R277-600-7. Alternative Transportation

  (1) The Superintendent shall analyze bus routes that involve a large number of deadhead miles to determine if an alternative method of transporting students is more efficient.

  (2) Approved alternatives include the alternatives described in Subsections (3) through (9).

  (3)(a) The costs incurred in transporting eligible pupils in a school district MPV are approved costs as long as the costs demonstrate efficiency; or

  (b) The costs incurred in paying a parent or guardian of an eligible student an allowance in lieu of school district-supplied transportation are approved costs.

  (4)(a) A parent or guardian of a student may be reimbursed for the mileage to the bus stop or school, whichever is closer to the student's home.

  (b) The allowance under this Subsection (4)(a) may not be less than $0.35 per mile, nor greater than the reimbursement allowance permitted by the Utah Department of Administrative Services for use of privately owned vehicles set forth in the Utah Travel Regulations.

  (5) A district shall annually perform a cost-benefit analysis as part of its determination of the LEA specific reimbursement rate and make this analysis available to the public.

  (6)(a) A district shall make a student mileage allowance under this Section R277-600-7 to only one student per family for each trip that is necessary for all the students within a family to attend school.

  (b) If siblings are on different school schedule or ride buses that are on significantly different schedules, a parent or guardian may claim and be paid for student mileage allowances for multiple students.

  (7) If a student eligible for reimbursement under this Section R277-600-7 or the student's parent or guardian is unable to provide private transportation, with prior approval from the Superintendent, an amount equivalent to the student allowance may be paid to the school district to help pay the costs of school district transportation.

  (8)(a) A district shall measure and certify a student's mileage in school district records.

  (b) A student's ADA, as entered in school records, is used to determine the student's attendance.

  (9)(a) The cost incurred in providing a subsistence allowance is an approved cost under the following conditions:

  (i) a student lives more than 60 miles (one way) on well-maintained roads from the student's assigned school, a parent or guardian may be reimbursed for the student's room and board if the student relocates temporarily to reside in close proximity to the student's assigned school;

  (ii) payment may not exceed the Substitute Care Rate for Family Services for the current fiscal year;

  (iii) adjustments for changes made in the rate during the year shall be included in the allowance; and

  (iv) in addition to the reimbursement for room and board, the subsistence allowance may include the costs of up to 18 round trips per year.

  (b)(i) A subsistence allowance is not available to a parent or guardian who maintains a separate home during the school year for the convenience of the family.

  (ii) A parent or guardian's primary residence during the school year is the residence of the child.

  (10) A school district may contract or lease with a third party provider for pupil transportation services.

  (11)(a) The cost incurred in engaging in a contract or leasing for transportation is an approved cost at the prorated amount available to school districts.

  (b) The Superintendent shall determine reimbursements for school districts using a leasing arrangement in accordance with the comparable cost for the school district to operate its own transportation.

  (c) Under a contract or lease, a school district's transportation administrator's time may not exceed one percent of the commercial contract cost.

  (12) If a school district contracts or leases with a third party provider or other LEA for pupil transportation services, it shall maintain and provide to the Superintendent upon request the following items as if it operated its own transportation:

  (a) eligible student counts;

  (b) bus route mileage;

  (c) bus route minutes; and

  (d) service to students with disabilities and bus inventory data.