POLAND – Poland high school officials this week tackled issues of e-mail correspondence, claims of micromanagement and unilateralism in an attempt to straighten out operating procedures for themselves.

“I’m pleased that Chairman (Ike) Levine approached me and we were able to have lunch and work through some things,” said Poland Regional High School Committee member David Griffiths of Mechanic Falls. “I appreciate that this is on the agenda one short month after our last heated discussion.”

While nothing was resolved Wednesday and members still disagreed on how the committee should function, they did agree to develop a policy that outlined the proper use of e-mail correspondence. In addition, the committee agreed to re-examine its role and the school system’s chain of command.

“Now this is the way to have a discussion,” said Levine after about an hour of points and counterpoints.

However, the committee adjourned into executive session at their attorney’s urging before holding any public discussion.

Levine and Griffiths questioned the need for an executive session and iterated the committee’s intent to ask questions and make comments during open session.

“I’m in the dark about this too,” said Levine after Superintendent Nina Schlikin requested the executive session on the advice of Daniel Stockford, attorney with Brann & Isaacson in Lewiston.

Stockford cited and read the section of Maine’s Right to Know Law that allows boards to discuss the “legal rights and duties” of elected officials in executive session.

The five members present voted unanimously to enter into the private meeting. State law requires a three-fifths vote of a board. Present on Wednesday were Levine, Griffiths, Laurie Levine, Karen Whalen and Peter Bolduc. Absent were Jack Conway and Norm Davis.

Griffiths had raised claims during the October committee meeting that members were micromanaging school duties that should be left to staff and that Levine made decisions without full committee input.

Griffiths also had admonished committee members for conducting school business through e-mail. A flurry of e-mail messages among committee members then immediately followed the October meeting. The e-mail messages were a continuation of the same discussion after the meeting had been adjourned.

Stockford advised the committee that its correspondence would be considered public records and would have a possibility of being considered as a meeting if challenged in court.

“Maine courts have not specifically addressed if e-mails amount to public proceedings,” said Stockford. “You’re at greater risk if you’re going back and forth on issues.”

Griffiths, a former Sun Journal editor with an extensive background on First Amendment rights, said all committee e-mails should be made public and all committee discussions should occur in public.

Laurie Levine asked whether her normal practice of sharing information with fellow committee members via e-mail in her role as liaison or representative to other committees would be considered “transacting public business.”

Stockford said it was “a gray area.”

As for claims that committee members bypass School Union 29 administrators and micromanage school affairs, both Levines disagreed with Griffiths and Schlikin. They said it was because of the lack of administrative action and their sense of responsibility to their constituents.

Chairman Levine also explained that each committee member acted as “a committee of one” when dealing with different aspects of school operations.

“I have to say that the committee of one is a new concept for me,” said Schlikin. “I question whether the constant follow-ups and e-mails step over the line. I know that Ike and I see things very philosophically different on this. I’m not sure we’re clear about the board’s role.”

Whalen remained silent throughout the meeting. Bolduc suggested that the committee take another look at what it needs to improve.