The board of education of any school district may establish an alternative school or schools at any of the levels of grade seven or above to provide an educational alternative for students determined by such board of education to be unable to benefit from other schools of the school district. Courses of instruction and other requirements of statutes and rules and regulations shall apply to any such schools to the extent that the same are not obstructive to programs of learning and instruction in such schools. In the event the board of education determines that it is desirable to vary in some manner from the terms and conditions of a statute or the rules and regulations of the state board of education, such board of education shall make application to the state board of education for a complete or partial waiver of such statutory or rule and regulation requirements, and upon approval of such application, or amendment and approval thereof, the board of education shall be authorized to operate such alternative school under the terms and conditions of such waiver until such time as the waiver may be rescinded or modified by the state board, or by act of the legislature.