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Code: DFB
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 diesel2
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.
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(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.
Authority: O.C.G.A § 20-2-188
Adopted: May 11, 2011 Effective: May 31, 2011