Policy 708: Transportation

708.1 Local and State Transportation Regulations

The policy and rules and regulations for the transportation of pupils to and from school shall be in strict compliance with statutory provisions, State Department of Education regulations, and rules and regulations established and approved by the Board of Directors.

Legal Reference: (Code of Iowa) Chapter 283, 321

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended:

708.2 Student Eligibility for Bus Service

Elementary students living more than two miles and high school students living more than three miles from their attendance center will be furnished transportation.

Students may be required to meet a school bus on an approved route a distance of not to exceed three-fourths of a mile.

When transportation by school bus is impracticable or where school bus service is not available, the Board may require the parents or guardians to transport their children to the school designated for attendance. The parents or guardian will be reimbursed for such transportation as designed by statue.

Distance to school or to a bus route shall be measured on the public highway only and over the most possible and safest route as determined by the Board of Directors, starting in the roadway opposite the private entrance to the residence of the pupil and ending in the roadway opposite the entrance to the school grounds or designated point on his route.

Legal Reference: (Code of Iowa) Chapter 285.1

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: January 8, 1980

708.3 Special Education Bus Service

Resident pupils qualifying for special education classes in a school other than the usual school designated for attendance shall be provided transportation.

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended:

708.4 Extra-Curricular Activities Bus Service

Authorized school transportation will be used to transport pupils to and from school and to and from extra-curricular activities sponsored by the school when such extra-curricular activity is under the direction of a qualified member of the faculty and a part of the regular school program.

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: January 8, 1980; June 9, 1986

708.5 Extra-Curricular Pep Bus Policy

Request for such services shall be in writing, submitted to the building administrator or his designee three (3) school days prior to the event. It shall originate from a recognized school organization. A minimum of forty (40) persons per bus must signup and pay the cost of the transportation and tickets in advance. The number of buses going to an event will be determined by the transportation director on an available basis. All pep buses will leave only after school hours except for state meets and contests. Each bus must be chaperoned by two (2) school employees approved by the building administrator or his/her designee.

If there is a senior high activity scheduled at home, then no pep bus will be allowed at that same time.

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended:

708.6 Summer Program Bus Service

School buses may be utilized during the summer months to facilitate the operation of school-sponsored summer educational programs.

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: January 8, 1980

708.7 Transportation Insurance Program

The Board of Directors shall carry at least the state recommended minimum amounts of insurance on all school-owned buses, and see that insurance is carried by all contractors hired by the Board to transport pupils.

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: January 8, 1980

708.8 Transportation Operations in Inclement Weather

Buses will not operate when weather conditions due to fog, rain, snow or other natural elements make it unsafe to do so. Because weather conditions may vary around the district and may change quickly, the best judgment will be used that is possible with the information available.

The final judgment as to when conditions are unsafe to operate will be made by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The Superintendent will be assisted by the Director of Transportation and the actual "on location" decisions and reports of the drivers.

Several drivers each year will be specially designated to report weather and road conditions by bus radio on any day when requested to do so. Other drivers and students will be notified by commercial radio/electronic communication when school is canceled or temporarily delayed. It may be possible that on some occasions the entire district may not be affected by delays when weather conditions may vary in different locations. When school is canceled because of weather anywhere in the district, all schools will be closed.

Legal Reference: (Code of Iowa) Chapter 279.8

Date of Adoption: November 11, 1980

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended:

708.9 Student Conduct on School Transportation

Bus service is a privilege provided by the district. The safe transportation and well-being of the students is the top priority. Students utilizing school transportation shall conduct themselves in an orderly manner fitting to their age level and maturity with mutual respect and consideration for the rights of the school vehicle driver and the other passengers. Students who fail to behave in an orderly manner will be subject to disciplinary measures.

The driver shall have the authority to maintain order on the school vehicle. It shall be the responsibility of the driver to report misconduct to the building administrator and/or transportation director.

The Board supports the use of video cameras on school buses used for transportation to and from school as well as for field trips, curricular or extra-curricular events. The video cameras will be used to monitor student behavior and may be used as evidence in a student disciplinary proceeding. The video tapes are student records subject to school district confidentiality, board policy and administrative regulations.

After one written warning for misconduct, the building principal/transportation director shall have the authority to suspend transportation privileges of the student or other appropriate discipline. Major infractions will result in immediate suspension of bus service.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the building principal/transportation director, to develop administrative regulations regarding student conduct and discipline when utilizing school district transportation.

