Charter School Agreement - International Community School .SY 23-24

AID 1536853 · View on Simbli

Agenda Item

i. 2023-2024 Transportation Agreement with International Community Schools, Inc.

Summary: Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the annual renewal of the Transportation Agreement between International Community School, Inc. and DeKalb County School District to provide student transportation services for the 2023 - 2024 school year.
Why: The transportation services agreement is needed to provide the International Community School, Inc., with student transportation services for the 2023 - 2024 school year.
Details: DeKalb County School District will provide transportation and invoice International Community Schools, Inc. for all expenses incurred.
Financial impact: This agreement has no budgetary impact on the DeKalb County School District. All expenses are billed to, and paid for by the International Community School, Inc. School. Funds received will be deposited into general fund code.
Contact: Mr. Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations, 678.676.1483
Mr. Bernando Brown, Director of Student Transportation Department, Division of Operations 678.875.0090
Status: Approved by General Counsel
                       SCHOOL BUS SERVICES AGREEMENT
                                    Between
                           DeKalb County School District
                                      And
                  International Community School, 2023‐2024 SY
This School Bus Services Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on May 30th,
2023 by and between the DeKalb County School District (“DCSD”) and International
Community School (the “Charter”). The DCSD and the Charter are referred to jointly as the
“Parties” and individually as a “Party.”

                                         WITNESSTH:

        WHEREAS, the Charter operates a charter school in the DCSD, located at 2418 Wood
        Trail Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033 pursuant to a charter between the Charter and the
        DeKalb County Board of Education;

        WHEREAS, the Charter intends to provide school bus service for students who attend
        its school;

        WHEREAS, the Charter desires to contract with DCSD to provide school bus services,
        and while DCSD has no requirement to do so, DCSD has agreed to provide school bus
        services for the Charter, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

        NOW THEREFORE, the good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
        of which is hereby acknowledged and in consideration of the mutual promises and
        undertakings contained herein, the parties hereto do hereby agree and consent to the
        following:

       1.     Term. This Agreement shall commence effective July 18, 2023 (“Effective
              Date”) and expire on May 31, 2024 (“Term”), provided, however, that each Party
              has the right to terminate this Agreement for its convenience and without cause,
              after providing ninety (90) days written notice to the other Party. Notice shall be
              provided as stated below. Additionally, if either party breaches any of its
              obligations under this Agreement, the other party shall notify the breaching party
              in writing citing each and every claimed breaches. The breaching party shall have
              thirty(30) days to remedy the cited breaches. If the breaching party fails to remedy
              the cited breaches, then the other party may terminate this Agreement upon thirty
              (30) days written notice.

       2.     Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the termination
              of the Charter (“Effective Date of Termination”). In the event of termination of
              this Agreement, the Charter shall be responsible for payment to DCSD for all
     school bus services provided through the Effective Date of Termination. This
     Agreement is expressly subject to and contingent upon approval by the DeKalb
     County Board of Education, which approval may be granted or denied in the
     Board’s sole discretion.

3.   School Bus Services Provided by DCSD.
     DCSD agrees to the following:
             DCSD shall provide limited school bus service to the Charter, as outlined
     in Attachment A, during the Term of this Agreement. For the routes listed under
     the “REGULAR BUS SERVICE” section in Attachment A, the Charter will
     provide the specific dates of service and details (bell time schedules, half day, full
     day, etc.) for each day of each school year, but these dates may be altered due to
     inclement weather or other legal conditions. DCSD also agrees to provide field
     trip services according to the conditions listed in Attachment A. No persons other
     than students currently attending the Charter school, supervisors, DCSD
     employees, Charter employees, or DCSD drivers in training are to ride the buses
     without the written approval of the Charter. DCSD shall at all times have sole
     authority to develop, modify, and/or cancel routes.

             DCSD shall provide all buses for the performance of this Agreement and
     agrees that all buses will meet all applicable requirements for school buses as set
     forth in federal, state and/or local law, rules, regulation or policies.

4.    Charter Responsibilities. The Charter agrees to provide their specific dates of
      service and details, if any, as referenced in Paragraph 2 and the required
      insurance documents, outlined below in Paragraph 6, no later than thirty (30)
      days prior to its first day of service.

5.    Pricing and Payment. The Charter shall pay DCSD for the school bus services
      provided hereunder according to the terms outlined in the “COMPENSATION
      FOR BUS SERVICES” Section of Attachment A. DCSD shall invoice the
      Charter monthly. The Charter shall pay such invoices within thirty (30) days of
      the date of each invoice.

