Hot Topics: 10 Current Issues In Pupil Transportation in North Carolina

1. Hot Topics:10 Current Issues In Pupil Transportation in North Carolina Derek Graham, Section Chief Transportation Services NC DPI

2. New Federal Requirements • School Bus Drivers must have a CDL with a Passenger (P) Endorsement and a NEW School Bus (S) Endorsement. • Recognized in all states. 1

3. Fiscal Impact of New Endorsements • FEES: G.S. 20-37.16 (d) “The fee for a Class A, B, or C commercial drivers license is ten dollars ($10.00) for each year of the period for which the license is issued. The fee for each endorsement is one dollar and twenty-five cents ($1.25) for each year of the period for which the endorsement is issued. The fees required under this section do not apply to employees of the Driver License Section of the Division who are designated by the Commissioner.” • $10 x 5 years = $50 license • $1.25 x 2 endorsements (S&P) x 5 years = $12.50 • Application fee: $20 • TOTAL FOR NEW DRIVER: $82.50

4. Responsibility for Payment • Exemption for school bus drivers was deleted in this bill • There was no fiscal note attached to this bill; no funds appropriated • State funds may not be used to pay school bus driver’s license fees

5. Chartering Motorcoaches • Legislation required State Board of Education to report on appropriateness of policies for school activity trips • All LEAs surveyed; report submitted to legislature in March, 2004 2

6. 2003 State Budget Bill • SECTION 7.25.(c) The State Board of Education shall study the adequacy of the safety rules and policies adopted by local boards of education regarding the use of activity buses. The State Board shall report the results of this study to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15, 2004.

7. Motorcoach Guidelines • Issued June, 2001 • Lawsuit filed by N.C. Motorcoach Association February 26, 2002 • Judge dismissed the case, Spring 2003 • School Charter Transportation Safety Committee resumed meetings to consider revisions to Guidelines • Motorcoach Association appealed to 4th Circuit Court of Appeals – case heard June 3, 2004

8. Revised Guidelines • Revised pre-trip • Acknowledgement of Safety Record • Best practices - Consortia

9. Purchasing - Senate Bill 620 • It shall be the duty of local boards of education to purchase or exchange all supplies, equipment and materials in accordance with contracts made by or with the approval of the Department of Administration.equipment, and materials, and these purchases shall be made in accordance with Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes. These purchases may be made from contracts made by the Department of Administration. 3

10. Transportation Impact • The State Board of Education shall adopt rules regarding equipment standards for supplies, equipment, and materials related to student transportation. The State Board may adopt guidelines for any commodity that needs safety features. If a commodity that needs safety features is available on statewide term contract, any guidelines adopted by the State Board must at a minimum meet the safety standards of the statewide term contract.

11. State Board Policy - Purchasing • Required to be Purchased from State Contract • School Buses • School Bus Tires • School Bus Braking Equipment • Not required to be Purchased from State Contract • Everything else

12. School Bus Replacements – The financed purchase of school buses • 460 IC Buses inanced through CCMI • 39 IC buses direct-purchased (LEAs getting only 1 or 2 replacements • 750 Thomas/Freightliner Buses financed through Daimler-Chrysler Services • 31 IC buses direct-purchased • 2004 School Bus bid opening June 22nd, 2004 • Separate bid for financing to be issued to finance about 600 school buses 4

13. Environmental Issues • Impact of school buses on the overall condition of the environment: Small percentage of the problem • Effect of Diesel Exhaust on Children – Since children are in and around school buses • Lots of attention on this issue – we have a responsibility to work toward cleaner air for the kids and to set a good example as government entities 5

14. Environmental Issues • National Initiative – Clean School Bus USA • State Initiatives • Air Quality Grants – Priority for School Buses • Bio-Diesel use in Durham, Chatham Counties • League of Women Voters / Child Advocacy Task Force – position paper • Common theme – need for Anti-Idling Policy

15. Anti-Idling Policies • No idling longer than what is needed to build up air pressure • Buses should not be parked “nose to tail” when it can be avoided • Buses should not be parked on school grounds near building air intakes • Bus Driver Commitment Cards • Look for a recommendation from DPI • Followed by State Board Policy?

16. PM, Inspection, Spec Committees • Spec Committee – Setting specifications for 2005 school bus contract • Lots of work in 2003 to prepare 2004 specs • New IC and Thomas models – lots of changes • PM Manual Committee – Representatives from NCPTA districts; revising the current PM manual – more flexibility in SAP to follow manufacturer’s recommended maintenance • 30 Day Inspection Committee – Representatives from NCPTA districts; revising the 30 day inspection manual • Criteria for out of service • Measurement criteria for items 6

17. Specifications CommitteeLEA Representatives • Eastern Region • Bobby Taylor, Brunswick County • David Twiddy, Dare County • Tommy Hudson, Edgecombe County • Central Region • Jay Temple, Davidson County • David Misenheimer, Stanly County • Todd Naylor, Davie County • Western Region • Rick Stiles, Haywood County • Jeff Garmon, Cabarrus County • Terry Campbell, Iredell County

18. PM CommitteeNCPTA Districts: • 1 Rick Stiles, Haywood County • 2 Alfred Schrum, Lincoln County • 3 Robert Boggs, Iredell County • 4 Al Smith, Alamance County • 5 • 6 Bill Winstead, Wilson County • 7 Shannon Ennis, Johnston County • 8 David Twiddy, Dare County • 9 Wade Tyndall, Lenoir County

19. Inspection Committee RepsNCPTA Districts: • 1 Ronnie Baldwin, Buncombe County • 2 Rich Laird, Charlotte-Mecklenburg • 3 Donnie Rose, Yadkin County • 4 Jay Temple, Davidson County • 5 • 6 Ralph Trango, Wake County • 7 Mickey Beasley, Johnston County • 8 David Twiddy, Dare County • 9 Frankie Floyd, Craven County

20. NTSB Recommendations –Emergency Evacuations • Require pre-trip briefings before school- related activity trips on school buses or school-chartered buses and subsequently assist the States in developing criteria for such briefings, to include training all students regarding the location and use of emergency exits. 7

21. Public Transit Agencies • Receive federal money • Allowed to provide “school tripper service” • Use of 15 passenger vans • Need to look for alternatives to contracting with local transit organizations 8

22. Study of Funding Formula • Current funding formula implemented in 1990-1991 • Lots of changes in the past 13 years • Funding based on previous year expenditures • Local funding impacts ratings and funding 9

23. Study of Funding Formula • Lots of changes in past 13 years • No Child Left Behind • Pre-School and Head Start • After school and other remediation • Need to add programs without source for additional state funding

24. Local PRC 56 • ELIGIBLE EXPENSES • To/From School Transportation • Yellow buses • Grades K-12 • INELIGIBLE EXPENSES • Maintenance of Activity Buses • Maintenance of all local vehicles • Parts and Labor • Mileage for field trips 1 0

25. Local PRC 56 • Eligible local expenditures – reported on TD-1 • Local expenditures reported to DPI for all PRC’s monthly • DEFINE: Local PRC 56 for ELIGIBLE local transportation expenses • DEFINE: PRC 706 for all OTHER transportation expenses • Field trips • Activity Buses • Local Vehicles • Eventually can replace the finance part of TD-1 Annual Report

26. Air Conditioning on Buses • House Budget Bill: A/C not REQUIRED • Impact: • Capital Outlay Buses • Mountain Counties (?) • Should not impact replacement buses 1 1