(a) When two or more school districts, each having a district superintendent, form a joint school or union or merged school district, the board of school directors of the joint school or union or merged district shall select a district superintendent from one of the component districts regardless of seniority or rating as supervising principal or district superintendent of the joint school or union or merged district. Remaining district superintendent or superintendents shall be assigned, without reduction in pay, to positions or offices within the school system until the expiration of his commission.

(b) When two or more school districts in which one or more employ a district superintendent and one or more employ a supervising principal, form a joint school or union or merged district, the board of school directors of the joint school or union or merged district shall select a district superintendent from one of the component districts, regardless of seniority or rating as supervising principal or district superintendent of the joint school or union or merged district. The board of school directors shall assign district superintendents and supervising principals not selected as district superintendent of the joint school district to positions of administration or supervision or to offices for which they are certificated.

(c) The interim operating committee of each school district established as the result of reorganization of school districts pursuant to Article II., subdivision (i) of this act,¹ shall appoint a district superintendent for the newly established school district. If the person selected is chosen from among incumbent district superintendents or supervising principals of the component school districts forming the newly established school district, the selection may be made without regard to seniority or rating as district superintendent or supervising principal. Incumbent district superintendents of the component school districts forming the newly established school district shall be assigned to positions or offices which are administrative or supervisory in nature only without reduction in pay until the expiration of their commissions. Incumbent supervising principals shall be assigned to positions or offices for which they are certificated, and their salaries may be adjusted according to the classification of the positions or offices to which they are assigned.