Manchester School Committee panel authorizes RFP for up to five vehicles for athletics

Chair Joel O'Connell opened the Special Committee on Athletics by introducing the meeting—s single agenda item: transportation procedures for athletics and extracurriculars. Assistant Superintendent Kelly Espinola reviewed statutory and regulatory requirements and asked the committee to authorize an RFP to purchase vehicles specifically for athletics.

Espinola told the committee that "any vehicle transporting students, whether a large bus or smaller van, must be an approved school bus and meet all state inspection standards." She said drivers of mixed-use school buses or vans driven by school employees must meet extensive requirements, including a valid driver—s license, a medical exam, fingerprinting and criminal-history checks, participation in drug and alcohol testing, and annual training and rostering through the Department of Safety.

Espinola summarized other driver qualifications: "Drivers must be 18 years old for in-state travel or 21 for interstate travel, hold a U.S. license for at least two years, and maintain a clean driving record." She also…