School districts are employing bus drivers who have criminal convictions and serious driving violations, a state audit released Tuesday shows.

There are also financial discrepancies in district transportation records, according to the Office of the Legislative Auditor General.

The audit subcommittee of the Legislative Management Committee discussed the audit Tuesday.

The audit calls for better screening and oversight by the Utah State Office of Education. "The standards need to be strengthened," said audit supervisor Brian Dean.

Auditors reviewed the personal driving records of about 2,700 bus drivers. The audit covered 36 of 40 districts. Juab, Park City, Rich and Wayne did not submit bus driver data.

• Ten drivers have significant moving violations, including suspended licenses and driving under the influence.

• Nine drivers were hired and are still working despite previous criminal convictions, including assault and negligent manslaughter.

• Five drivers were allowed to keep their jobs after being convicted of driving under the influence, child abuse, assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child.

Because of privacy issues, auditors can't tell the districts who the employees are. Auditors did, however, inform districts about their concerns.

The state education office will be notifying districts formally of the need to address the issues, said Murrell Martin, State Office of Education pupil transportation specialist.

"This is something school districts should have been checking," Martin told the Deseret News.

Auditors voiced concerns over the distribution formula for busing operations, saying the "accuracy and consistency of the statistical and financial data submitted by school districts is questionable."

The poor data includes miles buses are driven and minutes buses are operated. Funding is allocated to districts based on miles and minutes, according to auditors.

Further, the audit discovered many school districts purchased Class D buses which hold 84 students when Class C buses, which hold 72 kids, could have been used — for potentially $5 million in savings. District officials, however, say they need the larger capacity buses for extracurricular activities and field trips.

State Superintendent Patti Harrington, in a written response to the audit, said she agrees with the audit's recommendations and is working to ensure changes are made at the state and district levels. The state office is updating the Standards for School Buses and Operations. It is also developing new and revised administrative rules for transportation.

The state office has created and filled a new instruction and certification specialist position. The employee will focus on implementing and enforcing processes to ensure that Utah school bus drivers meet all qualifications and that accurate records are maintained on all drivers.

State office staff is developing an online data input system to ensure bus and driver statistical and financial data are submitted on time and are complete and accurate.

State funding provides the majority — up to 85 percent — of transportation costs for students to go to and from school, while school districts pay for other busing costs such as activities and field trips.

For fiscal 2008, state funding for pupil transportation was approximately $76.2 million.

E-mail: astewart@desnews.com