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10 Current Issues In Pupil Transportation in North Carolina

10 Current Issues In Pupil Transportation in North Carolina. Derek Graham, Section Chief Transportation Services NC DPI. School Bus Driver Licensing. Ancient History – Student Drivers Past – School Bus Driver Restriction Present – Phase-In Future – Federal P and S Endorsements. 1.

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10 Current Issues In Pupil Transportation in North Carolina

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

  2. School Bus Driver Licensing • Ancient History – Student Drivers • Past – School Bus Driver Restriction • Present – Phase-In • Future – Federal P and S Endorsements 1

  3. School Bus License - Past • Late 1980’s - Federal requirement for school bus driver to have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) • Passenger (P) endorsement - required for drivers transporting passengers. Charter bus drivers, airport bus drivers, etc. and Activity bus drivers out of state. • North Carolina - P Endorsement not required for school bus driver with a NC School Bus Driver’s certificate

  4. The OLD “S Restriction” • School Bus Driver in North Carolina must have an S Restriction on his/her CDL • Eligible to drive a school bus IN NORTH CAROLINA ONLY • Eligible to drive an activity bus IN NORTH CAROLINA ONLY • Not recognized by other states. • Most other states had no specific requirements for school bus drivers

  5. The OLD “S Restriction” $10 x 5 years = $50 • 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 a person whose license is restricted to driving a school bus or school activity bus or to employees of the Driver License Section of the Division who are designated by the Commissioner.” • Cost for driver - $20 application fee. Some paid by LEA. Some paid by the driver. Stricken in the new law

  6. 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.

  7. Impact in North Carolina • S Restriction is obsolete • All school bus drivers must get a CDL with a P endorsement and an S endorsement • With this license, a driver can drive for a charter bus company, church bus, airport shuttle company etc. (the driver is more marketable - will this be a retention issue??)

  8. 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

  9. Phase-In of Fees • New Driver - after 10/1/03 $82.50 • Good for 5 years • Driver up for renewal 10/1/03 - 9/30/05 $62.50 • Good for 5 years • Driver up for renewal AFTER 9/30/05 - Grandfathered - $20 ($10 duplicate license, $10 endorsement fees) • Good until renewal • Most regular bus drivers will get a waiver from the driving test

  10. 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

  11. Activity Trips • §115C-247. Purchase of activity buses by local boards. The several local boards of education in the State are hereby 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, and commonly referred to as activity buses. The provisions of G.S. 115C-42 shall be fully applicable to the ownership and operation of such activity school buses. Activity buses may also be used as provided in G.S. 115C-243. 2

  12. 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.

  13. Motorcoach Guidelines • Lawsuit filed February 26, 2002 • Judge dismissed the case, Spring 2003 • Motorcoach Association has appealed

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  16. School Bus Replacements – The financed purchase of school buses • 2002 – General Assembly action: finance up to $10 million and buses exempted from e-procurement. AG’s office - this required a re-bid. • New Bid for Buses, including Lease/Purchase pricing – January, 2003 – December 31, 2003. Cash purchase contract awarded to International. 4

  17. January, 2003 – Bid for Bus Finance based on cash prices. • Carlyle Capital Market Inc. (CCMI’s) is awarded the financing contract • LEA has authority to finance the purchase of school buses – DPI does not

  18. February/March – Cash Purchase • DPI purchased 37 buses for LEAs getting 1 or 2 buses – Cash purchase. • Just like past years – about 20 counties. • All but 5 of these buses have now been delivered – most were before school started.

  19. May 22, 2003 – Master Facilitator Agreement signed between State Board and CCMI. • DPI Agrees to use legislative funds for bus purchases • DPI Agrees to make payments on behalf of LEAs within 10 days of acceptance of bus

  20. May–July 2003 – LEAs began to submit paperwork to DPI. • Bus order form – signature of superintendent and finance officer – “intent to purchase” • PO submitted to DPI. • Request for Payment form – for DPI to make payments on LEA’s behalf • Master Replacement Bus Agreement signed with CCMI. • (If state funds are not available, then the LEA is off the hook, but have to turn buses in.

  21. August – November 2003 • Buses arrive at White’s International in High Point. In lots of 50, they will be accepted by DPI and LEAs and delivered to the LEAs. • DPI will get payment made for those buses to CCMI within 10 or fewer days by automatic transfer (direct deposit). This payment is the first of 3 payments. • Within 30 days of ACCEPTANCE CCMI will pay IC for the buses (full purchase price). • One year later – DPI will make payment #2 on behalf of the LEA • Two years later – DPI will make payment #3 on behalf of the LEA

  22. CYCLE 2 – General Assembly again directs buses to be financed • July-September 2003 – LEAs notified of buses eligible for replacement. • Top 800 in priority were distributed to LEAs. DPI field consultants verify that buses on the list are eligible to be replaced

  23. August – New bid for financing issued • Up to $15 million per year for three years. • September – financing bid will be awarded. Contracts signed. Paperwork issued to LEAs so that they can cut a PO for buses and place the order.

  24. October-December • Contract expires December 31 • LEAs place orders. • 2004****New buses delivered; payment cycle begins.

  25. EC and Pre-K Transportation • State Manual – Guide for Transporting Children with Special Needs and Preschool Children • Statewide inter-discliplinary TEAM - a true collaborative effort • National award at the Transporting Students with Disabilities Conference 5

  26. National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. Guidelines • Pre-K children should be transported in a Child Safety Restraint System (CSRS) • CSRS’s must meet Federal Standards for Seats and Anchorages • Most current bus seats in North Carolina don’t meet these specs • http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/buses/Guide1999/prekfinal.htm

  27. Occupant Protection • 13 Buses with 3 Point Restraints (Lap Shoulder Belts) • Preliminary feedback – positive • Definite capacity issues for H.S. passengers • Digital Video Cameras

  28. Vans For School Transportation • State law requires vehicles used by LEAs for transporting students to school to meet state school bus specifications • No similar requirement for activity trips • No similar requirement for private or charter schools, day cares, pre-schools… • Law vs. liability 6

  29. Publicity and Awareness 7 • Brochure - Center for Urban Affairs, NCSU • Grant from UPS • Cooperation from Wake County Schools for cover photography • Bus Driver ROADeo • NC State Fair (Safety City) • Mountain State Fair??

  30. Bus Driver Salaries • Traditional Salary Agreement Form • TIMS helps ensure that drivers are not overpaid – accurately predicts route times • SC and GA challenges to work without pay • Fair Labor Standards requires daily time record. Payment for actual time worked. 8

  31. DOT’s Business Systems Improvement Project (BSIP) • Go Live for DOT and Highway Patrol was April 24 • Go Live for bus garages – July 1, 2003 • Initial Training – about 250 LEA staff trained; 3 days hands-on • New forms, processes • Difficulties due to changeover to new processes and needed systems changes 9

  32. Stop Arm Violations • 2003 Count – Incomplete Data • Over 2000 violations reported, with several counties’ data not in place • Dateline NBC 1 0

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