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Lewiston School Committee delays final chair selection, outlines retreat and organizational timeline
Summary
Committee members discussed retreat planning and whether to elect a chair before the Jan. 5 oath of office; members agreed to revisit chair selection at the first January meeting and to include chair responsibilities, FOAA/email practices, executive‑session rules and public‑comment procedures in retreat programming.
Lewiston’s School Committee spent a large portion of its Dec. 15 meeting discussing the logistics and scope of an organizational retreat and whether to elect a permanent chair before all seats are filled.
Committee members proposed holding organizational business on Jan. 5 (the oath of office), with follow-up sessions on Jan. 7 and Jan. 12 if needed. Some members argued that the Ward 5 vacancy should be filled before finalizing a chair so that the incoming member would have input; others noted policy BDB that calls for chair selection at the first meeting in January. Several members suggested electing a temporary or pro‑tem chair and then revisiting the election once the full committee is seated.
Scott Harriman, the city council representative to the school committee, noted the city council will hold its organizational meeting Jan. 5 and that timing could affect who can attend. The committee agreed to prioritize a retreat that covers chair responsibilities, public‑access requirements (FOAA/email communications), executive‑session parameters and public‑comment procedures for incoming members.
No permanent chair was elected; members agreed to address the election at the Jan. 5 meeting and to use retreat time to clarify roles and procedures for the new term.
