1. (a) The board of directors of each education service cooperative has the obligation to oversee administrative and program expenditures of the education service cooperative.
2. (b) The board of directors of each education service cooperative shall operate the education service cooperative in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Each education service cooperative shall adopt and file for approval by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines:

      1. (A) For settling possible disputes between member school districts; and
      2. (B) In equity or jurisdictional matters relating to shared assets and services.

   2. (2) The guidelines shall contain at a minimum the:

      1. (A) Right of any school district within the boundaries of the education service cooperative to file a complaint regarding any:

4. (i) Issue related to the programs and services of the cooperative; or

   1. (ii) Obligation of the cooperative under law or this part;

      1. (B) Right of any school district in contract with the education service cooperative under 6 CAR § 1-119(d) to file a complaint regarding any issue related to programs and services of the cooperative for which the school district has contracted;

      2. (C)

         1. (i) Procedure by which a complaint may be filed.
         2. (ii) This procedure may impose a time limitation on the filing of complaints of no less than thirty (30) days after the act or omission complained of;
      3. (D) Authority of the director of the education service cooperative to investigate the complaint and issue an initial written decision within no more than sixty (60) days of receipt of the complaint;
      4. (E) Right of the complaining party or any affected school district to appeal the initial decision to the board of directors or executive committee of the education service cooperative, as chosen by the cooperative in its guidelines; and

      5. (F) Responsibility of the board of directors or executive committee to:

         1. (i) Grant a hearing on no less than thirty (30) days’ notice; and
         2. (ii) Issue a final written decision within no more than sixty (60) days of receipt of the appeal.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules contained the following at the end of the section: "Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1013".