A. The board shall appoint an executive director who shall (i) supervise and manage the Extension Partnership, (ii) perform such functions as may be directed by the board, and (iii) prepare and submit, upon the direction and approval of the board, all requests for appropriations. The executive director may employ such staff as necessary to enable the Extension Partnership to perform its duties as set forth in this article. The board may determine staff duties and fix salaries and compensation from such funds as may be appropriated or received. Staff of the Extension Partnership shall be treated as state employees for purposes of participation in the Virginia Retirement System, health insurance, and all other employee benefits offered by the Commonwealth to its classified employees. In addition, the board may make arrangements with institutions of higher education to extend course credit to graduate students employed by the Extension Partnership.
B. Additional staff support for the functions of the Extension Partnership may be provided by the Center for Innovative Technology, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, public institutions of higher education, small business development centers, and private businesses.