6.    Nondiscrimination. The Parties agree that no child shall be discriminated against
      on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or disability. The Parties further
      agree that no child’s eligibility for the National School Lunch Program will be
      overtly identified through actions of DCSD or the Charter.

7.    Indemnification and Insurance. The Charter shall hold harmless and indemnify
      DCSD, the DeKalb County Board of Education, its members, officers,
      employees, agents, volunteers, and assigns (the “DCSD Indemnitees”) for every
      liability, claim or demand arising out of or relating to DCSD’s provision of
      school bus services under this Agreement. The Charter’s obligation to indemnify
      DCSD Indemnitees shall survive the completion, expiration, or termination of
      this Agreement. In addition, the Charter shall cause the DCSD Indemnitees to be
      named as additional insured under the Charter’s insurance policies required by
      the terms of the charter. Neither DCSD nor any of the other DCSD indemnitees
      shall be liable for, nor shall the Charter seek recovery, reimbursement, or
      compensation for, any loss, liability, claims, demands, damages (whether direct,
      indirect, special, consequential, or otherwise) arising from or related to DCSD’s
      provision of school bus services under this Agreement.

8.    Modification. This Agreement may not be changed, modified, amended or
      altered except in a written agreement signed by the Parties.

9.    Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall extend to the
      successors and assigns of the DCSD. This Agreement may not be assigned by
      the Charter without the prior written consent of the DCSD, which consent may
      be granted or withheld in DCSD’s sole discretion.

10.   No Violation. The Charter represents and warrants that the execution of, and
      performance under, this Agreement will not be a breach of, violation of, or
      conflict with any other contract or agreement to which it is a party or subject.

11.   Severability. In the event that any term or provision of the Agreement is found to
      be, or becomes by operation of law, invalid, unenforceable or void, the
      remaining terms and provisions shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in
      full force and effect, and the invalid, unenforceable or void term or provision
      shall be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement.

12.   Headings/Interpretation of Agreement. The headings contained in this
      Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning
      or interpretation of this Agreement. The Parties agree that this Agreement was
      fairly negotiated at arm’s length, and neither Party shall be considered to have
      been the drafter of the Agreement for purposes of any rules of construction.

13.   Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
      and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia. The exclusive
      venue for any action arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be in the
      superior or state courts of DeKalb County, Georgia.

14.   Transportation Boundaries. All parents are responsible for transporting their
      students to the pre-determined bus stops listed in Appendix B. Any changes in
      the bus stops will be determined jointly by DCSD and ICS.

15.   Discipline. The ultimate responsibility and authority to suspend or expel any
      student from transportation services hereunder shall rest with the Charter.
      Drivers are responsible only for such discipline as is required to operate buses
      safely and properly. All discipline problems shall be reported to the Charter in
      writing by the driver following completion of the route.
16.    Bus Stops. Students utilizing the bus will meet at locations that are pre-
       determined. Parents will be responsible for making sure students arrive and leave
       safely to each bus stop. Parents who do not meet their child at the bus stop on 2
       occurrences may have bus-riding privileges revoked. DCSD will communicate
       with ICS in these incidences and ICS will communicate with parents, as needed.

17.    Notices. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, all notices, including, but
       not limited to, any notice of termination of this Agreement, shall be in writing
       and shall be personally delivered, sent by overnight delivery service, or sent by
       certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Notices shall be deemed
       given (a) on the date delivered if delivered personally, (b) on the first business
       day following the date of dispatch if delivered by overnight delivery service, or
       (c) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth (5th) business day following the
       date of mailing if sent by certified mail. Notices shall be addressed as follows:

      To DCSD:       DeKalb County School District
                     Attn: Superintendent
                     1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
                     Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083

      To Charter:    Mrs. Chanika Perry
                     Attn: Board Chair
                     2418 Wood Trail Lane
                     Decatur, Georgia 30033

18.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
       shall be deemed an original, and all counterparts so executed shall constitute one
       agreement binding upon all the Parties. Counterparts may be transmitted by
       facsimile or electronic mail, and such electronically transmitted counterparts
       shall be binding and enforceable.

19.    Waiver. No failure or delay by the DCSD in exercising any right or remedy
       hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
       exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of
       steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any
       other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The
       rights and remedies of the DCSD hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive
       of any rights or remedies which it would otherwise have hereunder. Nothing
       herein is intended to operate, nor shall it operate or be deemed to operate, as a
       waiver, in whole or in part, of DCSD’s right to claim or assert sovereign
       immunity with respect to any claim arising hereunder, but such right is herein
       expressly reserved to the fullest extent provided by law.

