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Board refers complaint-procedure resolutions back to policy committee after debate over chair’s investigatory role
Summary
The RSU 06/MSAD 06 School Board referred complaint-procedure resolutions about superintendent-related complaints back to the policy committee Oct. 6 after members raised concerns about vesting investigatory authority in the board chair.
At first reading Oct. 6, the RSU 06/MSAD 06 School Board discussed three related resolutions to clarify complaint procedures and the chain of command for staff and citizen complaints, and it referred resolutions concerning complaints about the superintendent back to the policy committee for further work.
Director Carlo introduced Resolutions 6, 7 and 8. The resolutions would clarify that employees are responsible through supervisory chains to principals and the superintendent, prescribe grievance channels for employees, and allow non‑bargaining employee complaints and citizen/parent complaints that directly relate to the superintendent to be submitted to the board chair.
Several directors expressed concern that the draft language as written places investigatory authority with a single person: the board chair. Director Keith said she would prefer broader board involvement rather than a single-person determination; Director Kreutz suggested amended language to make the chair’s role collaborative, proposing that complaints "should be made to the board chairperson who would investigate the complaint involving the school board or other advisory parties as appropriate or necessary and share the results." Several directors recommended including counsel and convening the board in executive session when warranted.
Given those concerns, Director Keith moved and Director Kreutz seconded a motion to refer the resolutions back to the policy committee for revision; the board voted unanimously to send the items back for further work. Board members said the policy committee can incorporate clearer steps—such as when to consult legal counsel, whether the chair should convene the board, and how to protect due process—before they return the language for second reading.
The board did not adopt the complaint-procedure changes at this meeting; the policy committee will rework the language and return the resolutions in a later packet so that the board can consider revised language at second reading.
