HOWLAND – SAD 31 officials hope they have cleared up confusion about when school board members’ terms of office begin.

The terms of SAD 31 school board members, whether they are elected or appointed, begin July 1, according to a ruling late last week from J. Duke Albanese, the commissioner of the Department of Education.

The issue of when school board members begin serving has come up twice in the past month.

Last week, Burlington selectmen raised questions about why newly elected school board member Bonnie Bean was not allowed to participate at the March 27 board meeting after being elected by residents March 23.

The issue first surfaced last month, when SAD 31 officials “seated” a newly elected school board member from Howland, but later discovered the member could not legally be seated until July 1. The newly elected Howland member went to the meeting to become informed, but was officially “seated” by district officials.

Howland Town Manager Glenna Armour caught the snafu, saying she recognized the newly elected member’s term did not begin until July 1. She said the town already had appointed a qualified school board member to serve until June 30.

Recognizing the potential legal problem, Armour brought the issue to the attention of SAD 31 Superintendent Keith Cook.

Cook said Armour was very helpful. He said her call prompted him to seek a clear interpretation of when new board members’ terms would begin.

The terms of interim board members also were clarified. Citing sections of law, Albanese said interim board members shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified and the terms of newly elected members either start immediately after a local election or on a fixed date. He said interim members also should serve until July 1.

In 1998, each of the eight towns in the school district approved changing the terms of school board members to begin July 1. Before the change was made, school board members typically began serving immediately after their municipal elections were held.

Veteran board members said the district proposed the change to provide continuity and to give newly elected members a chance to get their feet wet rather than being seated in the midst of the budget process or contract negotiations.

After the issue was brought to light, Howland’s appointed school board member Jay Nadeau resigned and selectmen appointed Wendy Scofield to serve until June 30. Scofield also was elected to a one-year term in March.

Last week, Burlington selectmen voted to accept the resignation of Penny Stevens, who had been appointed to the school board last fall by selectmen.

Selectmen also voted to appoint Bonnie Bean to serve on the board until June 30, and will begin serving her elected term July 1.