Any person employed by a public educational system or institution in a position which requires a certificate issued by the State board of examiners or employed in a professional education capacity by a school, college, or university which is either tax-supported or operated under contract with the State or on behalf of the State, who is a member of the board of directors of the educational information and resource center, shall be entitled to time off from his or her duties as such employee, without loss of pay, during the periods of his attendance at six duly authorized meetings of the board per year.
N.J.S. § 18A:6-98