Montana Code 20-10-106. Determination of mileage distances
20-10-106. Determination of mileage distances. When the mileage distance that transportation services are to be provided is a matter of controversy and is an issue before a board of trustees, a county transportation committee, or the superintendent of public instruction, the mileage shall be established on the following basis:
Terms Used In Montana Code 20-10-106
- district: means the territory, regardless of county boundaries, organized under the provisions of this title to provide public educational services under the jurisdiction of the trustees prescribed by this title. See Montana Code 20-6-101
- Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- school: means an institution for the teaching of children that is established and maintained under the laws of the state of Montana at public expense. See Montana Code 20-6-501
- Superintendent of public instruction: means that state government official designated as a member of the executive branch by the Montana constitution. See Montana Code 20-1-101
- Transportation: means :
(a)a district's conveyance of a pupil by a school bus between the pupil's legal residence or an officially designated bus stop and the school designated by the trustees for the pupil's attendance; or
(b)individual transportation. See Montana Code 20-10-101
- Trustees: means the governing board of a district. See Montana Code 20-1-101
(1)The distance in mileage shall be measured by a vehicle equipped with an accurate odometer.
(2)A representative of the applicable district and a parent or guardian of the child to be transported shall be present when the distance is measured.
(3)The measurement shall begin 6 yards from the family home and end 6 yards from the entrance of the school grounds closest to the route.
(4)The route traversed for the measurement shall be the route designated by the trustees, except that the route shall be reasonably passable during the entire school fiscal year by the vehicle that provides the child’s transportation. In determining reasonable passage, a route may not be disqualified because it is impassable during temporary, extreme weather conditions such as rains, snow, or floods.