20-6-505. Opening a junior high school when high school district operates a county high school. (1) Whenever the trustees of an elementary district and a high school district operating a county high school have formed a joint board of trustees under the provisions of 20-3-361, such joint board of trustees may open a junior high school under the provisions of this section.

(2) When the joint board of trustees resolves to open a junior high school, they shall order an election under the provisions of 20-20-201 to submit a proposition to the electors of the district to approve or disapprove the trustees' resolution to open a junior high school. The joint board of trustees shall call and conduct the election in the manner prescribed in this title for school elections and equally share the cost of the election. Any elector qualified to vote under the provisions of 20-20-301 may vote on the proposition. If a majority of the electors voting at the election approve the proposition, the trustees shall apply to the superintendent of public instruction for approval to open a junior high school. If a majority of the electors voting at the election disapprove the proposition, a junior high school shall not be opened by the joint board of trustees.

(3) The application to the superintendent of public instruction for the approval to open a junior high school shall be submitted by June 1 following the election approving the opening of the junior high school. The application shall contain such information as is required under 20-6-503 for an application to open a high school.

(4) The superintendent of public instruction shall investigate the application for the opening of a junior high school and shall approve or disapprove the opening of the junior high school before the fourth Monday of June preceding the first year of intended operation. If the opening is approved, the joint board of trustees may open the junior high school.

(5) At any time the trustees of the elementary district and the trustees of the high school district shall cease to form a joint board of trustees under the provisions of 20-3-361, the junior high school shall be closed and the districts shall assume the provision of an educational program for the junior high school pupils of their respective districts.