Iowa Code Title VII. Education and Cultural Affairs [Chs. 256-305B] § 279.12. Contracts--teachers--insurance--educational leave

1. The board shall carry into effect any instruction from the regular election upon matters within the control of the voters, and shall elect all teachers and make all contracts necessary or proper for exercising the powers granted and performing the duties required by law, and may establish and pay all or any part thereof from school district funds the cost of group health insurance plans, nonprofit group hospital service plans, nonprofit group medical service plans, and group life insurance plans adopted by the board for the benefit of employees of the school district, but the board may authorize any subdirector to employ teachers for the school in the subdirector's subdistrict; but no such employment by a subdirector shall authorize a contract, the entire period of which is wholly beyond the subdirector's term of office.

2. The board may enter into an agreement pursuant to chapter 28E with another school district or an area education agency for the purpose of jointly procuring a group health insurance plan, nonprofit group hospital service plan, nonprofit group medical service plan, or group life insurance plan for the benefit of the districts or agencies which are parties to the agreement. Such plan may include a cafeteria plan as defined in 26 C.F.R. § 1.125-2T. An agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall not be construed to establish a multiple employer welfare arrangement as defined in section 3 of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1002, paragraph 40.

3. The board may approve a policy for educational leave for licensed school employees and for reimbursement for tuition paid by licensed school employees for courses approved by the board. The board of directors of a community college may approve a policy for educational leave for its instructors and for reimbursement for tuition paid by its instructors for courses approved by the board. For the purpose of this section, “educational leave” means a leave granted to an employee for the purpose of study including study in areas outside of a teacher's area of specialization, travel, or other reasons deemed by the board to be of value to the school system.