(A) The boards of education of up to five adjoining educational service centers may, by identical resolutions adopted by a majority of the members of each governing board within any sixty-day period, combine such educational service centers into one educational service center. The resolutions shall state the name of the new center, which may be styled as a “joint educational service center.” The resolutions shall also indicate whether the governing board of the new educational service center is to be formed in accordance with division (B) of this section, in accordance with division (A) of section 3311.054 of the Revised Code, or in accordance with section 3311.057 of the Revised Code.

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A copy of each resolution shall be filed with the state board of education. The new educational service center shall be created and the governing boards of the participating educational service centers shall be dissolved and a new governing board established thirty days after the date on which the last resolution was filed with the state board.

(B) The initial members of a new governing board established in accordance with this division shall be appointed as follows:

(1) If two educational service centers combine, each center’s governing board, prior to its dissolution, shall appoint two members to the new governing board and the four members so selected shall select a fifth member within ten days of the date on which the last of the four members is appointed.

(2) If three educational service centers combine, each center’s governing board, prior to its dissolution, shall appoint one member to the new governing board and the three members so selected shall select the remaining two members of the governing board within ten days of the date on which the last of the three members is appointed.

(3) If four educational service centers combine, each center’s governing board, prior to its dissolution, shall appoint one member to the new governing board and the four members so selected shall select the remaining member of the governing board within ten days of the date on which the last of the four members is appointed.

(4) If five educational service centers combine, each center’s governing board, prior to its dissolution, shall appoint one member to the new governing board.

If the members appointed to a new governing board by the governing boards of the combining educational service centers are unable to agree on the selection of the remaining members of the new governing board within ten days, the probate judge of the county in which the greatest number of pupils under the supervision of the new educational service center reside shall appoint the remaining members.

Electors of the new educational service center shall elect a new governing board at the next general election occurring in an odd-numbered year and more than ninety days after the date of the appointment of the last member to the initial governing board. Members shall serve for the duration of the term to which they are elected or until their successors are elected and qualified. At such election, two members shall be elected to terms of two years and three members shall be elected to terms of four years. Thereafter, their successors shall be elected in the same manner and for the same terms as members of governing boards of all educational service centers. Each candidate for election as a member of the educational service center governing board shall file a nominating petition in accordance with section 3513.255 of the Revised Code.

(C) The funds of each former educational service center shall be paid over in full to the governing board of the new educational service center, and the legal title to all property of the former governing boards shall become vested in the new governing board.

The governing board of an educational service center created under this section shall honor all contracts made by the former governing boards.