Each year, no later than the regular Board of Trustee’s meeting in August, the Superintendent or designee shall present their recommendation for bus routes, school safety busing zones and non-transportation zones to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall consider student health and safety in considering the recommendations of the superintendent or designee.
Definitions:
Safety Busing Zone: The transportation of a student who lives less than one and one-half (1/2) miles from school when, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, the age or health or safety of the students warrants such action.
Non-Transportation Zone: An area of the District designated by the Board which is not served by District transportation because of scarcity of students, remoteness, or condition of roads makes such service impractical.
In order to operate the transportation system as safely and efficiently as possible, the following factors shall be considered in establishing bus routes:
- School bus routes shall be established with due consideration of the sum total of local conditions affecting the safety, economic soundness and convenience of its operation, including road conditions, condition of bridges and culverts, hazardous crossings, presence of railroad tracks and arterial highways, extreme weather conditions and variations, length or route, number of families and children to be serviced, availability of turn-around points, capacity of bus, and other related factors. Further, the Board of Trustees shall consider the criteria set out in its measuring and scoring instrument. (See Exhibit 1 to Policy 8101-Safety Busing.)
- School bus drivers are encouraged to make recommendations in regard to establishing or changing routes.
- Parents should be referred to the Superintendent for any request of change in routes, stops, or schedules.
- At least once each year, the transportation supervisor or the District’s school bus driver trainer shall evaluate each route for the purpose of assessing the safety of routes and bus stops. Documentation of the route evaluation shall be retained by the district.
Bus Stops
Buses should stop only at designated places approved by school authorities. Exceptions should be made only in cases of emergency and inclement weather conditions. Bus stops shall be chosen with safety in mind and protection of the health of the student.
School loading and unloading zones are to be established and marked to provide safe and orderly loading and unloading of students. The principal of each building is responsible for the conduct of students waiting in loading zones.
Delay in Schedule
The driver is to notify the administration of a delay in schedule. The administration will notify parents on routes and radio stations, if necessary.
Responsibilities - Pupils
Pupils must realize that safety is based on group conduct. Talk should be in conversational tones at all times. There should be no shouting or loud talking which may distract the bus driver. There should be no shouting at passerby. Pupils should instantly obey any command or suggestions from the driver and/or his/her assistants.
A pupil may be denied transportation upon a showing of good cause. The reason for the denial of transportation services shall be provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) in writing.
Responsibilities - Parents
The interest and assistance of each parent is a valued asset to the transportation program. Parent’s efforts toward making each bus trip a safe and pleasant experience are requested and appreciated. The following suggestions are only three of the many ways parents can assist:
- Ensure that students are at the bus stop in sufficient time to efficiently meet the bus.
- Properly prepare children for the weather conditions.
- Encourage school bus safety at home. Caution children regarding safe behavior and conduct while riding on the school bus.
Safety
The Superintendent shall develop written rules establishing the procedures for bus safety and emergency exit drills, and for student conduct while riding on buses.
If the bus and driver are present, the driver is responsible for the safety of his/her passengers, particularly for those who must cross a roadway prior to loading or after leaving the bus. Except in emergencies, no bus driver shall order or allow a student to board or disembark at other than his/her assigned stop unless so authorized by the Superintendent. In order to assure the safety of all, the bus driver may hold students accountable for their conduct during the course of transportation and may recommend corrective action against a student. Bus drivers are expressly prohibited from using corporal punishment.
Further, the Board of Trustees shall consider the criteria set out in its measuring and scoring instrument which by this reference is incorporated and attached to this policy.
The bus driver is responsible for the use of the warning and stop signaling systems and the consequent protection of his/her passengers. Failure to use the system constitutes negligence on the part of the driver.
Inclement Weather
The Board recognizes the unpredictability and resulting dangers associated with the weather in Idaho. To achieve the maximum safety for children and efficiency of operation, the Superintendent is empowered to make decisions as to the emergency operation of buses, the cancellation of bus routes, and the closing of school in accordance with his/her best judgment. The Board may develop guidelines in cooperation with the Superintendent to assist him/her in making such decisions.
Cross Reference:
8110 Safety Busing
Legal Reference:
I.C. § 33-1501 Transportation Authorized
I.C. § 33-1502 Bus Routes – Non-transportation zones
Policy History
Anticipated First Reading: February 19, 2009
Adopted on: March 12, 2009
Revised on: August 15, 2019