For all categories of reimbursable school district expenditures, reimbursement shall be limited to incremental costs for which funding is not already directly provided in the funding model. No reimbursement shall be provided for costs previously or simultaneously recovered elsewhere in the Wyoming school finance system.
(a) Student Transportation Reimbursement. The following applies to the funding model's student transportation reimbursement under W.S. 21-13-320. - (i) Pro rata reimbursement for personnel not devoting one hundred percent (100%) of their time to student transportation issues and operations shall be supported by clear and continuous documentation.
- (ii) Personnel dealing with pupil transportation issues and operations on a full-time basis shall be subject to one hundred percent (100%) reimbursement provided that an appropriate position description exists and an affidavit specific to the year for which reimbursement is expected, signed by the employee and the district superintendent or district superintendent designee, attesting to full-time involvement, is on file at the district office. The affidavits shall be renewed annually and clearly reference the school year for which reimbursement is claimed.
- (iii) No reimbursement for student transportation facility major maintenance or capital construction shall be allowed under this section.
(b) School District Organization Reimbursement. The following applies to reimbursable expenses pursuant to school district organization under W.S. 21-6-219(a). - (i) The Department will reimburse each involved school district remaining after reorganization up to $100,000 for professional fees actually paid and for other expenses specifically and directly related to the reorganization process. Reimbursement paid to school personnel for services provided solely due to reorganization shall be reimbursed only upon the Department receiving an itemized statement setting forth the wage computation and itemizing the service or services provided on an hourly basis. Compensation shall be calculated at the same rate as the district compensates the employee for other educational services. The district may be reimbursed for unemployment claims due to layoffs directly resulting from reorganization.
- (ii) School districts remaining after reorganization shall submit reimbursement claims to the Department within one (1) year of signing the final consolidation agreement. Each reimbursement claim shall include copies of invoices from practitioners describing work done and showing professional fees charged and proof of payment by the district. The Department shall reimburse involved school districts submitting qualified reimbursement claims in equal amounts over a period not to exceed three (3) fiscal years. At the discretion of the Department, reimbursement may be made in single payments to districts within sixty (60) days of receiving qualified reimbursement claims.
(c) National Board Certified Teacher Incentive Reimbursement. The following applies to reimbursable incentive payments under W.S. 21-7-501(f). - (i) School districts may choose to pay either the gross or net amount to qualifying employees.
- (ii) The Department may request additional information before issuing reimbursement to a district in order to ensure the district has complied with W.S. 21-7-501(f).
- (iii) District staff submitted for reimbursement under this authority shall meet the following requirements:
- (A) Hold a qualifying position:
- (I) Licensed classroom teachers who work directly with students in a classroom setting teaching grade-level or subject-matter appropriate classes;
- (III) Instructional facilitators;
- (B) Be employed full-time within the reporting school district as one (1.0) full-time equivalent (FTE) as a measure of quantified, standardized employee workload.
- (I) Employees with split assignments qualify as employed fulltime when:
- (1.) The combination of assignments are equivalent to one (1.0) FTE; and
- (2.) All job assignments meet the requirements provided in subsection (iii) of this section.
- (C) Hold valid National Board certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and are actively employed at the time payment is generated by the district.
- (iv) Non-qualifying positions under this section include, but are not limited to:
- (A) District and school administrators;
- (E) Computer network technicians; and
206-8 Wyo. Code R. § 8-11
Amended, Eff. 12/21/2018.