3023 - Liability of a board of education, trustee, trustees or board of cooperative educational services.

§ 3023. Liability  of a board of education, trustee, trustees or board  of cooperative educational services.   Notwithstanding any  inconsistent  provision of law, general, special or local, or the limitation contained  in  the  provisions  of  any  city charter, it shall be the duty of each  board of education, trustee or trustees, in any school district having a  population of less than one  million,  and  each  board  of  cooperative  educational  services  established  pursuant to section nineteen hundred  fifty of this chapter,  to  save  harmless  and  protect  all  teachers,  practice   or  cadet  teachers,  authorized  participants  in  a  school  volunteer program,  and members of supervisory and administrative  staff  or  employees from financial loss arising out of any claim, demand, suit  or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or other  act  resulting  in  accidental  bodily  injury  to  any  person, or accidental damage to the  property of any person within or without the school  building,  provided  such  teacher,  practice  or  cadet teacher, authorized participant in a  school volunteer program, or member of the supervisory or administrative  staff or employee at the time of the accident or injury  was  acting  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  within  the  scope of his employment or  authorized volunteer duties  and/or under the direction of said board of  education,  trustee,  trustees  or  board  of  cooperative   educational  services;  and  said  board  of education, trustee, trustees or board of  cooperative  educational  services  may   arrange   for   and   maintain  appropriate insurance with any insurance company created by or under the  laws  of  this  state,  or in any insurance company authorized by law to  transact business in this state, or such  board,  trustee,  trustees  or  board   of   cooperative  educational  services  may  elect  to  act  as  self-insurers  to  maintain  the  aforesaid  protection.    A  board  of  education,   trustee,   board  of  trustees,  or  board  of  cooperative  educational services, however, shall not be subject to the duty  imposed  by  this  section,  unless  such  teacher,  practice  or  cadet teacher,  authorized participant in a school volunteer program, or member  of  the  supervisory  and administrative staff or employee shall, within ten days  of the time he is served with any summons, complaint,  process,  notice,  demand  or  pleading, deliver the original or a copy of the same to such  board of education, trustee, board of trustes, or board  of  cooperative  educational services.