Newton County Board of Supervisors is putting a July 1 deadline on school districts requesting turnarounds for school buses for the 2019-20 school year.
In a meeting Thursday, supervisors agreed not to accept turn-around requests after the deadline unless it was an emergency situation.
“We want the bulk of them,” Board President Charles Godwin said.
Supervisor Joe Alexander said the school districts also need to understand there are limits on what constitutes a turnaround. The board has already received two requests for the coming year, but neither meet the requirements.
“We need to get with J.O. (Amis, superintendent of Newton County School District) or someone,” he said. “Parking the bus at a house is not a school bus turnaround.”
When building a turnaround, the county levels the spot and puts down gravel. Supervisor Glenn Hollingsworth said some residents see requesting a turnaround as an easy way to get fresh gravel on their driveway.
County Administrator Steve Seale said the law does not set a deadline for turnarounds, but it does give the board authority to set one.
“It does allow the board to set requirements,” he said.
The board is asking all school districts have their turnaround requests submitted by July 1, so the individual beats can begin work building them for the coming school year.
In the event a new driver is hired or a route changes, Alexander said, the county will accept emergency turnaround requests on a case-by-case basis.
