Sec. 12. (a) In formulating a preliminary reorganization plan and with respect to each of the community school corporations that are a part of the reorganization plan, the county committee shall determine the following:

(1) The name of the community school corporation.

(2) Subject to subsection (e), a general description of the boundaries of the community school corporation.

(3) With respect to the board of school trustees, the following:

(A) Whether the number of members is:

(i) three (3);

(ii) five (5); or

(iii) seven (7).

(B) Whether the members are elected or appointed.

(C) If the members are appointed:

(i) when the appointments are made; and

(ii) who makes the appointments.

(D) If the members are elected, that the election is at the general election at which county officials are elected.

(E) Subject to sections 21 and 22 of this chapter, the manner in which members are elected or appointed.

(4) The compensation, if any, of the members of the regular and interim board of school trustees, which may not exceed the amount provided in IC 20-26-4-7.

(5) Subject to subsection (f), qualifications required of the members of the board of school trustees, including limitations on:

(A) residence; and

(B) term of office.

(6) If an existing school corporation is divided in the reorganization, the disposition of assets and liabilities.

(7) The disposition of school aid bonds, if any.

     (b) If existing school corporations are not divided in the reorganization, the:

(1) assets;

(2) liabilities; and

(3) obligations;

of the existing school corporations shall be transferred to and assumed by the new community school corporation of which they are a part, regardless of whether the plan provides for transfer and assumption.

     (c) The preliminary plan must be supported by a summary statement of the following:

(1) The educational improvements the plan’s adoption will make possible.

(2) Data showing the:

(A) assessed valuation;

(B) number of resident students in ADA in grades 1 through 12;

(C) assessed valuation per student referred to in clause (B); and

(D) property tax levies;

of each existing school corporation to which the plan applies.

(3) The:

(A) assessed valuation;

(B) resident ADA; and

(C) assessed valuation per student;

data referred to in subdivision 2(A) through 2(C) that would have applied for each proposed community school corporation if the corporation existed in the year the preliminary plan is prepared or notice of a hearing or hearings on the preliminary plan is given by the county committee.

(4) Any other data or information the county committee considers appropriate or that may be required by the state board in its rules.

     (d) The county committee:

(1) shall base the assessed valuations and tax levies referred to in subsection (c)(2) through (c)(3) on the valuations applying to taxes collected in:

(A) the year the preliminary plan is prepared; or

(B) the year notice of a hearing or hearings on the preliminary plan is given by the county committee;

(2) may base the resident ADA figures on the calculation of the figures under the rules under which they are submitted to the secretary of education by existing school corporations; and

(3) shall set out the resident ADA figures for:

(A) the school year in progress if the figures are available for that year; or

(B) the immediately preceding school year if the figures are not available for the school year in progress.

The county committee may obtain the data and information referred to in this subsection from any source the committee considers reliable. If the county committee attempts in good faith to comply with this subsection, the summary statement referred to in subsection (c) is sufficient regardless of whether the statement is exactly accurate.

     (e) The general description referred to in subsection (a)(2) may consist of an identification of an existing school corporation that is to be included in its entirety in the community school corporation. If a boundary does not follow the boundary of an existing civil unit of government or school corporation, the description must set out the boundary:

(1) as near as reasonably possible by:

(A) streets;

(B) rivers; and

(C) other similar boundaries;

that are known by common names; or

(2) if descriptions as described in subdivision (1) are not possible, by section lines or other legal description.

The description is not defective if there is a good faith effort by the county committee to comply with this subsection or if the boundary may be ascertained with reasonable certainty by a person skilled in the area of real estate description. The county committee may require the services of the county surveyor in preparing a description of a boundary line.

     (f) A member of the board of school trustees:

(1) may not serve an appointive or elective term of more than four (4) years; and

(2) may serve more than one (1) consecutive appointive or elective term.

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-4-1-8.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.2-2006, SEC.92; P.L.179-2011, SEC.10; P.L.43-2021, SEC.58.