AUXILIARY SERVICES
Series 700
Policy Title: Student School Transportation Eligibility Code No. 711.1
Elementary and middle school students living more than two miles from their designated school attendance centers and high school students living more than three miles from their designated attendance centers are entitled to 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 weighting plan.
Transportation of a student to and from a special education support service is a function of that service, and is specified in the individualized education program 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:
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, are reimbursed at the rate per mile set by the state.
Transportation arrangements made by agreement with a neighboring school district will follow the terms of the agreement. Students, who choose to attend a school in a school district other than their resident school district, will provide transportation to and from the school at their own expense.
Approved: December 16, 2003
Reviewed: March 9, 2021
Revised:
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1401, -1701 et seq (2012); 34 C.F.R. Pt. 300 et seq (2012); Iowa Code §§ 256B.4; 285; 321 (2013); 281 I.A.C. 41.412
Cross Reference: 501.16 Homeless Children and Youth; 507.8 Student Special Health Services; 603.3 Special Education; 711 Transportation
AUXILIARY SERVICES
Series 700
Policy Title: Student Conduct on School Transportation Code No. 711.2
Students utilizing school transportation will 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 will have the authority to maintain order on the school vehicle. It is the responsibility of the driver to report misconduct to the building administrator.
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 extracurricular events. The video cameras will be used to monitor student behavior and may be used as evidence in a student disciplinary proceeding. The videotapes are student records subject to school district confidentiality, Board policy and administrative regulations.
The Transportation Director will have the authority to suspend transportation privileges of the student or impose other appropriate discipline.
It is the responsibility of the Superintendent, in conjunction with the building principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding student conduct and discipline when utilizing school district transportation.
Approved: December 16, 2003
Reviewed: March 9, 2021
Revised:
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 285; 321 (2013)
Cross Reference: 503 Student Discipline; 506 Student Records
AUXILIARY SERVICES
Series 700
Policy Title: Student Transportation for Extracurricular Activities Code No. 711.3
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, who are provided transportation in school district transportation vehicles for extracurricular events, will ride both to and from the event in the school vehicle unless arrangements have been made with the building principal or Athletic Director prior to the event. A student’s parent may personally appear 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 is the responsibility of the Superintendent to make a recommendation to the Board as to whether the school district will provide the transportation authorized in this policy. In making the recommendation to the Board, the Superintendent will 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: December 16, 2003
Reviewed: March 9, 2021
Revised: July 13, 2009
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256B.4; 285.1-.4; 321 (2013); 281 I.A.C 41.412
Cross Reference: 504 Student Activities; 711 Transportation
AUXILIARY SERVICES
Series 700
Policy Title: Summer School Program Transportation Service Code No. 711.4
The school district may use school vehicles for transportation to and from summer extracurricular activities. The superintendent will make a recommendation to the Board annually regarding their use.
Transportation to and from the student’s attendance center for summer school instructional programs is within the discretion of the Board. It is 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 will 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: December 16, 2003
Reviewed: March 9, 2021
Revised:
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 285.10 (2013); 281 I.A.C. 43.10; 281 I.A.C. 41.412
Cross Reference: 603.2 Summer School Instruction; 711 Transportation
AUXILIARY SERVICES
Series 700
Policy Title: Transportation of Nonresident and Nonpublic School Students Code No. 711.5
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 will 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 Iowa Department of Education will be reimbursed at the established state rate. This reimbursement is 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 will be prorated.
The charge to the nonresident students is determined based on the students’ pro rata share of the actual costs for transportation. The parents of these students are billed for the student’s share of the actual costs of transportation. The billing is according to the schedule developed by the Superintendent. It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to determine the amount to be charged and report it to the Board Secretary 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 will make a recommendation to the Board regarding the method to be used. In making a recommendation to the Board, the Superintendent will consider the number of students to be transported, the capacity of the school vehicles, the financial condition of the School District and other factors deemed relevant by the Board or the Superintendent.
Non-resident and nonpublic school students are 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 student by the School District.
Approved: December 16, 2003
Reviewed: March 9, 2021
Revised: July 13, 2009
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 285.1-.2, .10, .16 (2013)
Cross Reference: 711 Transportation
AUXILIARY SERVICES
Series 700
Policy Title: Transportation of Non-school Groups Code No. 711.6
Only in unusual circumstances will the Board make school district transportation vehicles available to local nonprofit entities which promote cultural, educational, civic, community, or recreational activities for transporting to and from non-school-sponsored activities in the state.
In the event school district transportation vehicles are made available to local nonprofit entities, it is the responsibility of the Superintendent to develop administrative regulations for application for, use of, and payment for using the school district transportation vehicles.
Approved: December 16, 2003
Reviewed: March 9, 2021
Revised:
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 285.1(21), .10(9), (10) (2013); 281 I.A.C. 41.412; 281 I.A.C. 43.10
Cross Reference: 711 Transportation; 900 Principles and Objectives for Community Relations
AUXILIARY SERVICES
Series 700
Policy Title: School Bus Safety Instruction Code No. 711.7
The school district will conduct school bus safe riding practices instruction and emergency safety drills twice a year for students who utilize school district transportation.
Each school bus vehicle will 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 will include, but not be limited to, students with disabilities.
School district vehicle drivers are required to attend each safety drill.
Employees are responsible for instructing the proper techniques to be followed during an emergency, as well as safe riding practices. It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Approved: December 16, 2003
Reviewed: March 9, 2021
Revised:
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 321 (2013); 281 I.A.C. 41.412; 43.40
Cross Reference: 503 Student Discipline; 507 Student Health and Well-Being; 804.2 Warning Systems and Emergency Plans
AUXILIARY SERVICES
Series 700
Policy Title: Transportation in Inclement Weather Code No. 711.8
School district 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 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 will be assisted in this decision by the Transportation Director.
Drivers will be notified by the Transportation Director when school is cancelled or temporarily delayed, students and parents will be notified through commercial media. When school is cancelled because of weather anywhere in the district, all school will be closed.
When weather conditions deteriorate during the day after school has begun, cancellation notices will be announced by commercial media. 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.
Approved: December 16, 2003
Reviewed: March 9, 2021
Revised:
Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8 (2013)
Cross Reference: 601.2 School Day