Transcript Transportation Update - NC School Bus Safety Web

Hot Topics:
10 Current Issues In Pupil
Transportation in North Carolina
Derek Graham, Section Chief
Transportation Services
NC DPI
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.
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.”
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$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
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
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
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.
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
Revised Guidelines
• Revised pre-trip
• Acknowledgement of Safety Record
• Best practices - Consortia
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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?
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
Specifications Committee
LEA 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
PM Committee
NCPTA Districts:
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1Rick Stiles, Haywood County
2 Alfred Schrum, Lincoln County
3 Robert Boggs, Iredell County
4 Al Smith, Alamance County
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6 Bill Winstead, Wilson County
7 Shannon Ennis, Johnston County
8 David Twiddy, Dare County
9 Wade Tyndall, Lenoir County
Inspection Committee Reps
NCPTA Districts:
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Ronnie Baldwin, Buncombe County
Rich Laird, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Donnie Rose, Yadkin County
Jay Temple, Davidson County
Ralph Trango, Wake County
Mickey Beasley, Johnston County
David Twiddy, Dare County
Frankie Floyd, Craven County
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.
Public Transit Agencies
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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
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
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
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
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
Air Conditioning on Buses
•House Budget Bill: A/C not
REQUIRED
•Impact:
•Capital Outlay Buses
•Mountain Counties (?)
•Should not impact replacement buses