7145                                                 ACTIVITY BUSES                                       7145

In accordance with G.S. 115C-247, the Board is authorized and empowered to take title to school buses purchased with local or community funds for the purpose of transporting pupils to and from athletic events and for other local school activity purposes.  These buses are commonly referred to as activity buses.

A.      Definitions

1.       Activity Bus - as used in this policy, is a bus generally used for non-instructional activities and are normally painted white, green, or another color other than yellow, to distinguish them from school buses.

2.       School Bus - as used in this policy is defined as the yellow public school buses.

3.       Activity buses are designed to provide all of the crash safety standards as a traditional school bus, but without the flashers and signs needed for frequent pick-up and drop-off at school bus stops, and they are not required to have a specific color scheme.

4.       School-Related Activities - an activity sponsored by a school, whether on or off school grounds, including sports events, band concerts, field trips, and competitions such as debate or chess tournaments.

B.      Use of Activity Buses

1.       Activity buses may be used only for in-state travel for the benefit of WCPSS students.

2.       Activity buses may be used only for the purpose of transporting pupils to and from school-related activities.

3.       The purpose for the travel should enhance or enrich the school program and only those students who are participating in the program may be transported.

4.       Only students currently enrolled in WCPSS and their chaperones may be transported.  If more than 20 students are on the bus, another adult in addition to the driver must be on the bus.  (Cross-Reference R&P 5422 - School Volunteers.)

5.       As an exception to the above, the Superintendent may authorize the use of activity buses by senior citizen groups in accordance with G.S. 115C-243.

C.   Requesting Use of Activity Buses

            The Superintendent or designee will establish procedures for requesting use of activity buses.  Refer to R&P 7145 – Activity Buses.

D.   Activity Bus Operators

1.   All drivers of activity buses must be WCPSS employees licensed and qualified to drive the vehicles.

2.   License requirements:

a)   Full size bus (17 or more capacity) - the operator must possess a valid Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with P&S endorsements.

b)   Minibus (capacity of 16 or less) - the operator must possess a valid drivers license.

E   Maintenance of Activity Buses

1.   The Transportation department will monitor and schedule the periodic maintenance intervals.

2.   The Superintendent or designee will establish a procedure for defining responsibilities for cost of vehicle maintenance.  Reference R&P 7145 – Activity Buses.

F.  Purchase of Activity Buses

1.   Activity buses are procured using local (county) funds or community-raised funds.

2.   The Board will determine the number of activity buses to be procured for new middle and high schools when it approves planning assumptions for capital improvement programs.

3.   The transportation department will submit business case in the annual capital budget cycle for replacement of activity buses using the State replacement guidelines for yellow school buses.

4.   If local funds are not available, school support groups may raise funds from the community for replacement buses.  (Cross-Reference Policies 2540 – Parent Organizations and 6830 – School Sponsored Fund Raising Events.)