Sec. 18. (a) The state board shall:

(1) aid the county committees, as required by subsection (b), in carrying out:

(A) the powers conferred; and

(B) the duties imposed;

on the committees by this chapter;

(2) receive and examine each plan for the reorganization of a school corporation submitted to the state board by a county committee and approve each plan that meets the standards of the state board;

(3) adopt a set of minimum standards, in furtherance of the policy expressed in section 1 of this chapter, which all proposed community school corporations must meet, insofar as feasible;

(4) not later than ninety (90) days after receipt of a reorganization plan, hold a public hearing in the county to which the plan mainly applies to allow residents of the affected territory to testify;

(5) not later than sixty (60) days after the public hearing:

(A) approve or disapprove in writing all or part of the plan; and

(B) notify in writing the county committee concerned;

(6) assist any county committee whose plan does not meet minimum standards in revising the plan and permit the committee to resubmit the plan not later than ninety (90) days after receipt of notice of nonapproval; and

(7) adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 for:

(A) the conduct of its own business; and

(B) the guidance and direction of county committees;

to carry out this chapter and IC 20-23-16-1 through IC 20-23-16-5.

(b) The minimum standards for community school corporations proposed under this chapter or IC 20-23-16-1 through IC 20-23-16-5 must provide for the inclusion of all the area of a county in:

(1) a school corporation; or

(2) school corporations;

to furnish efficient and adequate educational opportunity for all students in grades 1 through 12.

(c) Before the adoption of a preliminary written plan, the county committee and the state board may meet to consider problems encountered by the county committee in formulating a plan. Following the meeting, the state board may waive in writing any specified minimum standard for a designated geographic area on the ground that meeting the standard is not feasible.

(d) The state board is not required to hold a public hearing on a plan that does not meet the minimum standards required by the state board unless the state board waives the attainment of a minimum standard.

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-4-1-17.1.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.233-2015, SEC.55.