Colchester 2020-21 Contract renewal

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Transportation Contract
Between LEARN and

Colchester Board of Education, Special Services

The transportation contractor will provide transportation services for the student(s) enrolled in
this program to the agreed upon site(s) and returned to a predetermined location each day during
the 2020/2021 school year.

A.

The cost of this service is based on the number of students per day/per van. The rate for
the 2020/21 school year shall be $2.15 per mile for 7 or 8-Passenger vans and $2.21 per
mile for handicapped vans. This is an agreed upon 3% increase from our 2019/20 rate and
is estimated on mileage and other appropriate factors.

Although LEARN has a history of staying within the current 5.00% yearly cap, the
LEARN Board of Directors vote yearly on any increases. The Board has final authority in
this area. If an increase above the cap were to occur, the contract would need to be
renegotiated at that point by LEARN and the Colchester Public Schools.

Students may be withdrawn or added to an established run at a rate which will be based
on mileage and other appropriate factors: the seating capacity of the vehicle, the length of
time on route, the starting and dismissal times, and other resource factors.

Payment

A.

D.

Invoices shall be submitted for review monthly and/or bi-monthly for services provided.
After review, invoices shall be billed monthly and/or bi-monthly and shall be paid within
ten (10) days of receipt of bill.

If a student withdraws, a five-day penalty from the date of written notification will be
computed and added to the appropriate invoice being billed.

Whenever possible, a twenty-four hour notice shall be given prior to a student being
added. If a student is added during the school year, the cost per day for the current billing
period will be computed and billed.

Checks should be made payable to "LEARN".

The following operational procedures shall apply to this agreement in the interest of the children,
the parents and/or guardians of the children, the participating Board of Education, and LEARN.

A.

Student Behavior

1. The transportation contractor shall report problems concerning student behavior
directly to the Colchester Special Services Department and/or school
administration.

 


E.

2. Colchester Special Services and/or school administration, in cooperation with the
parents and the personnel of the transportation contractor shall be the first step in
resolving student behavior problems.

3. If a student must be suspended from riding in a LEARN vehicle, communication
shall be made through appropriate administrative channels of Colchester Special
Services.

School Calendar

The school administration of the participating towns and the parents and/or guardians of
the students being transported will be provided with a copy of the appropriate school
calendar, as well as the estimated time of pickup and return of their students.

Snow Days

1, Tf the destination school is closed due to inclement weather, all students remain at
home.

2. If the destination school is open and a participating school system is closed due

to inclement weather, that student shall remain at home. The Superintendent of
Schools of that town or his designee shall notify the transportation contractor of
such closing.

3. It is further understood that it may be necessary for the transportation contractor
to decide, at his/her discretion, if the weather en route or in the destination school
area is so bad that the run should be canceled. In this instance, it is the
responsibility of the transportation contractor to notify all school administrations
and parents involved.

Drivers

1. Drivers shall be employed by LEARN and, as such, may be assigned or removed
at LEARN’s discretion. All drivers shall meet all of the qualifications required to
operate student transportation vehicles in the state of Connecticut. In addition,
LEARN will remove a driver as directed by Colchester School District for
violation of safety rules and regulations of the school district, or violation of
Connecticut State statutes, especially with respect to Department of Motor
Vehicle laws and regulations. LEARN will also remove any driver directed by
Colchester School District which impacts the safety and well-being of students
being transported.

Aides

1, Ifa student is identified as requiring an aide in order to be transported safely,
then a one-on-one aide shall be recommended by LEARN. If approved by
Colchester Special Services and/or Colchester Board of Education, the aide shall
be employed by LEARN, and the cost of this aide shall be borne completely by
the Board of Education of the student. If the town does not approve the aide,
LEARN has the right to deny transportation services to the identified student.

 


VI.

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The transportation contractor shall provide vehicles that conform to and are inspected in
accordance with the state statutes and motor vehicle regulations. Copies of said inspection sheets
shall be sent upon request to any participating Board of Education. Vehicles of no more than six
(6) years of age shall be used for regular route runs: up to and including eight (8) passenger
seating capacity, and/or wheel chair equipped vehicles shall be used in transporting students in
this program. It is understood that other vehicles may be substituted from time to time for reasons
of maintenance and/or repair. In the event of a permanent change in the vehicles listed,
Colchester Special Services and/or Colchester Board of Education shall be advised.

The transportation contractor shall provide adequate and comprehensive insurance that includes,
but is not limited to, automobile bodily injury and property damage liability with a limit of at
least $5,000,000 for any occurrence.

The Board of Education is granted the right to terminate this agreement with 30 days written.
notice if the services are judged to be unsatisfactory. The Board of Education is further granted
the right to terminate this agreement with 30 days written notice given to the transportation
contractor in the event that it becomes necessary to withdraw all its students from the Special
Needs Program. Either party may terminate this agreement with 90 days written notice given to
the other party.

Insurance and Gasoline Escalation Clause
The transportation agreement is based on our current insurance and gasoline costs. Should
LEARN's insurance or gasoline costs be substantially increased during the school year, the cost

increase will be shared among the towns participating in LEARN's Special Education
Transportation services and billed on a separate invoice.

COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION

BY.

Duly Authorized Signature

DATE