Dear Bridging the Watershed Teacher

Environmental Education on the Potomac

Dear Bridging the Watershed Teacher,

You and I know the value and enrichment an outdoor science field study can bring to your students’ education. We both are aware of the challenges to securing transportation so your students can have such experiences. To assist with this, the Alice Ferguson Foundation has received some funding from the National Park Service for student transportation to Bridging the Watershed field studies in national parks.

The following guidelines are in a question and answer format. This provides clarity and answers to the basic questions on the bus reimbursement funding. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact me.

Heather Zdobysz Assistant Program Manager [email protected] 301-292-5665

2001 Bryan Point Road • Accokeek, Maryland 20607 • Phone 301.292.5665 • Fax 301.292.1070 www.fergusonfoundation.org Bus Reimbursement Funding Guidelines

What is the reimbursement bus transportation funding, and for what is it used? The reimbursement for transportation funding is a financial agreement between the National Park Service and the Alice Ferguson Foundation (AFF) to provide transportation of secondary level students from their schools to national parks to engage in Bridging the Watershed field (BTW) studies. The funding is only for reimbursement of student transportation costs for BTW field studies that are pre-paid by the school or other school-related entity (i.e. PTA).

Who can use this bus reimbursement funding? To maximize the number of groups who may benefit from this funding, there is prioritization in who receives reimbursement funding. We may not be able to fund all requests. These priorities serve as guidelines for us in allocating bus reimbursement funding, and but they are not strict rules.

1. First-come, first-serve: BTW teachers know we fill up our program calendar quickly.

Who books and pays for the bus transportation? The funding is only for reimbursement to the school system for the cost transportation of transportation. AFF is not booking the bus(es), nor is it paying for the bus(es) directly. The school system, as purchaser of the bus service, assumes the initial cost and liability for the bus(es). Prince George’s County Public Schools must use one of the County’s approved vendors. AFF is not a part of the service agreement between the school and the bus company.

How much can I get reimbursed? The maximum reimbursement for one bus for a school system is $500.00. The school system will only get reimbursed for actual cost of the bus, If the total cost of the bus transportation is greater than $500.00, the school system pays the remaining balance.

How many buses can I get reimbursed? To be fair and equitable, the funding will be available on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis dependent upon a confirmation of a field study in a national park. One (1) teacher, who is leading the field study, can request reimbursement for one (1) per field study season (fall and spring are the seasons). If a teacher wishes to have two (2) buses per field study season, he/she needs to contact AFF.

AFF is planning to provide reimbursement for 22 bus trips for the fall of 2016 and reimbursement for 22 bus trips for spring 2017. Any remaining balance from fall 2016 will carry over into spring 2017.

How do I get reimbursed for the cost of the transportation? An official school invoice needs to be submitted to AFF after the field study is completed. Upon receipt of the invoice, AFF will send a reimbursement check to the school within 30 days.

For trips done in fall 2016 (usually September-December), invoices need to be received by AFF no later than December 31, 2016. For trips done in spring 2017 (usually March-June), invoices need to be received by AFF by June 30, 2017.

What happens if my field study needs to be canceled? If the teacher and/or school cancels the field study for any reason other than a reasonable, extreme circumstances (such as severe weather or school emergency), the school is responsible for any transportation costs or fees incurred. If a field study is cancelled by the teacher and/or school, the reimbursement money set aside for the cancelled field study's bus is given to the next available teacher's field study (first-come, first-served basis).

Although it is extremely unlikely, if AFF or the National Park Service cancels a field study, AFF will pay up to the maximum reimbursement amount for the bus transportation out of the marked funding.

Contact Information for Correspondence

Heather Zdobysz Assistant Program Manager Alice Ferguson Foundation 2001 Bryan Point Road Accokeek, MD 20607 301-292-5665