Legal Reference: (Code of Iowa) 279.8; 285; 321 (1993)

Date of Adoption: August 15, 1994

Reviewed: May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended:

708.10 Student Conduct on School Transportation Regulation

All persons riding in school district vehicles shall adhere to the following rules. The driver, sponsor or chaperones are to follow the school bus discipline procedure for student violations of their policy.

Video cameras may be in operation on the school buses.

There is no eating or drinking permitted in our school buses.
Bus riders shall be at the designated loading point before the bus arrival time.
Bus riders shall wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before attempting to enter.
Riders must not extend arms or heads out windows at any time.
Aisles must be kept cleared at all times.
All bus riders shall load and unload through the right front door. The emergency door is for emergencies only.
All bus riders will depart from the bus at the designated point unless written permission to get off at a different location is given to the driver.
The driver may assign a rider a seat.
Riders who damage seats or other equipment will reimburse the district for the cost of the repair or replacement.
Riders are not permitted to leave their seats while the vehicle is in motion.
Waste containers are provided on all buses for bus riders’ use.
Permission to open windows must be obtained from the driver.
Classroom conduct is to be observed by students while riding the bus except for ordinary conversation.
The driver is in charge of the students and the vehicle and the driver is to be obeyed promptly and cheerfully.
Students shall assist in looking after the safety and comfort of younger students.
A bus rider who must cross the roadway to board or depart from the bus shall pass in front of the bus (no closer than 10 feet), look in both directions and proceed to cross the road or highway only on signal from the driver.
Students shall not throw objects about the vehicle nor out the windows,
Shooting paper wads, squirt guns or other material in the vehicle is not permissible.
Students shall keep feet off the seats.
Roughhousing on the vehicle is prohibited.
Students shall refrain from crowding or pushing.
The use or possession of alcohol, tobacco, fighting and profanity directed toward a driver will result in immediate suspension of bus services.

Consequences of Violations

Upon first violation, the bus driver will discuss the problem with the student.
If a second violation occurs, the driver and/or the transportation director will file the “Unsatisfactory Bus Conduct Report”. A copy of this report will be sent to the parent by mail. Since the third violation will result in removal of the privilege to ride the bus, the transportation director should arrange a meeting with the parent to work out a program to reduce the possibility of the third violation occurring.
If a third violation occurs, the student shall be informed immediately that he/she is dismissed from any further riding of the bus. A dismissal report shall be sent to the parent by mail. Riding the bus shall be resumed only after a meeting between the parent, the student and the transportation director has resulted in an agreement satisfactory to all concerned.
When, in the judgment of the bus driver, behavior by a rider is such that it becomes an immediate threat to the safety of the other riders and/or the bus itself, the driver will take action as described the Procedure #3 without going through Steps 1 and 2 above.
Swearing directed toward a school employee will result is suspension from school and from riding on the bus during the time of suspension.
Fighting on the school bus will result in suspension from school and from riding on the bus during the time of suspension.
Anything that happens on the bus to divert the driver’s attention from his or her job immediately endangers the safety of the riders. It is therefore absolutely necessary that the student conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Furthermore, transportation equipment represents a large capital investment. This is another reason for expecting the utmost cooperation from students on our buses.

Date of Adoption: August 15, 1994

Reviewed: May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: September 14, 2009

708.11 Drug and Alcohol Testing for the Transportation Department

Employees who operate school vehicles are subject to drug and alcohol testing if a commercial driver's license is required to operate the school vehicle and the school vehicle transports sixteen (16) or more persons including the driver or the school vehicle weighs twenty-six thousand one pounds (26,001) or more. For purposes of the drug and alcohol testing program, the term "employees" includes applicants who have been offered a position to operate a school vehicle.

The employees operating a school vehicle as described above are subject to preemployment drug testing and random reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug and alcohol testing. Employees governed by this policy shall be subject to the drug and alcohol testing program beginning the first day they operate or are offered a position to operate school vehicles and shall continue as long as they may be required to perform a safety-sensitive function. Employees with questions about the drug and alcohol testing program may contact the Board Secretary at Central Office.

Employees governed by this policy who refuse to be tested or who test positive for drugs and alcohol are subject to discipline up to and including termination. Compliance with the drug and alcohol testing program is a condition for continued employment.

Date of Adoption: March 8, 1999

Reviewed: May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended:

708.12 SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER RESTRAINTS

The district shall utilize three-point lap-shoulder belts on district school buses as required by state law. All three-point lap-shoulder belts available on district buses will be used by passengers when the vehicle is in any non-stationary gear.

Legal Reference: 281 I.A.C. 43.10(6)

Cross Reference: 711.7 School Bus Safety Instruction

Date of Adoption: January 13, 2020

Reviewed: Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: