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We are trying to take care of our employees during the school closure and ensure that we have the necessary
employees once we resume services with your district. Without this income we are not able to assume the
cost of driver and para professional pay along with fixed/variable overhead especially for the length of time
this is suggested to continue. For us this is not about profit, we are simply trying to withstand this situation
and help our employees.”

Initially, the transportation contractors interpreted the governor’s comments to mean that school
districts would be reimbursed for all transportation expenses as normal. However, transportation
companies did not understand that historical proration and delayed reimbursements would still be in
place, which means the district would not be reimbursed for 100% of the payments. In addition, it
could take up to a year to receive the reimbursements.

On April 9, 2020, the Illinois State Board of Education issued additional new language (highlighted below) as
part of its emergency rule regarding State reimbursements for payments to transportation
contractors. This action is designed to cover payments for the contractors’ employee costs and is not tied
exclusively to the provision of alternative services.

Due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), beginning on March 17, 2020, and
through the end of the 2019-2020 school year, to ensure the continuity of education, including the provision
of any direct or related service for the health and well-being of all public school students in pre-kindergarten
through grade 12, all transportation costs incurred that are beyond transporting students, such as costs
paid by a local education agency for all employees related to the provision of transportation or a
transportation provider under a written agreement, regardless of any service that may be provided, or costs
related to the distribution of food, distribution and pick-up of student assignments and work, and use of
vehicles to provide wi-fi and other similar costs, shall be allowable and reimbursed by the formula under
Section 29-5 of the School Code. 23 Ill. Admin. Code Section 120.30(e).

School districts and joint agreements need to amend their transportation contracts if they which wish to
seek reimbursements from the State to offset payments to transportation contractors for the period of
mandatory school closure.

The new language means that transportation companies must perform services for the district to be
reimbursed for the transportation expenses. Therefore, if we pay contractors, we will not be
reimbursed through the state’s transportation reimbursement.

District administrators asked the following questions to our largest transportation provider:
1. What will the money be used for and how was the 80% determined?
2. Can the money be considered an advance to be used as a credit toward future billing?
3. Would the company consider providing services for the money?
4. Would the company consider a percentage that is less than 80%?
5. What is does the 80% equate to in terms of dollars?

The attached chart was presented to show how the 80% amount was derived:

CHICAGO HEIGHTS COUNTRY CLUB HILLS MATTESON OLYMPIA FIELDS PARK FOREST RICHTON PARK UNIVERSITY
PARK

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/EDUCATOR