Emergency evacuation drills on school buses are required for all students in kindergarten through sixth grade at least once per semester.  The first drill must be completed prior to October 31.  The public school district board of education shall prescribe emergency evacuation drill requirements for all other students (5 CSR 30-261.010 (1)(J)).

If a district’s cost factor drops below 104.00% no additional transportation aid is generated; however, a drop in cost is always a local district savings, i.e., 75% maximum reimbursement by the state, 25% minimum paid out of local district funds (5 CSR 30-261.040 (8) (A) 4).

Since administrative costs are indirect a district may want to review these expenses each year to see what effect coding the prorated portion as transportation expenses has on the district’s cost factor.

The operator of a school bus can transport no more children than the manufacturer suggests as appropriate and each passenger must have seating space sufficient enough to ensure that the back of each passenger may come into full contact with the seat back (304.060, RSMo and 5 CSR 30-261.010 (4)(B)3.I).

Allowable transportation costs are costs for transporting students under the provisions of Section 304.060, RSMo, administrative support services, and costs paid to other school districts (5 CSR 30-261.040).

Administrative costs increase allowable costs that could increase the district’s transportation reimbursement; however, administrative costs could also make a district more inefficient thereby incurring or increasing a penalty for inefficiency.

Missouri school buses are exempt from paying federal fuel excise tax but must pay Missouri highway/road tax.  For an exemption from federal fuel excise tax or a refund of taxes paid contact the IRS (800-829-1040).  School districts can purchase dyed fuel that allows the exemption from federal fuel excise tax up front when fuel is purchased (573-751-2611).

The school district shall ensure that a fingerprint based criminal background check is conducted for all new school bus drivers.  The district may allow such drivers to operate buses pending the result of the criminal background check.  For bus drivers, the background check shall be conducted on drivers employed by the school district or employed by a pupil transportation company under contract with the school district (168.133, RSMo.) and coordinated through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

A Class E driver’s license is required when contracted with or employed with a school district to provide transportation services in a vehicle that transports less than 16 including the driver (Department of Revenue).  A school bus (S) endorsement is also required on the Class E license.

The term “school bus operator” shall not include any person who transports school children as an incident to employment with a school district, such as a teacher, coach, administrator, secretary, school nurse, or janitor, unless such person is under contract with or employed by a school district as a school bus operator (Section 302.010, RSMo).  This exception is for one-time or emergency transportation of students and should not include staff that regularly transport students.