3301.075 Purchase and lease of data processing services and equipment - Ohio education computer network.

The state board of education shall adopt rules governing the purchasing and leasing of data processing services and equipment for all local, exempted village, city, and joint vocational school districts and all educational service centers. Such rules shall include provisions for the establishment of an Ohio education computer network under procedures, guidelines, and specifications of the department of education.

The department shall administer funds appropriated for the Ohio education computer network to ensure its efficient and economical operation and shall approve no more than twenty-seven information technology centers to operate concurrently. Such centers shall be approved for funding in accordance with rules of the state board adopted under this section that shall provide for the superintendent of public instruction to require the membership of each information technology center to be composed of combinations of school districts and educational service centers having sufficient students to support an efficient, economical comprehensive program of computer services to member districts and educational service centers. However, no such rule shall prohibit a school district or educational service center from receiving computer services from any information technology center established under this section or from any other public or private vendor. Each information technology center shall be organized in accordance with section 3313.92 or Chapter 167. of the Revised Code.

The department of education may contract with an independent for profit or nonprofit entity to provide current and historical information on Ohio government through the Ohio education computer network to school district libraries operating in accordance with section 3375.14 of the Revised Code in order to assist school teachers in social studies course instruction and support student research projects. Any such contract shall be awarded in accordance with Chapter 125. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 09-05-2001; 09-28-2006; 03-30-2007