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SHUTESBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE LEGAL STATUS
The School Committee is the governing board of the Shutesbury public school district. Although it functions as a duly elected Committee of municipal government, the School Committee has, unlike other municipal boards, autonomous and absolute authority within limitations established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to carry out the educational policies of the state and guide the educational process.
Established by law
The Shutesbury School Committee has five (5) members that each serve a term of three (3) years. Members are elected by a ballot vote conducted at the annual town election. Town residents interested in serving on the school committee must submit the appropriate nomination form by the time prescribed by the town clerk. If the resident is unable to submit a form before the deadline, they can pursue a write-in campaign at the annual town election.
SOURCE: MASC - Updated 2022
LEGAL REFS.: M.G.L. 41:1 and 71:37 specifically, but powers and duties of School Committees are established throughout the General Laws of Massachusetts Relating to School Committees
CROSS REFS.: AA, School District Legal Status
BBA, School Committee Powers and Duties
NOTE: A statement under this code is usually statutory and informational in nature, not a "policy" in the strict sense of the word. Include under this code the number of School Committee members and the length of a regular term.
Town or city charters and ordinances often establish the composition of the School Committee and set forth provisions for the election of Committee members. Such details should be incorporated into a statement in this category. References to the pertinent section(s) of the charter or ordinances should be added to the legal references as was done with the policy above.
Regional school districts are created in accordance with state law and the regional agreement approved by the member towns. Therefore, a policy on the legal status of a regional School Committee would be different from the sample policy above. At this code, regional school districts often include the number of members elected from each town and the term of office. Pertinent sections of the regional agreement are often cited with the legal references, which, in the case of a regional school district, would include M.G.L. 71:14B and 71:16A. A policy in this area for a School Committee that is a member of a superintendency union also would vary from the above sample. A reference to M.G.L. 71:63 would be required. The cross references are to related codes in the NEPN classification system.
5/15/25: Policy reviewed by Shutesbury Policy Committee
6/12/25: First Read by Shutesbury School Committee
9/18/25: Second Read, First Vote by Shutesbury School Committee
10/16/25: Final Vote by Shutesbury School Committee