EXTRA USE OF SCHOOL BUSES                     

A.

A request for extra school bus transportation for instructional purposes within the school day must be approved and filed by the principal with the transportation coordinator in the senior high school service area on prescribed application forms at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the trip. The senior high school coordinator will file a copy of the application with the Division of Transportation for service and billing purposes.

B.

A Bus Driver's and Principal's Report approved by the Principal shall be filed with the Division of Transportation within one (l) week after the date of the trip.

C.

The Division of Transportation will send a statement to the individual school at the end of each calendar month. Such costs are determined by a formula based on miles traveled. Payment for this service will be made either from the individual school account or from funds included in the budget. Checks are to be sent by the individual school directly to the State Board of Education according to instructions on the Bus Driver's and Principal's Report.

D.

To cover a driver's waiting time salary, the Division of Transportation will compile this time and issue a single statement to the individual school at the end of each semester. Checks are to be returned to the Wake County Division of Transportation according to instructions on the Bus Driver's and Principal's Report.

E.

The mileage charge will begin and end at the home base of the bus used rather than at the school making the trip. Additional mileage charges will be made when extra trips for a gas truck, service truck, or wrecker are required. Cost of service rendered by another county unit shall be the responsibility of the school using a bus for a field trip.

F.

Extra transportation shall be available only to students, teachers, and approved supervisory personnel and only for an instructional program directly related to the school curriculum in compliance with G.S. 115-183, Policy 1700 of the board, and related regulations. All costs are to be paid from local school fund sources.

G.

Extra transportation shall be confined within the regular school day. Each bus shall be returned to its home base school for the purpose of refueling at least thirty (30) minutes before the student day at the home base school ends.

H.

A driver used for extra transportation must have a valid North Carolina operator's license and school bus driver's certificate.

I.

A driver must be paid at least in part from the State Public School Fund for the board to be protected under the Tort Claims Act and G.S. 143-300.1.

J.

School personnel shall be responsible for maintaining proper conduct and for aiding the driver on all special trips.

K.

The principal shall be responsible for securing approved, qualified drivers for extra transportation. Non-student drivers should be used if possible. In no event may a student driver not a member of the group making the trip be absent from class to drive for a special trip.

L.

A school bus used for extra transportation shall be limited to 75-mile round trips, except that Chapel Hill and Durham may be visited by a group from any school if all other conditions of these regulations are met.

M.

Extra use of a school bus shall conform with North Carolina law and regulations on school bus transportation and with Board Policy 5430 and regulations governing school trips.

Revised: June 28, 1990

Revised: January 28, 1998