§ 16-3.1-9. Regional collaborative. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the school committees of the towns and school districts of Westerly, New Shoreham, Chariho regional school district, Narragansett, Jamestown, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, and the Exeter-West Greenwich regional school district are authorized and empowered to continue and/or initiate cooperative efforts to provide services included but not limited to special education programs and diagnostic services required by law or regulation; to utilize technology without restriction; to provide limited interest curriculum; and to provide programs for the gifted and talented, all on a collaborative basis. The intent of the regional collaborative is to provide the opportunity for all children to receive educational services locally. The various school committees may assign and delegate to their respective school committee chairs or designee or superintendents of schools or designee, acting as a regional board, any duties, responsibilities and powers that the committees may deem necessary for the conduct, administration, and management of the regional collaborative - southern Rhode Island. A bylaw committee shall be named by the commission to study the feasibility of creating a south county regional network center to provide multiple services for students with disabilities. The committee's membership should consist of three (3) special education directors, three (3) superintendents, three (3) parents, and two (2) other interested persons from the participating towns and school districts and any other person that the governing regional board may deem necessary. This regionalized collaborative shall enjoy any regionalized bonus aid wherever applicable to collaboratives or cooperative service areas.

History of Section. (P.L. 1988, ch. 620, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 420, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 23; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 23; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 28; P.L. 2003, ch. 433, § 1.)