256B.4 - POWERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

        256B.4  POWERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
         The board of directors of a school district or area education
      agency, with the approval of the director of the department of
      education, may provide special education programs and services as
      defined in this chapter.  If services are provided by the area
      education agency the board of directors of the area education agency
      with the cooperation of the local school districts within its
      jurisdiction may:
         1.  Establish and operate special education programs and classes
      for the education of children requiring special education.
         2.  Acquire, maintain, and construct facilities in which to
      provide education, corrective services, and supportive services for
      children requiring special education.
         3.  Make arrangements with participating school districts for the
      provision of special education, corrective, and supportive services
      to the children requiring special education residing in the school
      districts.
         4.  Employ special education teachers and personnel required to
      furnish corrective or supportive services to children requiring
      special education services.
         5.  Provide transportation for children requiring special
      education services that are in need of transportation in connection
      with any programs, classes, or services.
         6.  Receive, administer, and expend funds appropriated for its
      use.
         7.  Receive, administer, and expend the proceeds of any issue of
      school bonds or other bonds intended wholly or partly for its
      benefit.
         8.  Apply for, accept, and utilize grants, gifts, or other
      assistance.
         9.  Participate in, and make its employees eligible to participate
      in, any retirement system, group insurance system, or other program
      of employee benefits, on the same terms as govern school districts
      and their employees.
         10.  Do such other things as are necessary and incidental to the
      execution of any of its powers.
         The board of directors of the local district or the area education
      agency shall employ qualified teachers certified by the authority
      provided by law as teachers for children requiring such special
      education.  The maximum number of pupils per teacher shall be
      determined by the board of directors of the local district or the
      area education agency board in accordance with the rules and
      regulations of the state board of education.
         The board of directors of the local district or the area education
      agency may establish and operate one or more special education
      centers to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, corrective, and other
      services, on a more comprehensive, expert, economical, and efficient
      basis than can be reasonably provided by a single school district.
      The services, if offered by the area education agency board, may be
      provided in the regular schools using personnel and equipment of the
      area education agency or, if it is impractical or inefficient to
      provide them on the premises of a regular school, the area education
      agency may provide services in its own facilities.  To the maximum
      extent feasible, centers shall be established at and in conjunction
      with, or in close proximity to, one or more elementary and secondary
      schools.  Local districts or the area education agencies may accept
      diagnostic and evaluation studies conducted by other individuals,
      hospitals, or centers, if determined to be competent.  Children
      requiring special education services may be identified in any way
      that the department of education determines to be reliable.  Centers
      established pursuant to this section may contain classrooms and other
      educational facilities and equipment to supplement instruction and
      other services to children with disabilities in the regular schools,
      and to provide separate instruction to children whose degree or type
      of educational disability makes it impractical or inappropriate for
      them to participate in classes with normal children.  
         Section History: Early Form
         [C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 281.4] 
         Section History: Recent Form
         86 Acts, ch 1245, § 1479, 1480
         C93, § 256B.4
         96 Acts, ch 1129, § 113