After months of debate, Clovis Unified officials last week said they found a “viable solution” for families requesting transportation to the only facility in the area that provides the particular medical services their students require.

But families who spoke with The Bee’s Education Lab said the proposal to use an independent transportation service isn’t realistic if it costs each family between $525 and $775 per week. It remained unclear Friday if the rides could be covered by each family’s insurance or whether any financial aide would be possible.

“I don’t think any parents would be comfortable with that amount of cost for a couple-mile ride,” parent Katie Bewarder said.

Last week, parents vowed to continue their fight to get CUSD’s help transporting their severely disabled children to Loretta’s Little Miracles in Fresno, which is about three miles out of CUSD.

FirstAlt, a third-party company, would provide what families need, spokesperson Kelly Avants said Monday.

“They have the capacity; they have drivers,” Avants said. “It’s the win-win solution we’ve all been trying to find.”

Even if families could afford it, it’s not that simple, said Katelyn Ashton, the director of Loretta’s Little Miracles, who has been working with FirstAlt on behalf of parents.

There are “hurdles” still not addressed, Ashton said.

Parents have more questions than answers, especially considering district leadership hasn’t reached out to them.

District administration was working to reach out to families last week, Avants said.

Families told The Bee they hadn’t heard from CUSD as of Friday morning.

Once they have answers, some are willing to try FirstAlt.

FirstAlt did not respond to the Bee’s Education Lab.

Other parents, such as Rosalinda Mendez, feel that Clovis Unified should use its funding and resources to provide the transportation rather than suggesting an “Uber for kids.”

Clovis Unified is determined to work through this option and answer families’ and the facility’s questions, Avants said; however, the district isn’t considering a FirstAlt partnership, where CUSD could pay for the service.

“No solution is turnkey super simple for everyone, but this is a solution that meets the needs they’ve articulated,” Avants said.

‘Who’s going to be with him?’

FirstAlt offers non-emergency medical transport without an age requirement. Ran by transportation provider First Student, FirstAlt is an alternative service for students with “special transportation needs,” according to its website.

They’ve contracted with school districts for students with medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, but haven’t serviced medically fragile students in need of one-on-one nursing care or aides, Ashton said she learned from FirstAlt.

“Our kiddos have nurses to provide rescue meds and perform care if need be,” she said.

For example, Mendez’s child has epilepsy and stops breathing during seizures. Mendez fears FirstAlt drivers won’t be able to administer her child’s emergency medication in that scenario.

Most students, including Geetika Bajpai’s son, also have Individualized Education Plans that require a one-on-one aide be on bus transportation with them.

Through the IEP, the aide can address his head-banging, his desire to hold his breath and his seizures.

“That’s why we have a one-on-one aide,” she said. “Is the school (district) going to allow us to use (CUSD’s) aide. I think that will be my biggest question: ‘Who’s going to be with him?’

“I just don’t know because I haven’t spoken to the district, directly, about this at all.”

Trustee Deena Combs-Flores on Wednesday assured Bajpai that the school district was still working on solutions. Trustee Steven Fogg visited Loretta’s Little Miracles the same day.

If Clovis Unified allows their aides to accompany students and drivers are trained with reliable transportation, Bajpai is open to trying FirstAlt.

“Sometimes you have to trust the system,” Bajpai said. “It’s a work in progress.”

While the major concern is students’ medical needs during transport, driver training and vehicle safety also worry parents.

Contracted drivers meet FirstAlt, local, state and school district requirements, the website explains.

The company’s fleet of sedans, SUVs and minivans are personal vehicles, which is why Mendez calls FirstAlt an “Uber for kids” and questioned the vehicles’ safety and maintenance.

Out-of-pocket costs would be a barrier for families

Although CUSD discovered FirstAlt, it doesn’t plan on contracting with the company, which often “provides districts with a safe and reliable transportation option for students with special needs.”

An agreement would be with Loretta’s Little Miracles or parents directly, both options causing families to pay out of pocket if their insurance won’t.

FirstAlt charges an $80 minimum for a one-way trip, based on a price sheet obtained by the Ed Lab. There are additional fees, including:

• $25 for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle

• $50 for a monitor to accompany the student, if not provided by the district

• $5 for student equipment, such as a safety vest

Because the students in question are in wheelchairs or medical strollers, only one student could ride in the vehicle, meaning each family would have to pay instead of splitting a bill, according to Ashton.

Based on the minimum $80, a $25 wheelchair vehicle and a $50 monitor, parents would be paying $155 a day or $775 a week. Without a monitor, if the school district were to allow a CUSD aide to ride, it’d be $105 a day or $525 a week.

The $50 monitor wouldn’t be clinically or medically trained to provide medication, families say.

“That’s not something that we’d be able to swing; we’re a middle-class family,” Bewarder said. “If I’m going to spend that kind of money out of pocket, I’m going to get some additional therapies to get Beau closer to walking, talking and communicating.”

The Central Valley Regional Center, a resource center for people with developmental disabilities or medically fragile children, could foot the bill but only after Clovis Unified and insurance providers refuse to pay, Ashton said.

The school district is also exploring the funding options available to families, including the regional center, Avants said.

But it’s unclear if FirstAlt can bill Medicaid directly for the service.

“I would have to say there’s a 50-50 chance of this actually working out,” Ashton said. “I hope this will work, but because our kiddos are so complex, it is a lot to navigate. It’s going to take months — if possible.”

Without a CUSD partnership, unless insurance or the regional center pays, families could be privately billed the $775 a week if they use FirstAlt.

“At that point,” Mendez said, “I’m better off quitting my job and taking her myself.”

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The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bee’s Education Lab at its website.