Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-5-3-.11 - Standard Cost Development
(1)
DEFINITIONS.
(a) Local Board of Education - a county or
independent board of education exercising control and management of a local
school system pursuant to Article VIII, Section V, Paragraph II of the Georgia
Constitution.
(b) State Board of
Education - the constitutional authority which defines education policy for the
public K-12 education agencies in Georgia.
(c) Georgia Department of Education
(GaDOE)-the state agency charged with the fiscal and administrative management
of certain aspects of K-12 public education.
(d) Georgia Environmental Protection Division
(EPD)- the state agency charged with protecting and restoring Georgia's
environment through clean air and water initiatives, and through partner
collaboration.
(2)
REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Local boards
of education shall receive and use allotments for student transportation for
the following transportation costs.
1. Driver
Benefits.
(i) Salary.
(ii) Social Security (Employer).
(iii) Sick Leave.
(iv) Required Medical Exam.
2. School Bus Insurance.
(i) Local school systems shall provide the
insurance information on cost and coverage as needed on forms provided by the
Department.
3. Bus
replacement Funds.
(i) Average low bids shall
determine the replacement allowance per year over a period of eight years for
gasoline-powered or ten years for diesel-powered 35-72 passenger buses, and
twelve years for gasoline-powered or fourteen years for diesel-powered 78-90
passenger buses. Type A and Type B buses earn a replacement allowance per year
over a period of eight years.
(ii)
Any excess paid over and above the low bid price or any payment for optional
equipment over and above the minimum standards approved by the state board of
education shall not be considered in calculating the replacement
funds.
(iii) Any school bus
replacement funds that the State Board of Education allocates may be used by
local boards of education to refurbish existing school buses.
(iv) Any school bus that is refurbished shall
be subject to all safety and maintenance inspection requirements provided for
by law. Refurbishment of a school bus shall be done by a bus manufacturer or by
a dealer of a manufacturer.
(v)
Each local board of education that refurbishes a school bus pursuant to this
subsection is strongly encouraged to apply for federal funds to retrofit the
engine. The local board of education shall notify the GaDOE of its intention to
refurbish a school bus with state funds.
(vi) The State Board of Education shall
notify the Environmental Protection Division when a local board of education
refurbishes a school bus with state funds so that the division may provide
information to such local board regarding the availability of federal funds for
such purposes.
(vii) Any school
buses that are refurbished using bus replacement funds from the state board
shall not be eligible for any further state funds for replacement.
4. Operating Funds.
(i) The actual expenditures and total annual
route/mileage reported by local school systems shall be used to determine the
costs per mile. The cost of fuel, oil, tires, batteries, parts, and shop,
clerical, and supervisory salaries is used in this calculation. The actual
expenditures and total annual route mileage shall be reported on forms provided
by the Department.
(ii) All school
bus routes shall be measured at least once per school year by the local
superintendent or designee.
(iii)
Local school systems shall be ranked according to utilization per regular bus
(unit). Utilization per bus is the number of unduplicated students transported
per bus as assigned by the most recent survey. The systems shall be divided
into four categories of equal size. Categories will be evaluated at lease every
three years.
5. Extended
Mileage.
(i) Special education mileage shall
be paid when the school bus is used beyond the time and mileage requirements in
the regular or special education program. Extended mileage shall also be paid
when the school bus in used for transporting residential students to and from
state operated schools.
(ii)
Vocational extended mileage shall be paid for school to school transportation
when the bus is used beyond the time and mileage requirements in the regular or
special education program.
Notes
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