R277-600-6. Bus Route Approval

  (1)(a) A local school board shall propose bus routes subject to approval by the Superintendent.

  (b) A local school board shall provide information requested by the Superintendent prior to approval of a route.

  (c) During the regular school year, an eligible route from the assigned school site to an alternative program location shall be for a minimum of fifteen days with primarily the same group of students.

  (d) The Superintendent may not approve a route for reimbursement if an equitable student transportation allowance or a subsistence allowance for the necessary transportation is more cost-effective.

  (2) The Superintendent may approve exceptions for good cause shown.

  (3) A bus route shall:

  (a) traverse the most direct public road;

  (b) be reasonably cost-effective in comparison to other feasible alternatives;

  (c) provide adequate safety for students;

  (d) traverse roads that are constructed and maintained in a manner that does not cause property damage; and

  (e) include an economically appropriate number of students.

  (4)(a) The minimum number of general education students required to establish a bus route is ten.

  (b) The minimum number of students with disabilities required to establish a bus route is five.

  (c) A bus route may be established for fewer students upon special permission of the Superintendent.

  (5) A school district shall designate safe areas for bus stops.

  (6)(a) A student's parent or guardian is responsible for the student's own transportation to bus stops up to one and one-half miles from home.

  (b) A parent or guardian with a student that has a disability is responsible for the student's own transportation to bus stops unless the IEP team determines otherwise.

  (7)(a) A school district shall report changes made in existing routes or the addition of new routes to the Superintendent as they occur.

  (b) The Superintendent shall review and may refuse to fund route changes.

  (8) The Superintendent may reimburse a school district for transporting another district's students across school district boundaries so long as:

  (a) the route promotes efficient transportation for both districts;

  (b) the route serves a group or community of students and families rather than a single student or a single family;

  (c) the local school boards of both participating districts vote in an open meeting that students who reside in one district can be better and more economically served by another district; and

  (d) both districts and the Superintendent maintain documentation annually of the boards' votes and the map of the approved route.

  (9) A school district may transport eligible students home after school activities held at the students' school of regular attendance and within a reasonable time period after the close of the regular school day and receive approved route mileage.

  (10)(a) The Superintendent may approve atypical routes as alternatives to building construction if routes are needed to allow more efficient school district use of school facilities.

  (b) Building construction alternatives include:

  (i) elementary double sessions;

  (ii) year-round school; and

  (iii) attendance across school district boundaries.

  (11)(a) A school district may use local transportation funds to transport students across state lines or out-of-state for school sponsored activities or required field trips if:

  (i) the local school board has a policy that includes approval of trips at the appropriate administrative level;

  (ii) the school or school district has considered the purpose of the trip or activity and any competing risk or liability;

  (iii) given the distance, purpose and length of the trip, the school district has determined that the use of a publicly owned school bus is appropriate for the trip or activity; and

  (iv) the local school board has consulted with State Risk Management.

  (b) If school bus routes transport students across Utah state lines or outside of Utah for required to and from routes, routes are reimbursable providing a school district maintains documentation that:

  (i) the routes are necessary;

  (ii) the routes are more cost-effective; or

  (iii) the routes provide greater safety for students than in-state routes.