(1) There is hereby established by the superintendent of public instruction a remote and necessary review committee comprised of at least the following five members:

(a) One member of the state board of education selected by the president of the board;

(b) Two staff members from the office of the superintendent of public instruction, one who is knowledgeable about finance issues and one who is knowledgeable about curriculum issues, both selected by the state superintendent;

(c) One school director selected by the Washington State School Directors' Association;

(d) One school district administrator selected by the Washington Association of School Administrators.

(2) Vacancies on the review committee shall be filled by the person or organization responsible for appointments.

(3) At the discretion of the superintendent of public instruction, other members may be added to the review committee.

(4) It is the responsibility of the review committee to receive and review all applications from school districts requesting the superintendent of public instruction to grant remote and necessary status to a small school plant located in the district. Following the review of applications, the review committee shall recommend to the superintendent of public instruction whether such designation should be granted. Recommendations of the review committee shall be advisory only. The final determination rests solely with the superintendent of public instruction.

(5) Every small school plant with remote and necessary status beginning 1996, shall be reviewed every four years by the review committee and the superintendent of public instruction. The review committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the superintendent of public instruction. The review committee may conduct the review on-site, with the number of members participating determined by the committee, or may conduct the review by other means as determined by the committee.

(6) A small school plant shall lose its remote and necessary status if the number of students exceeds the enrollment requirements set forth in the state Operating Appropriations Act for three consecutive years. The loss of remote and necessary status shall take effect the immediate ensuing school year. If a small school site should lose its remote and necessary status, the local serving school district may continue to maintain and operate the school site. When the enrollment of such small school plant again meets the requirements of the state Operating Appropriations Act, the school district may apply to the superintendent of public instruction for redesignation as a remote and necessary plant.

(7) A small school plant shall lose its remote and necessary status if a local school district closes the small school plant. If the small school plant is reopened by the district, or a new small school plant is opened, the school district may apply to the superintendent of public instruction for remote and necessary designation for the small school plant. If such designation is granted, the remote and necessary status shall take effect as determined by the superintendent of public instruction.