The bill H.869 proposes amendments to the process of filling vacancies on school boards within unified union school districts and union elementary or high school district boards. It mandates that when a vacancy occurs for a seat apportioned to a town, the unified union school district board must appoint an eligible person chosen by the selectboard of the affected town to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. This replaces the previous requirement for the board to consult with the selectboard and allows for a more streamlined appointment process.

Additionally, the bill removes language that allowed for exceptions based on the articles of agreement approved by voters before July 1, 2019, thereby standardizing the vacancy filling process across districts. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2026. Overall, the bill aims to enhance local governance by ensuring that town selectboards have a direct role in appointing representatives to school boards when vacancies arise.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 16-731, 16-749