Compiled by the State Superintendent and printed WATERVILLE SENTINEL PUBLISHING COMPANY 1916 This pamphlet will be sent free on application to the State Superintendent of Public Schools, Augusta, Maine. LAWS OF MAINE RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1915 EDUCATION OF YOUTH. LOCATION OF SCHOOLS. SEC. I. The school districts in all towns in the state are abolished. Provided, however, that school districts organized with special powers by act of the legislature, may retain such organization and special powers; but said districts shall annually, on or before the first day of June, by their agents, trustees or directors, submit to the school committees of their several towns estimates of the amounts required for the maintenance of the schools therein, other than free high schools, for the ensuing school year, and shall be entitled to such portion of the commen school funds of the town as said committees shall determine, which sum shall not be less than is necessary for the maintenance of their schools for a period equal to that of the other schools of the town; and provided further, that the corporate powers of every school district shall continue so far as the same may be necessary for meeting its liabilities and enforcing its rights; and any property held in trust by any school district by virtue of a gift, devise or bequest for the benefit of said district shall continue to be held and used according to the terms thereof. SEC. 2. The location of any school legally established prior to the seventeenth day of March, eighteen hundred and ninetythree continues unchanged, notwithstanding the district is abolished; but any town at its annual meeting, or at a meeting called 381321 for the purpose, may determine the number and location of its schools, and may discontinue them or change their location; but such discontinuance or change of location shall be made only on the written recommendation of the superintending school committee, and on conditions proper to preserve the just rights and privileges of the inhabitants for whose benefits such schools were established; provided, however, that in case any school shall hereafter have too few scholars for its profitable maintenance, the superintending school committee may suspend the operation of such school for not more than one year unless otherwise instructed by the town, but any public school failing to maintain an average attendance for any school year, of at least eight pupils, shall be and hereby is suspended, unless the town in which said school is located shall by vote, at the annual meeting, or at a meeting called for that purpose, after the said committee shall have made a written recommendation to that effect, instruct its superintending school committee to maintain said school. The superintendent of schools in each town shall procure the conveyance of all common school pupils residing in his town, a part or the whole of the distance, to and from the nearest suitable school, for the number of weeks for which schools are maintained in each year, when such pupils reside at such a distance from the said school as in the judgment of the superintending school committee shall render such conveyance necessary. Provided, however, that the superintending school committee may authorize the superintendent of schools, to pay the board of any pupil or pupils at a suitable place near any established school instead of providing conveyance for said pupil or pupils, when in their judgment it may be done at an equal or less expense than by conveyance. SEC. 3. When a location for the erection or removal of a schoolhouse and requisite buildings has been legally designated, by vote of the town at any town meeting called for that purpose, and the owner thereof refuses to sell, or, in the opinion of the municipal officers, asks an unreasonable price for it, or resides without the state and has no authorized agent or attorney therein, they may lay out a schoolhouse lot, not exceeding three acres, and appraise the damages as is provided for laying out town ways, and appraising the damages therefor; and on payment or tender of such damages, or if such owner does not reside in the state, upon depositing such damages in the treasury of such town for his use, the town designating it may take such lot to be held and used for the purposes aforesaid; and when such schoolhouse has ceased to be thereon for two years, said lot reverts to the owner, his heirs or assigns. And any town or city may take real estate for the enlargement or extension of any location designated for the erection or removal of a schoolhouse and requisite buildings and playgrounds, as herein provided; but no real estate shall be so taken within fifty feet of a dwelling-house, and all schoolhouse lots and playgrounds that require fencing shall be fenced by the town or city. SEC. 4. If the owner is aggrieved at the location of the lot, or the damages awarded, he may apply to the county commissioners within six months, who may change the location and assess the damages. If the damages are increased, or the location changed, such town or district shall pay the damages and costs; otherwise the costs shall be paid by the applicant. SEC. 5. If any town or school district, by its officers or by a committee, has designated, located and described a lot upon which to erect, move or repair a schoolhouse, and from mistake or omission has failed to comply with the law, whereby such location has been rendered invalid, three legal voters and taxpayers thereof may apply in writing to the selectmen of said town, and have the lot, so designated or described, re-appraised by them. SEC. 6. The selectmen of any town to whom such application has been made, shall forthwith give not less than seven nor more than twenty days' notice, to the clerk of said town or district and to the owner of such real estate, or to the persons having the same in charge, of the time and place by them fixed for such hearing, and shall, after examination and hearing of all interested, appraise the lot as set out and affix a fair value thereon, exclusive of improvements made by said district or town, either by buildings or otherwise; and shall, as soon as practicable, notify the town or district clerk, and the persons interested in said estate who had been notified as hereinbefore provided, of the sum at which said lots had been appraised. SEC. 7. The sum fixed as the value of said lot shall be assessed, collected and paid over as other school money. |
