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Last updated September 10, 2007 
The public is welcome and invited to attend school committee meetings. The School Committee appreciates visitors from the public and trust your attendance will be beneficial to both you and them. They feel it is very important for interested persons to know about the workings of our school system and for the committee to be aware of what is important to the community of Gorham. You are invited to participate in the meeting in accordance with the policy and rules established by the committee.
The Gorham School Committee meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the Gorham Town Council Chambers and holds workshop sessions on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Agendas are prepared by the Superintendent and Committee Chair and are published at least three weekdays in advance of each meeting and are posted in the Superintendent's office, at each school, Gorham Town Hall, the local cable network, and in area newspapers.
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School Committee Duties and Responsibilities
Maine State law charges school committees with the responsibility to manage the schools. This is done essentially by selecting a Superintendent and providing him/her with the authority and direction. It is not the duty of the committee to operate the schools, but to see that they are well operated.
The committee concerns itself primarily with broad questions of policy rather than with administrative details. The application of policies is an administrative task to be performed by the Superintendent and his/her staff, who shall be held responsible for the effective administration and supervision of the entire school system.
Members of the committee have authority only when acting as a committee legally in session. The board shall not be bound in any way by an action or statement of an individual member except when such statement or action is pursuant to specific instructions of the committee.
Standard Committee Agenda:
Call to Order
Communications
Administrative Report
Standing/Special Committees
Unfinished Business
New Business
Adjournment
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Meetings of the committee are public in the sense that they are held in public. This does not mean they are public meetings in the same sense as a "town meeting". There is no statutory requirement in Maine that the public normally be permitted to speak at committee meetings. However, we welcome comments and concerns related to the matters under consideration by the committee within the guidelines listed below.
Therefore, the chair may provide an opportunity for public comment. Please be aware of the following "ground rules":
 | In the case of a large audience, speakers may be asked to sign up before the meeting, so they may be called on most expediently. |
| Anyone with a legitimate interest in the committee's business may speak. Employees or employee groups will not be permitted to discuss matters for which other, more appropriate forums are provided. |
| All speakers are asked to identify themselves. Gossip, defamatory comments, or abusive or vulgar language will not be permitted. |
| Speakers must address all comments and questions to the Chair. |
| Comments will be heard and considered. Generally, the committee does not discuss or act on an item not on the agenda. |
| No complaints or allegations will be allowed in public concerning any staff member or person connected to the school system. |
| Speakers are asked not to be repetitious of comments already made to the committee, in the interest of the most efficient use of time. |
| The primary purpose of the meeting is for the committee to conduct its business as charged by law. Spontaneous discussion, as well as disorder and disruption, prevent the committee from doing its work and will not be permitted. |
| The chair has the final and exclusive authority to regulate the length or topic of public comment in the interest of allowing the School Committee to complete its agenda. |
