The transportation director is Joel Caviness
joelc@chatham.k12.nc.us TEL (919) 542-2715
Board policies
Goals of Student Transportation Services
http://policy.chatham.k12.nc.us/mediawiki/index.php/Policy_6300Bus Routes
http://policy.chatham.k12.nc.us/mediawiki/index.php/Policy_6321Student Assignment to Buses
http://policy.chatham.k12.nc.us/mediawiki/index.php/Policy_6322State rules from presentation at 10/5/2009 board mtg
http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/board/meetings/2009-2010/10_05_09_boemtg/Agenda%20Form-Overview%20of%20District%20Transportation%20Process.pdf“A route may not deviate from a general path of direction for a distance of less than one-half mile and then return to the original path except for groups of 10 or more pupils, unescorted pupils in grades K-3 or special education pupils.”
SBE Policy #TCS-H-002, 16 NCAC 6B.004
www.ncbussafety.org/NCLaws.htmlAdditional time, mileage, and costs are required to provide ‘door-to-door’ service for students that are otherwise able to walk a short distance to a bus stop. Deviating from an often wider, less constrictive main road to enter a subdivision or trailer park where the streets are often more narrow
and may feature curbside parking adds potential safety issues as well as additional mileage and time. Often it is not possible to avoid entering subdivisions, but proper placement of ‘area’ stops can reduce the amount of starting and stopping that occurs and may also reduce the amount of travel required within these areas.
“Unless safety factors require otherwise, superintendents may not plan bus stops closer together than 0.2 miles. Each student must be at the designated stop at the time of the bus's arrival.”
SBE Policy #TCS-H-002, 16 NCAC 6B.004
www.ncbussafety.org/NCLaws.htmlStarting and stopping a bus in distances this close together is inefficient not only in fuel consumption but also in time.
A local board of education which elects to operate a school bus transportation system, shall not be required to provide transportation for any school employee, nor shall such board be required to provide transportation for any pupil living within one and one half miles of the school in which such pupil is enrolled.
§ 115C-242 (4)
www.ncbussafety.org (Public School Laws Governing School Transportation)
. . . . . . .Each public school bus shall be routed so that the bus passes within one mile of the residence of each pupil assigned to that bus. A pupil who lives one and one-half miles or more from the school to which the pupil is assigned shall be eligible for school bus transportation.
§ 115C-246 (b)
www.ncbussafety.org (Public School Laws Governing School Transportation)
These laws are often waived for a variety of valid reasons. Safety factors within the 1.5 mile radius is the main concern. Lack of sidewalks with no alternative walk paths is most often cited. Hazardous streets, railroad tracks, physical barriers like rivers/large streams, and bridges without a
safe walk path are other examples. Walk zones should be carefully examined and implemented where reasonable. Requiring students to walk or bike to school when there are legitimate safety issues, defeats the purpose of the enhanced safety afforded by the school bus. Costs for
transporting these students would not be as extreme since a large number of buses probably travel these areas already. However, stops in these areas should be consolidated in a safe manner, and located for easy bus access, just as mentioned previously.
