School board denies request to use district bus for private event over alcohol and insurance concerns

The Turtle Mountain School Board denied a request from Micna/Micanoc Enterprises to use a district school bus and driver for a private event after members raised insurance and public-image concerns and debated limiting conditions.

The requester asked to use a district bus and driver on August 5 and 6. "Micna Enterprises requested a school bus and a driver on August 5th and 6th... with the condition that the school bus shall not be used for transportation to or from any bar or establishment primarily serving alcohol," a board member explained when summarizing the recommendation; administration's stated recommendation was approval only if the bus would not be used to transport people to alcohol-serving establishments.

Board members and administration discussed the insurance implications. Dwayne said he had consulted the district's insurance agent and relayed the recommendation that use by non-school groups could create coverage questions: "what was recommended was... you would be put in a situation to where they would say, why if this insurance is intended for public school use, what was your school bus doing at, you know, such an establishment?" he said.

Some members suggested alternative approaches, including having the requester secure private charter transportation or using a partner agency with its own buses. One member suggested the Sky Dancer (casino/hotel) or local charter providers should supply transport rather than the district.

Dennis moved to deny the request outright; another board member seconded the motion. Members cited the risk of setting an undesirable precedent and uncertainty about evening activities after the planned picnic. "If they're using it just for a tour... the picnic part and then the after activities is kind of the question for me," one member said. The board recorded a motion to deny and proceeded to vote; the transcript records the motion and an affirmative call to deny.

Administration noted the requester indicated they would accept approval with the no-alcohol-transport condition, but the board opted for denial based on the insurance and example-setting concerns.

Next steps: The denial stands per the meeting record; staff suggested the requester could return with clarified plans or arrange non-district transportation if they wish to resubmit.