Onslow committee reviews transportation-policy updates on idling, driver duties and magnet-school eligibility
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Summary
The Policy Committee considered several 6000-series revisions affecting student transportation: clarified a 5-minute bus-idling standard with exceptions, tightened bus-driver reporting and safety references, reaffirmed that yellow buses cannot be used for athletic/extracurricular activities under state law, and directed staff to research who may board district buses and to review vehicle-liability policy 6512.
On Nov. 18 the Onslow County Schools Policy Committee reviewed multiple proposed revisions to transportation-related policies, focusing on bus idling limits, driver responsibilities, route management and magnet-school transportation eligibility.
Brent Anderson, chief communications officer, told the committee Policy 6315 now emphasizes that "safety is a paramount concern in the transportation of students and others" and adds cross-references to other safety policies, a designee option, an accident-reporting requirement and compliance with drug- and alcohol-testing standards for commercial motor vehicle operators. Anderson said these requirements apply to district bus drivers and not to third-party carriers.
On bus idling, Anderson noted the policy prohibits warming buses for longer than five minutes except in "extraordinary circumstances," such as extremely cold weather, to remain consistent with the state's five-minute standard and energy-conservation goals.
On the use of yellow school buses, Anderson said the district will remove a provision that had required transportation outside the county because state law does not permit yellow buses for athletic or extracurricular activities. "Yellow school buses may not be used for athletic activities or extracurricular activities, period," Anderson said, and the committee agreed to strike the out-of-county wording.
The committee discussed bus-route administration and timing goals in Policy 6321: routes will be kept on file with the superintendent or designee, and the policy retains language that one-way ride time should be under 45 minutes "to the extent practicable." Members asked that driver communication language be modernized from "call" to "contact" to reflect texting, radio or other means, and agreed to make district closure announcements via the district website, social media and local media outlets.
On eligibility, the committee agreed to clarify that magnet-school students who live 1.5 miles or more from their assigned school are eligible for transportation services and to remove a redundant numbered provision if eligibility appears at the top of the section.
The committee also flagged Policy 6512 (liability on school-owned vehicles) for follow-up; Board Attorney Katie Cornetta recommended staff review current practices and either revise or repeal the policy if it no longer aligns with operations. Staff were assigned to research who is allowed to board district buses (for example, chaperones or designated monitors versus members of the public) and to return findings for the board meeting.