PORTLAND (AP) – The Portland School Committee has adopted a policy that limits military and college recruiters to no more than seven visits a year to the city’s public high schools.

The policy, thought to be the first of its kind in Maine, comes as school districts nationwide are debating whether to limit military recruitment amid reports of aggressive tactics by some recruiters.

The committee adopted the Equitable Recruitment Access Policy by a 6-3 vote Wednesday.

“All sorts of folks are competing for our children’s commitment,” said Stephen Spring, head of the subcommittee that drafted the policy.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires schools that receive federal funding to provide military recruiters the same access to students that college and job recruiters receive.

It also requires schools to release students’ contact information to military recruiters unless a student requests in writing that the information be kept private.

Portland’s new policy also directs the city’s high schools to designate an area where recruitment may take place.

Committee member Otis Thompson wanted to delete the section of the policy that limits the number of visits by recruiters to seven.

Thompson said the policy might encourage military recruiters to make more visits, noting that if each branch of the military took full advantage of the policy, they could visit the schools 35 times collectively.

Military recruiters visited 28 times last year.

“I think we are in danger of breaking the Maine axiom If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,”‘ said Thompson.

Several people at the meeting spoke in favor of the policy. No members of the military were present.

“This policy does not obstruct anybody from enlisting,” said William Slavick, coordinator of Pax Christi Maine peace group.

Estelle L’Heureux of Portland questioned the need for the policy.

“I have two boys who graduated from Deering. Military recruitment has not been an issue,” she said.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, https://www.pressherald.com