(a) The intermediate unit board of directors of each intermediate unit shall call a convention of school directors of all school districts in the intermediate unit to meet separately by attendance areas, to discuss the establishment of an area career and technical school or technical institute, as the case may be and to call upon each district to vote for or against participation in the establishment of a school or institute.

In addition to the method of establishing area career and technical schools and technical institutes as provided above, the intermediate unit board of directors may, at any meeting call for an election by the school directors of the districts within an attendance area to determine if an area career and technical school or technical institute shall be established. The intermediate unit board of directors shall notify, by certified mail, each school district within an attendance area of its action. At a regular or special meeting of each school board within an attendance area and within sixty days of the receipt of notification, an election shall be held to determine if the district desires to participate in the establishment of an area career and technical school or technical institute. The results of this election and the number of votes cast each way shall be certified to the intermediate unit board of directors.

The intermediate unit board of directors shall certify the vote conducted in convention or by mail ballot to the Department of Education and if sufficient school districts vote in the affirmative, the intermediate unit board of directors shall proceed to act as the agency to initiate the final procedures necessary to organize and establish an area career and technical school or technical institute in the attendance area. School districts indicating unwillingness to participate in the establishment of an area career and technical school or technical institute may become participating districts at a later date according to terms and conditions defined by the then participating districts.

In the event the intermediate unit board of directors fails to call for an election and one or more districts within an attendance area desire an election, they may request the Department of Education to conduct such election in the same manner prescribed for the intermediate unit board of directors.

(b) Repealed by 1970, Jan. 14, P.L. (1969) 468, § 63, effective July 1, 1970.

(c) In cases where a second or third class school district maintains an approved career and technical program, individually or jointly, such district or districts, individually or jointly, may (1) make the program part of the area career and technical school, or (2) continue to operate the program independently either as a participating or non-participating district.

(d) Boards of Public Education of districts of the first class A and first class may establish area career and technical schools and technical institutes by the majority vote of the members of such boards, provided such action is approved by the State Board of Career and Technical Education.