§18-2-27. Authority to contract for programs, services and facilities.

The state Board of Education is authorized and empowered to enter into contracts and expend funds for programs, services and facilities provided by public and private educational institutions, associations, boards, agencies, consortia, corporations, partnerships, individuals and local, state and federal governmental bodies within and outside of West Virginia in order that maximum educational opportunities of high quality may be provided to the citizens of the state in the most economical manner: Provided, That in no event shall a contract for such services and facilities be entered into unless the board has determined that said services and/or facilities are necessary and that said services and/or facilities would be at a savings to the state.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, nothing herein contained shall supersede the responsibility and respective duties of the commissioner of finance and administration, the director of the Purchasing Division of such department and the Attorney General, for the execution and approval of the contracts entered into under this article and such contracts shall be in complete conformity with the provisions of articles three and five, chapter five-a of this code.