Article 9 - Public Education

ARTICLE IX.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

9-1. School committee.

There shall be a school committee consisting of two members-at-large and one district member from each of the three school committee election districts into which the city of Warwick is divided. Present members of the school committee shall hold their respective offices for the remainder of the term for which they were originally elected and until their successors are elected and qualified. At the biennial election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November of the year A.D. 1960, and every four years thereafter, there shall be elected two members-at-large of the school committee to serve for the term of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. At the biennial election in the year A.D. 1962, and every four years thereafter, there shall be elected three district members of the school committee to serve for a term of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. The general laws of this state shall apply to the voting for the members of the school committee of said city so far as consistent with the provisions of this act; provided, however, that the voting machines or ballot shall contain in a perpendicular column, in an order drawn by lot and uniform type the name of all candidates nominated as hereinafter provided and shall contain no specifications of party or political principle.
(P.L. 1966, ch. 11, § 3; Ref. of 11-3-98)

9-2. School committee nominations.

Nomination papers for candidates at large shall be signed in the aggregate by not less than 200 qualified voters. Nominations of district members shall be made by nomination papers signed in the aggregate for each candidate by not less than 100 voters qualified to vote for each of such candidates. Nomination papers for school committee members shall contain no party designation or political principle. If more than twice the number of candidates to be elected to the office of school committeeman shall be nominated, there shall be a primary election to eliminate all candidates in excess of twice the number to be elected to said office. The primary election shall be held in the manner hereinafter provided on the same date as the party primaries in September before each general election, and not more than fifteen or less than ten days before the date set for a special election to fill a vacancy.The canvassing authority shall appoint primary election officials from lists submitted by the candidates, giving representation to all candidates insofar as possible. Candidates shall appear on the ballot, [in the order] drawn by lot with no party designation. The number of persons being twice the number to be elected to the particular office receiving individually the highest number of votes cast in the primary election for individual candidates shall be declared to be the candidates to be voted upon at the election. If no more candidates than the number of offices to be filled shall file, then these candidates shall be declared elected by the board of canvassers.
(P.L. 1966, ch. 191, § 5; Ref. of 11-3-98)

9-3. Filling of vacancies.

If a vacancy occurs in the school committee more than one hundred and eighty (180) days before the time of holding the next succeeding regular city election, the canvassing authority shall forthwith call a special election for the purpose of filling such vacancy for the remainder of the term. If any such vacancy occurs one hundred and eighty (180) days or less, before the time of holding the next succeeding general election, the council may in its discretion direct the canvassing authority to call a special election for said purpose.

9-4. Chairman.

The school committee shall meet for organization on the first Tuesday following the first day of January after the general election, at such hour as may be fixed by the said school committee and elect one of its members as chairman to serve until his successor is elected and shall adopt its own rules and order of business.

9-5. Powers and duties.

The school committee shall determine and control all policies affecting the administration, construction, maintenance and operation of the public schools. The construction of school buildings, shall also be under the direction of the school committee, except that the mayor is hereby authorized to nominate and appoint as many as four taxpayers, who shall be added to the school committee for the purpose of acting jointly with the school committee in the direction of school construction only and for no other purpose and for no longer period of time.

9-6. Superintendent of schools.

The school committee shall appoint a superintendent of schools as its chief administrative agent and such other administrative officers as shall be deemed necessary.

9-7. Appointments and removals.

The appointment and removal of all school employees shall be made by the school committee upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools, except as may be provided otherwise by the laws of the state or provisions of this Charter. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the school committee, as far as is consistent with the laws of the state, shall deal with the administration of the public schools solely through the superintendent of schools.

9-8. Budget estimates.

The school committee shall submit budget estimates in the same manner as city departments, but the budget estimates and appropriations shall be considered by the council in total only. The allocation of the amounts appropriated shall be determined by the school committee.

9-9. Purchases.

The finance department of the city shall assume all the purchasing functions of the school committee, in accordance with the requisitions of the school committee, and shall purchase and distribute such supplies and materials as are required by the public schools. The costs for such supplies and materials shall be charged against the appropriation for the public schools.

9-10. Restrictions.

No member of the school committee shall vote in the matter of any contract, job, work or service or the purchase of any property in which he is interested directly or indirectly nor shall he take any official action relating thereto. All such transactions shall be by the authority of the school committee with the interested member not voting.

9-11. Maintenance.

At the request of the school committee, the mayor shall direct the department of public works to maintain and care for school buildings and grounds, provided that the costs are charged against the appropriation for the public schools.

9-12. Financial report.

The school committee shall prepare a financial report of its activities which shall be submitted to the mayor and city council within ninety (90) days after the close of the fiscal year, and within six (6) months of the close of the fiscal year, an audited complete financial statement.
(Ref. of 11-3-98)

9-13. Compensation.

The members of the school committee shall receive such salary, if any, as may be prescribed by ordinance.
Cross References: For salary of members of school committee, see § 64-3 of the Code of Ordinances.

9-14. Meetings.

All meetings of the school committee shall be open to the public and all decisions made by the school committee shall be made publicly; provided, however, nothing herein shall deny to the school committee the right to require a meeting closed to the public when the nature of the meeting involves personalities or would be detrimental to education or the public welfare. A majority of the members present shall be necessary to declare a meeting closed to the public. Any decision made during a closed meeting shall be made and announced publicly.

9-15. Alteration of school committee election districts.

The city council shall, by resolution, prior to the first Tuesday following the first Monday in June before the 1968 general election, realign the school committee election districts to form three districts as nearly equal in population as possible.
(P.L. 1966, ch. 191, § 4; P.L. 1967, ch. 130, § 1)