Elementary and middle school students living more than two miles from their designated school attendance center and high school students living more than three miles from their designated attendance center shall receive transportation to and from their attendance center at the expense of the school district.

Transportation of students who require special education services will generally be provided as for other students, when appropriate.  Specialized transportation of a student to and from a special education instructional service is a function of that service and, therefore, an appropriate expenditure of special education instructional funds generated through the weighted funds or IDEA federal funds designated for special education purposes.

Transportation of a student to and from a special education support service is a function of that service, and shall be specified in the individualized education program (IEP) or the individualized family service plan (IFSP).  When the IEP team determines that unique transportation arrangements are required and the arrangements are specified in the IEP or IFSP, the school district will provide one or more of the following transportation arrangements for instructional services and the AEA for support services:

• Transportation from the student's residence to the location of the special education and back to the student’s residence or child care placement for students below the age of six.
• Special assistance or adaptations in getting the student to and from and on and off the vehicle, en route to and from the special education location.
• Reimbursement of the actual costs of transportation when by mutual agreement the parents provide transportation for the student to and from the special education.

The school district is not required to provide reimbursement to parents who elect to provide transportation in lieu of agency-provided transportation.  A student may be required, at the board's discretion, to meet a school vehicle without reimbursement up to three-fourths of a mile.  The board may require the parent to transport their children up to two miles to connect with school bus vehicles at the expense of the school district when conditions deem it advisable.  It is within the discretion of the board to determine such conditions.  Parents of students who live where transportation by bus is impracticable or unavailable may be required to furnish transportation to and from the designated attendance center at the expense of the school district.  Parents, who transport their children at the expense of the school district, shall be reimbursed at the rate per mile set by law.

Transportation arrangements made between a neighboring school district shall follow the terms of the agreement.  Students who choose to attend a school in a school district other than their resident school district shall provide transportation to and from the school at their own expense.

Approved:                  
Reviewed:  10-09-95, 11-9-99, 11-12-02, 12-12-05, 01-15-09, 5-14-18
Revised:  07-01-92, 9-13-22                                      

All persons utilizing school district 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 district vehicle driver and the other passengers.

The school district vehicle driver shall have the authority to maintain order on the school district vehicle. It shall be the responsibility of the driver to report misconduct to the building administrator.

Students and employees who fail to behave in an orderly manner may be subject to disciplinary measures.  Other persons who fail to behave in an orderly manner may be asked to leave the school district transportation and may no longer be permitted to use the school district transportation.  The building principal has the authority to suspend transportation privileges for students or employees or implement other appropriate discipline.

The board supports the use of video cameras on school vehicles used for transportation to and from school as well as for field trips, curricular or extracurricular events, and other events.  The video cameras will be used to monitor behavior and may be used as evidence in a student or employee disciplinary proceeding or in determining appropriate consequences for other individuals.  The video recordings will be maintained as required by state and federal law.

Approved:  07-01-92             
Reviewed:  10-09-95, 11-9-99, 11-12-02, 12-12-05, 01-15-09, 5-14-18
Revised: 9-13-22                                                       

The board, in its discretion, may provide school district transportation for extracurricular activities including, but not limited to, transporting student participants and other students to and from extracurricular events.

Students participating in extracurricular events, other than those held at the school district facilities, may be transported to the extracurricular event by school district transportation vehicles or by another means approved by the superintendent.  Students attending extracurricular events, other than those held at the school district facilities, may be transported to the extracurricular event by school district transportation vehicles.  Students attending extracurricular events outside of Iowa may be transported by school district transportation vehicles.

Students, who are provided transportation in school district transportation vehicles for extracurricular events, shall ride both to and from the event in the school district vehicle unless arrangements have been made with the building principal prior to the event.  A student's parent(s) or guardian(s) may personally appear to the school district vehicle driver and request to transport the student home from a school-sponsored event in which the student traveled to the event on a school district transportation vehicle.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board annually as to whether the school district shall provide the transportation authorized in this policy.  In making the recommendation to the board, the superintendent shall consider the financial condition of the school district, the number of students who would qualify for such transportation, and other factors the board or superintendent deem relevant.

Approved:                              
Reviewed:  11-12-02, 12-12-05, 01-15-09, 5-14-18
Revised:  7-1-92, 9-13-22                                                      

The school district may use school district vehicles for transportation to and from summer extracurricular activities.  The superintendent shall make a recommendation to the board annually regarding their use.

Transportation to and from the student's attendance center for summer school instructional programs shall be within the discretion of the board.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation regarding transportation of students in summer school instructional programs at the expense of the school district.  In making the recommendation to the board, the superintendent shall consider the financial condition of the school district, the number of students involved in summer school programs, and other factors deemed relevant by the board or the superintendent.

Approved:  7-1-92                 
Reviewed:  10-09-95, 11-9-99, 11-12-02, 12-12-05, 01-15-09, 5-14-18
Revised: 9-13-22                                                       

The board has sole discretion to determine the method to be utilized for transporting nonresident and nonpublic students.   Nonresident students paying tuition may be, and resident students attending a nonpublic school accredited by the State Department of Education, will be transported on an established public school vehicle route as long as such transportation does not interfere with resident public students' transportation.  Nonresident and nonpublic school students shall obtain the permission of the superintendent prior to being transported by the school district.

