(a) The staff of an intermediate unit shall consist of an executive director and such assistant executive directors, program specialists, and other personnel as the intermediate unit board of directors deems necessary to employ. In the case of an intermediate unit comprised of a single school district, the district superintendent shall serve as executive director of the intermediate unit. His salary shall not be charged to the intermediate unit budget; and, the salary of his assistants shall be charged to the intermediate unit budget only to the extent that such assistants are engaged in providing approved intermediate unit services as determined by the executive director.

(b) An executive director shall be appointed by each intermediate unit board of directors for a term of four years: Provided, That the initial term shall commence July 1, 1971 and terminate June 30, 1974: And, provided further, however, That each intermediate unit planning committee may employ an executive director-elect to serve prior to July 1, 1971. An executive director shall hold a commission issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction,¹ in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Board of Education.

(c) Assistant executive directors may be appointed by each intermediate unit board of directors upon recommendation of the executive director for a term of four years: Provided, That the initial term shall commence July 1, 1971, and terminate June 30, 1974: And provided further, however, That each intermediate unit planning committee may employ assistant executive directors-elect upon recommendation of the executive director-elect to serve prior to July 1, 1971. An assistant executive director shall hold a commission issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Board of Education.

(d) All persons holding a commission for the office of county superintendent or assistant county superintendent valid for the term of office beginning July 1966, shall be eligible for election to the office of executive director or assistant executive director in 1971, and, if elected to either office, shall remain eligible for election or reelection to either office thereafter.

(e) All professional and temporary professional employes of an intermediate unit shall have the same rights of tenure, minimum salaries and increments, leaves of absence because of illness, professional study or physical disability, sabbatical leaves, military leaves and exchange teacher leaves as professional and temporary professional employes of school districts.

(f) Program specialists shall satisfy minimum qualifications adopted by the State Board of Education.

(g) All employes of an intermediate unit shall be eligible for and become members of the Public School Employes' Retirement System of Pennsylvania, except that members of the State Employes' Retirement System may elect to remain members of such retirement system.

(h) All persons employed by an intermediate unit prior to July 1, 1971, other than the executive director and assistant executive directors, shall be selected, as the need arises, and to the extent such persons are available, from among those persons who, on the effective date of this act, are employed by or assigned to the offices of the county boards of school directors replaced by the intermediate unit. Position placement and salaries shall be determined by an intermediate unit board of directors upon recommendation of the executive director, who shall be guided by the program of services to be offered by the intermediate unit.