8481.
 
5.  Trustee.     "Trustee" means a member of the board of trustees.
§ 8484.  Board of trustees
The Board of Trustees of the Middle School of Science and Mathematics as established in Title 5, section 12004-C, subsection 8 is the policy-making authority and the governing body of the school.
 
1.  Membership.     In appointing trustees to the board of trustees, the Governor shall give proper consideration to achieving regional representation and gender equity. The board of trustees consists of 9 voting members and 2 nonvoting members as follows:
 
A.  The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee;
 
B.  Two members who are principals or heads of school of middle schools in the region, appointed by the Governor;
 
C.  One member who is a school superintendent in the region, appointed by the Governor;
 
D.  One member who is a citizen of the town in which the school is located and has an active interest in education, appointed by the Governor;
 
E.  Two members who are citizens of the region and have an active interest in education, appointed by the Governor;
 
F.  Two members who are teachers, one of whom is a teacher at the school who is a nonvoting member and is annually elected by members of the school's faculty and one of whom is a teacher in another school located in the region, appointed by the Governor;
 
G.  One student member who has been elected as the presiding officer of the student body at the school; and
 
H.  The superintendent of the school, who serves as the clerk of the board of trustees and is a nonvoting member.
 
2.  Chair.     The board of trustees shall choose annually one trustee to serve as chair.
 
3.  Meetings.     The board of trustees shall meet at least 4 times a year at regular intervals.
 
4.  Quorum.     A quorum for the transaction of business of the board of trustees is constituted by the trustees in attendance, and all official actions of the board of trustees require a majority vote of those trustees present and voting.
 
5.  Compensation.     Trustees are compensated pursuant to Title 5, section 12004-C, subsection 8.
 
6.  Terms.     The terms of the trustees who are appointed by the Governor are for 4 years unless otherwise designated. Trustees may be appointed for consecutive terms.
§ 8485.  Powers and duties of the board of trustees
The powers and duties of the board of trustees include the following:
 
1.  Policies.     To develop and adopt policies and rules necessary for the operation of the school;
 
2.  Administration.     To oversee the administration of the school, including the hiring of teachers and administrative support staff;
 
3.  Financial management.     To accept donations, bequests or other forms of financial assistance for any educational purpose from a public or private person or agency and to comply with rules and regulations governing grants from the Federal Government or from any other person or agency;
 
4.  Budget development.     To prepare and adopt an annual budget for the operation of the school and to exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate for expenditure by the school and programs under its jurisdiction all the resources available for the operation of the school and its programs;
 
5.  Indemnification.     To indemnify the trustees, officers, teaching staff and employees affiliated with the school and to purchase and maintain insurance to indemnify any such person to the extent provided in Title 13-B, section 714;
 
6.  Bonds.     To require security for the faithful performance of duties by the officers, trustees, employees and other agents of the school who are entrusted with the custody of the school securities or authorized to disburse the funds of the school. The security must consist of a bond, either a blanket bond or individual bond with a surety bond, or bonds having a minimum limitation of $100,000 coverage for each insured person. The expense of a bond is assumed by the school;
 
7.  Property management.     To acquire by purchase any property, lands, buildings, structures, facilities or equipment and make improvements to facilities necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter;
 
8.  Courses of study.     To offer courses of study;
 
9.  Contracts and agreements.     To enter into any contracts and agreements, to the extent that funds are available, in the execution of its powers under this chapter;
 
10.  Delegation.     To delegate duties and responsibilities as necessary for the efficient operation of this chapter;
 
11.  Criteria for enrollment.     To establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of applicants for enrollment. The criteria must include methods of ensuring gender equity for students selected;
 
12.  Student conduct.     To prepare and adopt procedures, rules and regulations to ensure the smooth operation of student conduct standards;
 
13.  Geographical basis.     To develop and adopt an admissions policy to ensure that students from throughout the region have an equal opportunity to attend the school;
 
14.  Benchmarks and assessments.     To establish benchmarks and methods of assessing progress in the levels of academic achievement in mathematics and science for students who participate in school programs and to establish benchmarks and methods of assessing progress in the professional development of teachers who participate in school programs; and
 
15.  Report.     To report biennially to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters on the general status of the school.
§ 8486.  Programs and operations
The programs and operations of the school include:
 
1.  School year.     Operating on a calendar year that meets or exceeds the minimum number of statewide student instructional days; and
 
2.  School admission.     Admittance of students based on academic, emotional and social abilities indicating a high probability of success in a strong academic environment. The first 30% of the available openings in the school must be filled by students from families with net family income that is less than 20% below the region average. The next 30% of the available openings in the school must be filled by students from families with net family income that is less than 20% above the region average. Students who apply and are accepted by the school are allowed to attend as provided in section 5205, subsection 6.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Middle School of Science and Mathematics as a public chartered school located on the Blue Hill peninsula to provide students with a challenging educational experience with an emphasis on math and science.