Local boards must meet salary and spending conditions to participate in state education programs, and participating boards must share vocational center costs.
(a) In order for a local board of education to participate in the state Foundation Program certain conditions shall be met. The teacher salary schedule of the local board of education shall be at least 100 percent of the amount specified within the State Minimum Salary Schedule delineated by cell for the type of degree and years of experience of each teacher. All funds allocated to a local board of education for teacher salaries shall be spent for salaries in the instructional program. (b) In order for a local board of education to participate in the state Vocational/Technical Education Program certain conditions shall be met. The teacher salary schedule of the local board of education shall be at least 100 percent of the amount specified within the State Minimum Salary Schedule adjusted for extended contracts delineated by cell for the type of degree and years of experience of each teacher. All funds allocated to a local board of education for teacher salaries shall be spent for salaries in the instructional program. (c) Each area vocational center shall earn a principal (director) and shall continue to earn a counselor should it have received a counselor unit in 1994-95. Further, it is the intent of the Legislature that area vocational centers that are serving more than one school system continue to do so. Each participating local board shall assume a pro rata share of the cost of personnel and operating cost of the vocational center. However, should any local board choose in the future to withdraw from participation in an area vocational center, such local board shall assume its pro rata share of the cost of personnel and operating expenses occurring as a result of its withdrawal. If no satisfactory financial agreement can be reached between that local board and other participating local boards, the State Superintendent of Education shall conduct an inquiry and shall render a decision which shall be final and binding. Finally, as a result of hold harmless and federal requirements of maintenance of effort, no local board shall be permitted to spend fewer state dollars for vocational/technical education than it did during the 1994-95 school year.