Section 3301-83-25 - Transportation collaboration grant(A) As used in the rule: (1) "Shared resource management" means school district resources that are collaboratively agreed upon and shared between at least two city, local, or exempted village school districts to reduce transportation costs.(2) "Routing consolidation" means reducing the number of routes by collaborating with one or more school districts to reduce transportation costs.(3) "Regional collaboration" means identifying opportunities within a given region that includes at least two city, local, or exempted village school districts working together collaboratively to reduce transportation costs.(B) A city, local or exempted village school district may apply to the department of education in accordance with paragraph (C) of this rule for a transportation collaboration grant.(C) Application process (1) A city, local or exempted village school district may apply for a transportation collaboration grant by submitting an application to the department by: (a) A date to be determined by the department of education for fiscal year 2022;(b) The thirtieth day of September for fiscal year 2023 and for any subsequent fiscal year for which this grant is authorized and funds are appropriated for its administration.(2) The application shall include all of the following information: (a) A description of the proposed activity or activities that will lead to a reduction of the district's overall transportation operation costs. Allowable activities include those that lead to:(i) Shared resource management;(ii) Routing consolidation;(iii) Regional collaboration; or(iv) Other activities that have the potential to reduce transportation operating costs.(b) A list of all school districts involved as partners in the planned activity or activities. An educational service center may be included as a partner. The application must include the signature of the superintendent and treasurer of the applying city, local, or exempted village school district and any partners indicating that each participating partner agrees to participate in the proposed activities.(c) The estimated transportation cost reduction that the city, local or exempted village district anticipates through implementation of the activities in the proposal that will be saved by city, local or exempted village school district as a result of this activity.(d) Evidence to support the estimated reduction in transportation costs.(D) Each city, local, or exempted village school district awarded a grant under this rule is required to submit a report to the department by the thirtieth day of September following the fiscal year in which the grant was administered. The report must include:(1) The activities conducted using grant funds; and(2) Reductions in operating costs resulting from grant activities.(E) In order for a grant recipient to be eligible for subsequent fiscal year grant awards, the recipient must either:(1) Demonstrate on the report submitted under paragraph (D) of this rule that the activities conducted using grant funds resulted in transportation operating cost reductions; or(2) If the activities in the prior grant cycle did not lead to reductions in transportation operating costs, demonstrate that new approaches will lead to reductions in transportation operating costs through the allowable activities under paragraph (C)(2)(a) of this rule.(F) The grants administered under this rule are available for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. In the event that the general assembly appropriates funds and reauthorizes the administration of this grant in subsequent fiscal years, this rule will apply to subsequent grants.Ohio Admin. Code 3301-83-25
Effective: 3/31/2022
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 03/31/2027
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: ORC 3317.072
Rule Amplifies: ORC 3317.072