The Arundel Town Council has set a date of Dec. 17 for a recall vote for RSU21 School Board Member Kirstin Shapiro.

Officials in Arundel were not immediately available for comment, but the board met on Oct. 21 to discuss holding a recall election. RSU21 Spokesperson Matt Shinberg confirmed the date had been set, and said it was in response to a petition. Shinberg declined to comment further. 

The district covers Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. Shinberg said when petitioners demand a recall, the decision is handled by town officials in the town the board member is from, in this case Arundel.

A copy of the petition, filed by Arundel resident Dorothy Gregoire, accused Shapiro on three separate occasions of clashing in public meetings with teachers during public comment periods.

During one meeting on Sept. 17, the petition said Shapiro "repeatedly interrupted a teacher, speaking over her again and again to state repeatedly, 'Point of order,' until Board Chair (Lesley) Stoeffler asked (Shapiro) to mute her microphone again."

Shinberg said Shapiro declined comment on the petition's charges.

Also on Oct. 21, the RSU21 School Board met first in executive session, and following that in open session board members attempted to make a motion to censure Shapiro. The motion accused Shapiro of violating policies related to ethics, “based on documented conduct during meetings and interactions.” The motion did not go into further detail. 

It ultimately was not put to a vote, as the board’s censure process required another nonpublic session to happen first. The board will take up the motion at a later date.

The board has been negotiating a new contract with the Kennebunk, Arundel and Kennebunkport Educators Association since the fall of 2023. The current contract officially expired in August, leaving tensions high on both sides. 

At the Octy. 21 board meeting, Stoeffler said she felt negotiations were finally making progress.

“We’re feeling as though the two parties are coming together,” she said. “At this point we just want to emphasize that we see light and that all parties are now ready to start making serious changes on both sides so we can get a contract that the teachers will like.” 

The persistent lack of a contract, however, didn’t sit well with Erin Lehane, who during public comment described herself as “a union member.” 

“I do not believe the urgency of this issue is being reflected in the board’s actions,” she said. 

Lehane added that teachers are working without a new contract and “They are doing this without the partnership of this board.”