CHAPTER 10. JOINT PROGRAMS AND PERSONNEL
IC 20-26-10
Chapter 10. Joint Programs and Personnel
IC 20-26-10-1
"Joint program"
Sec. 1. As used in sections 2 through 9 of this chapter, "joint
program" means the joint employment of personnel, joint purchase
of supplies or other material, or joint purchase or lease of equipment,
joint lease of land or buildings, or both, or joint construction of,
remodeling of, or additions to school buildings, by two (2) or more
school corporations, for a particular program or purpose. The term
includes the joint investment of money under IC 5-13, data
processing operations, career and technical education, psychological
services, audiovisual services, guidance services, special education,
and joint purchasing related to the acquisition of supplies or
equipment that are not to be used jointly.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.234-2007,
SEC.104.
IC 20-26-10-2
"Participating school corporation"
Sec. 2. As used in sections 3 through 9 of this chapter,
"participating school corporations" means all school corporations
engaging in a joint program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-3
Joint programs authorized; contents of agreement
Sec. 3. (a) Two (2) or more school corporations acting through
their respective governing bodies may engage in joint programs
under a written agreement executed by all participating school
corporations.
(b) The agreement shall do the following:
(1) Designate the type of purchases, leases, or investments to be
made.
(2) Prescribe the manner of approving persons employed under
the joint program.
(3) Designate the type of construction, remodeling, or additions
to be made on the school buildings.
(4) Provide for the organization, administration, support,
funding, and termination of the program, subject to the
provisions of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-4
Administration and supervision of joint program
Sec. 4. An agreement shall designate one (1) of the participating
school corporations to administer and supervise the joint program,
including receiving and disbursing funds, executing documents, and
maintaining records under this chapter and the agreement between
the participating school corporations.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-5
Teachers without prior service; employment by joint program
Sec. 5. (a) A teacher employed in a joint program who does not
have existing years of service in one (1) of the member corporations
of the joint program is considered to have been employed as a
teacher by the governing body that is administering the joint program
at the time that the teacher is first employed by the joint program.
(b) The teacher is entitled to the same rights and privileges as set
forth in IC 20-28-6 through IC 20-28-10 as if employed as a regular
teacher by the governing body that is administering the joint program
at the time that the teacher is first employed by the joint program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-6
Teachers with prior service; employment by joint program
Sec. 6. A teacher who has existing years of service in one (1) of
the member school corporations of the joint program shall retain the
same rights and privileges as set forth in IC 20-28-6 through
IC 20-28-10 as if still employed as a teacher in the school
corporation in which the teacher has already acquired years of
service.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-7
Loss of joint program teaching jobs
Sec. 7. (a) A teacher who loses the teacher's job in a joint program
because of:
(1) a reduction in services;
(2) a reorganization;
(3) the discontinuance of the joint program; or
(4) a withdrawal in whole or in part of a participating school
from the joint program;
shall be accorded the same rights that are provided under
IC 20-35-5-11 for teachers from special education cooperatives.
(b) A teacher who:
(1) is employed in a joint program under this chapter;
(2) loses the teacher's job in the joint program as described in
subsection (a); and
(3) subsequently is employed by a participating school
corporation as described in subsection (a);
retains the rights and privileges under IC 20-28-6 through
IC 20-28-10 that the teacher held at the time the teacher lost the job
in the joint program as described in subdivision (2).
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-8
Joint services, leasing, construction, and supply fund
Sec. 8. (a) The governing bodies of participating school
corporations may pay into a joint fund, known as the joint services,
leasing, construction, and supply fund, an amount set forth in the
written agreement under section 3 of this chapter. Each governing
body shall budget and appropriate funds for the joint program from
the school corporation's general fund in accordance with laws
governing the use of the general fund.
(b) The joint services, leasing, construction, and supply fund shall
be held by the governing body of the school corporation designated
in the written agreement to administer and supervise the joint
program. The designated governing body shall receive, disburse, and
maintain an account for the fund in the same manner as prescribed
for other funds of the governing body and under the written
agreement but without any further or additional appropriation of the
funds. The designated governing body shall:
(1) make a complete and detailed financial report of all receipts
and disbursements not later than thirty (30) days after the end
of each school year; and
(2) furnish copies of the report to the governing bodies of all
other participating school corporations.
The reports required under this section are supplementary to and do
not supersede or repeal the requirements for publication of annual
reports of certain school corporations as provided by IC 5-3-1.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.2-2006, SEC.129.
IC 20-26-10-9
Joint investment fund; administration; designated depositories
Sec. 9. (a) The governing bodies of participating school
corporations may pay into a joint fund, to be known as the joint
investment fund, all or part of the money the governing bodies may
otherwise invest under IC 5-13-9. The fund shall be administered by
the governing body of the school corporation designated in the
written agreement under section 3 of this chapter. The designated
governing body shall receive, invest, maintain an account for, and
disburse the fund in the same manner as prescribed for other funds
for the governing body representing money available for investment
and in accordance with the written agreement.
(b) With respect to an investment described in IC 5-13-9, quotes
may be solicited and received orally, and the investment shall be
made with the designated depository that submitted the highest
quote. If two (2) or more designated depositories submit the highest
quote, the investment shall be made either:
(1) by dividing the investment among the depositories so as not
to lose the benefits of the quotes received; or
(2) if division is not practicable, by lot.
(c) The designated depository holding the investment shall remit
to the governing body administering the joint program any money
due under the investment on the date the investment matures and in
the manner directed by the governing body. A designated depository
participating in an agreement for joint investment of money under
IC 5-13 shall provide a detailed accounting of the transactions as
required for audit purposes by the state board of accounts.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-10
Joint employment of professional personnel; joint purchase of
supplies and equipment
Sec. 10. Two (2) or more school corporations within a county may
through their respective school trustees and boards engage in any of
the following:
(1) Joint employment of professional personnel.
(2) Joint purchases of necessary supplies, equipment, and other
materials that the participating school officers consider proper
to the operation of their respective schools.
The cost of these services and purchases to participating corporations
shall be determined by their proportionate use in the schools of
participating corporations. The county superintendent of schools is
the administrator of these joint activities.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-11
Joint service and supply fund; authorization; reports
Sec. 11. (a) A county board of education may authorize the county
superintendent of schools to establish a joint service and supply fund,
into which fund the participating school corporations shall pay their
proportionate share under an agreement for the joint services and
supplies in which the school corporations are interested. The county
superintendent of schools may disburse from the service and supply
fund proper expenditures to pay salaries of jointly employed
personnel and other joint service expenditures.
(b) The county superintendent of schools shall keep a complete
written accounting of all receipts and disbursements related to the
joint service and supply fund in a form approved by the state board
of accounts. The accounting shall be audited by the state board of
accounts. The county superintendent of schools shall make a
complete and detailed financial report of all receipts and
disbursements in the joint service and supply fund at the end of each
fiscal year and shall furnish copies of the report to all participating
school corporations.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-10-12
Purchasing and bidding rules
Sec. 12. The purchasing of equipment, supplies, and materials
shall be under the same laws and regulations as the purchasing would
be if it were by a single school corporation. However, the bids shall
be submitted by the superintendent of county schools to the
participating corporations for approval.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.