Section 5-E521. TRAVEL ALLOWANCES

 

521.1It is the policy of the Board of Education to authorize travel allowance from funds under its jurisdiction only for travel which will further the goals of public elementary and secondary education in the District of Columbia.

 

521.2For purposes of this section, the term “travel allowance” shall include expenditures for transportation, meals and lodging, registration fees, and other related expenses incurred in connection with travel outside the District of Columbia.

 

521.3Travel which will further the goals of public elementary and second education in the District of Columbia shall include the following:

 

(a)Meetings, seminars, workshops or other programs directly related to the duties, responsibilities and functions of the position or office held by the person for whom the travel allowance is to be authorized, or for which such person is eligible through promotion or appointment, or for which such person might become eligible with additional training or expertise; or

 

(b)Travel on official business at the direction of the Superintendent of Schools or the Board of Education.

 

521.4The Superintendent of Schools shall be responsible for the implementation of this section with respect to all employees of the Board of Education under his or her supervision, and may issue further guidelines for implementation in accordance with the provisions of this section. The Superintendent may delegate in writing his or her authority and duties under this section.

 

521.5The Executive Secretary of the Board of Education shall be responsible for the implementation of this section with respect to the immediate staff of the Board of Education and the members of the Board of Education. The Executive Secretary may issue further guidelines for implementation in accordance with this section.

 

521.6The decision of the Executive Secretary of the Board of Education to grant or withhold authorization for any travel allowance requested by a member of the Board of Education may be reviewed by the Committee of the Whole in the following manner:

 

(a)If the Executive Secretary withholds an authorization for a travel allowance, upon a written request by the affected Board member, the President of the Board of Education shall place the matter on the agenda of the next regular or special meeting of the Committee of the Whole;

 

(b)If the Executive Secretary authorizes a travel allowance, upon a written request by five (5) or more members of the Board of Education for a review of possible failure of the authorization to comply with the provisions of this section, the President of the Board of Education shall place the matter on the agenda of the next regular or special meeting of the Committee of the Whole;

 

(c)Prior to either granting or withholding authorization for any travel allowance, the Executive Secretary may submit a written request to the President that the matter be considered by the Committee of the Whole at its next regular or special meeting; and

 

(d)In the event a request for review is made under this section, but a regular or special meeting of the Committee of the Whole is not held prior to the scheduled departure of the affected Board member, the Executive Secretary shall, upon request of the affected Board member, issue a provisional authorization for the travel allowance. Funds which are received by a Board member under a provisional authorization shall be reimbursed to the Board by the Board member if the Committee of the Whole subsequently determines that the travel fails to comply with the provisions of this section.

 

521.7The provisions of this section shall be implemented in addition to any and all applicable laws and regulations of the United States and the District of Columbia, including any further restrictions imposed by the law or regulation in connection with the receipt or expenditure of funds by the Board of Education.

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 26 DCR 8308 (March 9, 1979).