Parents of resident students who provide transportation for their children attending a nonpublic school accredited by the State Department of Education will be reimbursed at the established state rate.  This reimbursement shall be paid only if the school district receives the funds from the state.  If less than the amount of funds necessary to fully reimburse parents of the nonpublic students is received by the school district, the funds shall be prorated.

The charge to the nonresident students may be determined based on the student's pro rata share of the actual costs for transportation.  The parents of these students shall be billed for the student's share of the actual costs of transportation.  The billing shall be according to the schedule developed by the superintendent.   It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to determine the amount to be charged and report it to the business manager for billing.

Continued transportation of nonresident and nonpublic school students on a public school vehicle route will be subject to resident public school students' transportation needs.  The superintendent shall make a recommendation annually to the board regarding the method to be used.  In making a recommendation to the board, the superintendent shall consider the number of students to be transported, the capacity of the school district vehicles, the financial condition of the school district, and other factors deemed relevant by the board or the superintendent.

Nonresident and nonpublic school students shall be subject to the same conduct regulations as resident public students as prescribed by board policy, and to other policies, rules or regulations developed by the school district regarding transportation of students by the school district.

Approved:  7-1-92                 
Reviewed:  11-09-99, 11-12-02, 12-12-05, 01-15-09, 06-12, 5-14-18
Revised:  08-13-12, 9-13-22                                                  

School district vehicles will be available to local nonprofit entities which promote cultural, educational, civic, community or recreational activities for transporting to and from non-school-sponsored activities within the state as long as the transportation does not interfere with or disrupt the education program of the school district and does not interfere with or delay the transportation of students.  The local nonprofit entity must pay the cost of using the school district vehicle as determined by the board.  Prior to making the school district transportation vehicle available to the local nonprofit entity, the school bus signs shall be covered and the flashing warning lamps and the stop arm made inoperable.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for use of school district transportation vehicles to transport students and others to school-sponsored events within the state and for application for, use of, and payment for using the school district transportation vehicles by local nonprofit entities for a non-school-sponsored activity.

Approved:  7-1-92                 
Reviewed:  10-09-95, 11-9-99, 11-12-02, 12-12-05, 01-15-09, 5-14-18
Revised: 9-13-22                                                       

The school district shall conduct school bus safe riding practices instruction and emergency safety drills at least twice during the school year for students who utilize school district transportation.

Each school district bus vehicle shall have, in addition to the regular emergency safety drill, a plan for helping those students who require special assistance to safety during an emergency. This shall include, but not be limited to, disabled students.

School district vehicle drivers are required to attend each safety drill.

Employees shall be responsible for instructing the proper techniques to be followed during an emergency, as well as safe riding practices.

All school district personnel and designees must wear seat belts while operating school district and private vehicles for school district functions.  All school district personnel must use the tire protective cage when inflating or deflating a tire used on school district buses and tractors.

Approved:  07-01-92             
Reviewed:  10-09-95, 11-9-99, 11-12-02, 12-12-05, 01-15-09, 5-14-18
Revised: 9-13-22                                                       

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

The final judgment as to when conditions are unsafe to operate will be made by the superintendent.  The superintendent may be assisted by the actual on location decisions and reports of the drivers.

Several drivers each year may be specially designated to report weather and road conditions via the bus communication system, when requested to do so.  Other drivers and students will be notified by commercial radio, local television stations, and school district alerts when school is cancelled or temporarily delayed.  When school is cancelled because of weather anywhere in the school district, all schools will be closed.

When weather conditions deteriorate during the day after school has begun, cancellation notices will be announced by commercial radio, local television stations, and school district alerts.  Students will be returned to their regular drop-off sites unless weather conditions prevent it.  In that case, students will be kept at or returned to school until they are picked up by the parents.

When, in the judgment of the driver, weather conditions are so poor as to present a hazard when loading or unloading students, the driver will radio the superintendent for instructions.  If the superintendent is not available, the driver will exercise the best judgment under the circumstances to address the situation.

Approved:                  
Reviewed:  10-09-95, 11-09-99, 11-12-02, 06-11-12, 5-14-18
Revised:  03-09-09, 08-13-12, 9-13-22

The board recognizes that it has a role in reducing environmental pollutants and in assisting students and others be free from pollutants that may impact their respiratory health.  Unnecessary vehicle idling emits pollutants and wastes fuel.  Therefore, the board encourages all individuals operating school district vehicles to limit the time the vehicle is idling.

Approved:  9-13-22               
Reviewed:                       
Revised:     

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

All students will receive instruction on the proper use of seat belts during the twice annual bus safety drills.  Students who may require assistance in using seat belts should ask the bus driver for help, so that all students are safely belted in their seat before the bus is in motion. Drivers will announce prior to the bus leaving that each student needs to be in their seat with the seat belt fastened.

Students refusing to use seat belts create a safety concern for themselves and others and are subject to school district disciplinary actions. Repeated refusal to wear seat belts can result in suspension from bus riding privileges.

Approved:  9-13-22               
Reviewed:                       
Revised: