1. Legislative Update
March 13, 2012

2. School Bus Privatization
School Bus Facts
South Carolina only state-run school bus system in country
State owned yellow buses = 5,700
District owned yellow buses = 200
State shifting funding responsibility to district
(FY State 45%, District 55%)
Governor’s budget calls for state to ‘divest’ itself of responsibility for bus service by June 30, 2016
Lawmakers proposed South Carolina School Bus Privatization Act of 2012 (H.4610) in January 2012

3. School Bus Privatization
Governor’s Proposal
Individual districts will operate bus fleets themselves or outsource to private company
Funding model will allocate funds to districts based on number of students including factors for population density and special needs students

4. School Bus Privatization
School Bus Privatization Act of 2012
Would end state system by July 1, 2015
Shift responsibility to local school districts, can begin as soon as the school year
Bus maintenace facilities sold, leased to private entities, or closed
Requires buses be less than 15 years old (currently 70% of state buses > 15 years old)
Savings from privatization of school buses put into
School Transportation Reimbursement Fund
Fund will be used to reimburse districts for transportation costs

5. School Bus Privatization
School Bus Privatization Act of 2012
Formula will be established for payment to districts based on per-vehicle and per-mile basis
Requires that current drivers and maintenance employees be considered for hiring by private entity or district if providing their own service
Districts can contract with private providers before implementation (Beaufort, Charleston County, Dorchester Two)

6. School Bus Privatization
SCSBA’s Position
General Assembly must conduct thorough review of current state system
Transportation for public schools must ensure:
Student safety top priority
Adequate state funding for operation, maintenance and replacement on a recurring basis, with no financial burden falling on local districts
The unique needs of all districts are met

7. South Carolina Public Schools are Succeeding!
SC is one of the few states that have increased high school seniors scores on ACT despite dramatically greater numbers of test takers
Midland Valley High School Tool Identification Team takes first place at lower region