(a) The powers and duties of the local board shall be as follows:
(1) To acquire, hold, and transfer real and personal property, to enter into contracts, to institute and defend legal actions and suits, and to exercise such other rights and privileges as may be necessary for the management and administration of the technical institute;
(2) To determine a minimum level for student tuition and fees to be charged by the technical institute, including without limitation penalty fees;
(3) To appoint from the candidates certified by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board and approved by the Governor, the president of the technical institute or director of the comprehensive lifelong learning center;
(4) To appoint, upon nomination of the president or director, the members of the administrative and teaching staffs;
(5) To determine, with the approval of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the educational program of the institution; and
(6) Other powers and duties as provided in this subchapter including without limitation those relating to accountability measures and performance indicators under § 6-51-902.
(b) All records, personnel, property, unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds of the technical institutes and comprehensive lifelong learning centers shall be transferred from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to the local boards of directors.
(c) The local board may make rules not inconsistent with the provisions of this subchapter or inconsistent with the rules of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board as are necessary for the proper administration and operation of the institution.
(d) The local board may contract with a nonprofit organization or a local school district board of directors within its service area to offer secondary-level general academic and vocational and technical courses and programs, adult literacy courses, or both.