The State Board of Education is authorized to use a part of the public school fund to pay the salaries of bus drivers employed by the several county boards of education. The state board is authorized to administer any and all appropriations that may be made by the United States Congress, its agencies, or bureaus to assist this state in the maintenance and operation of pupil transportation and to administer all funds allocated or appropriated or otherwise made available by the state for pupil transportation; the state board is further authorized to accept and receive donations and gifts of both real and personal property, including vehicles and other equipment, from either public or private sources as may be offered for the support, maintenance, and operation of pupil transportation.
OCGA § 20-2-1070