Four members of the RSU 63 school board, responsible for overseeing education in the towns of Holden, Eddington, and Clifton, resigned on Thursday, leaving the board critically underrepresented. This decision has prompted the select boards and councils of the respective towns to appoint new members who will serve until the next municipal election. There is currently no deadline for these appointments.
The abrupt resignations have resulted in the school board being one member short of a quorum, which is necessary for the board to conduct any official business. The resignations were issued by Linda Graban from Clifton, Heather Grass from Eddington, and both Heather Lander and Cherie Faulkner from Holden. Their departures stemmed from ongoing disputes regarding the board’s voting structure, specifically the issue of weighted votes.
Voting Controversy and Board Dynamics
The controversy surrounding the voting structure has intensified interactions among the board members. The former members believed that the board should operate with weighted votes, contrary to the current structure where each of the eight board members has equal voting power. This misunderstanding has led to heightened tensions, particularly as the issue had not been raised prior to this year.
Superintendent Sheila Caldwell clarified that the district has not requested any restructuring of the school board. She emphasized that the voting mechanism has remained unchanged for the past 21 years, based on a certificate from 2004 when the towns formed a multi-town school district. Although there were two instances this year where tied votes occurred, the weighted voting system was not intended to alter the board’s function.
According to Caldwell, the RSU’s legal advisors initially believed the board should conform to the terms of a 2009 certificate that inaccurately indicated a weighted vote system. Recent clarification from the Maine Department of Education confirmed that this certification was filed in error. Thus, the four resigning members would have had an advantage with weighted votes, potentially affecting outcomes including a recent vote that led to Faulkner’s removal from the budget and finance committee.
Looking Forward: New Appointments and Future Meetings
As the board prepares for its next meeting scheduled for January 26, School Board Chair Scott Walton expressed the importance of a transparent appointment process for new members. Walton noted that there are no special meetings planned before the upcoming school board meeting, but the three towns can convene to discuss potential candidates for appointment.
Walton expressed disappointment at the resignations but emphasized a desire to move forward. He acknowledged the former members’ views on leadership while maintaining a commitment to continue the district’s work. “We’re ready to continue to do the work of the district, turn the page and move forward,” he stated.
Caldwell also expressed her commitment to the district’s mission, highlighting the need to focus on students and teachers rather than the recent turmoil. “I just would like us to be a district that can focus on the students, focus on teaching and learning,” she said.
As the towns of Holden, Eddington, and Clifton navigate this transition, the community is poised to appoint new board members who will help steer the district’s future.
