Committee hears proposal for optional statewide student‑transportation routing software

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 4 heard a proposal to fund a statewide contract for student‑transportation routing software that school districts could opt to use.

Superintendent (name variably recorded in transcript) said the optional statewide contract is intended to help districts produce more efficient bus routes, more accurate reporting of miles and ridership, and potential state savings. Gideon Tolman of the Department of Education said many smaller districts and charters currently lack routing software because it is cost‑prohibitive.

Committee members asked how many districts already use routing software and whether an RFP or RFI has been issued. Tolman said the department has investigated available products but has not issued an RFP; the request in the budget is contingent on legislative action. The superintendent confirmed the funding request is contingent on legislative approval in the budget.

Why it matters: transportation is a statutory distribution (Idaho Code §33‑1006 referenced in testimony) that moves dollars based on prior year actual expenditures and other formula allowances; more accurate routing and mileage reporting could affect distribution and state transportation payments. Committee members requested numbers on how many districts could use the software and how many already have routing solutions; staff said they would provide those counts on follow up.

The Department of Education described other proposed central‑services items on the public schools budget including professional learning communities, Idaho Reading Indicator adjustments and a data dashboard; the routing software was the largest single optional item discussed and would remain optional for districts.