The State Superintendent of Education and each of the several city and county superintendents of education may destroy or cause to be disposed of any record, document, books, papers or other writing which have been photographed or microphotographed. Such photographs or microphotographs shall be retained and kept in lieu of such records, documents, books or papers required to be kept or maintained. However, no record or other written matter authorized under the provisions of Section 16-1-3 to be photographed or microphotographed may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of until the copy has been processed and checked with the original for accuracy, and no city or county superintendent of education shall destroy or dispose of any record or other written matter without first obtaining the approval of the State Superintendent of Education. The State Superintendent of Education may, however, classify such records and other written matter and authorize the destruction of certain classes of records or other written matter upon their being photographed or microphotographed, and may prescribe the period for which records of certain classes must be retained after having been photographed or microphotographed before such records are destroyed.