20.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
       Parties with respect to the subject matter set forth herein and supersedes all prior,
       contemporaneous, written or oral negotiations, agreements, or understandings
              between the Parties regarding such matters. No subsequent amendment or
              agreement shall be binding upon either party unless it is signed and delivered by
              both parties hereto.


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by
their duly authorized signatories effective as of the date written above.



                                         DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                         By:
                                               Dr. Devon Q. Horton
                                               Superintendent



                                         By:
                                               Mr. Diijon Dacosta
                                               DCSD Board Chair




                                         International Community School

                                         By:
                                               Chanika R. Perry                 Jun 27, 2023
                                               Chanika Perry
                                               ICS Board Chair


                                         By:
                                               Fran Carroll
                                               Executive Director
                  ATTACHMENT “A”
LEVEL OF SERVICE AND COMPENSATION FOR BUS SERVICES
REGULAR BUS SERVICE
The level of bus service provided by DCSD to the Charter is limited to no more than 180
days of regular bus service as outlined below:

 Route #                     School                  Frequency/Mileage                       Bus Type
     1         International Community School         School Days/AM and PM                   Conventional
     2         International Community School         School Days/AM and PM                   Conventional
     3         International Community School         School Days/AM and PM                   Conventional
    4          International Community School         School Days/AM and PM                   Conventional

Regular bus service is defined as bus service provided to the general population of students
attending the school and not service targeted for special needs of certain students. Other than
the specific daily routes to and from school listed above and field trips below, no special
education transportation, midday service, or other bus transportation services shall be
provided under this Agreement. The Charter shall be responsible for providing special
education transportation, midday service, or other bus transportation services required by
federal, state and/or local law, rules, regulation or policies for the population of students
attending the Charter.

COMPENSATION FOR BUS SERVICES
DCSD will invoice monthly, and Charter shall pay the DCSD the following on a monthly
basis:

   1. Actual mileage cost for the month being invoiced is at $4.87 per mile. Miles calculated
      will include dead-head miles or any other mileage needed to provide the service under
      this Agreement; and

   2. 3% transportation service fee applied to the total invoiced amount, to cover the
      administration of the drivers, invoicing duties, and other administrative costs; and

   3. Driver’s salary not to exceed $25.00 per hour.

   4. Dead-head miles will be calculated as:
         ● For a leg not connecting to a DCSD bus route, 100% of the miles from the
            first/last stop to/from the parking location of the bus.
         ● For a leg connecting to a DCSD bus route, 50% of the miles from the first/last
            stop for the Charter to the last/first stop of the DCSD route.

   5. Should the fuel prices increase to the point of a negative impact on DCSD’s budget,
      then the Charter agrees to, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of written notice by
      DCSD, in good faith, renegotiate the terms of this Agreement.
FIELD TRIP BUS SERVICE
DCSD will provide field trip service, when buses and/or drivers are available, for the Charter.
The Charter shall follow the procedures of establishing and conducting field trip service
according to the latest version of the DCSD Transportation and Field Trip Manual. Overtime
charges may apply. DCSD will invoice full cost of field trips monthly according to DCSD
Transportation and Field Trip Manual which apply to DCSD students. The Charter shall pay
such invoices to DCSD within thirty (30) days of the date of each invoice.
Signature: Chanika R. Perry (Jun 27, 2023 16:49 EDT)
      Email: chanika.perry@icsgeorgia.org
Charter School Agreement - International
Community School .SY 23-24 (new supt)
Final Audit Report                                                                              2023-06-27

  Created:                 2023-06-27

  By:                      Fran Carroll (fran.carroll@icsgeorgia.org)

  Status:                  Signed

  Transaction ID:          CBJCHBCAABAADAN5wg10s-6Qe88YSkz2ZtWPtchdDmgZ




"Charter School Agreement - International Community School .S
Y 23-24 (new supt)" History
    Document created by Fran Carroll (fran.carroll@icsgeorgia.org)
    2023-06-27 - 5:32:56 PM GMT- IP address: 50.194.224.228


    Document emailed to chanika.perry@icsgeorgia.org for signature
    2023-06-27 - 5:34:07 PM GMT


    Email viewed by chanika.perry@icsgeorgia.org
    2023-06-27 - 8:47:20 PM GMT- IP address: 104.179.177.30


    Signer chanika.perry@icsgeorgia.org entered name at signing as Chanika R. Perry
    2023-06-27 - 8:49:02 PM GMT- IP address: 104.179.177.30


    Document e-signed by Chanika R. Perry (chanika.perry@icsgeorgia.org)
    Signature Date: 2023-06-27 - 8:49:04 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 104.179.177.30


    Agreement completed.
    2023-06-27 - 8:49:04 PM GMT