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 (IEP) or the individualized family service plan (IFSP).  When the IEP or IFSP 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.
• 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, 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.

Legal Reference:        
20 U.S.C. §§ 1401, 1701 et seq. (2010).
34 C.F.R. Pt. 300 et seq. (2010).
Iowa Code §§ 256B.4; 285; 321 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 41.412

Date of Adoption:                                                      
August 11, 1975                                                         

Date of Review:
June 12, 2023

Date of Revisions:
August 9, 1976
May 11, 1981
October 13, 1997
November 14, 2016

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.

Although the law requires the district to provide transportation, it does not relieve parents from the responsibility of supervision until such time as the child boards the bus and after the child leaves the bus at the end of the school day.  Nor does it relieve students from the responsibility to behave in an orderly and safe manner on the bus.  School bus transportation is a privilege that can be taken away any time a student’s conduct is considered bad enough to jeopardize the safety of the other passengers.  The right to safe transportation will not be taken from an entire bus load of students because a few of them disobey the rules.

The bus driver shall have complete control of the bus and the students he or she is transporting for the duration of the bus ride.  Serious and/or repeated problem(s) arising with a student will be promptly reported to the building principal and Transportation Director.  The student will be disciplined in accordance with established policy.  Continued violation of bus rules will be considered sufficient cause for refusing to transport the student(s) involved and may lead to suspension and/or expulsion from school, depending upon the seriousness of the matter.

In addition, the board supports the use of recording devices on school buses used for transportation to and from school as well as for field trips, curricular or extracurricular events.  The recording devices will be used to monitor student behavior and may be used as evidence in a student disciplinary proceeding.  The recordings are student records subject to school district confidentiality, board policy and administrative regulations.

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.

Legal Reference:        
Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 285; 321 (2013).

Approved:
October 9, 1989

Reviewed:
June 12, 2023

School district transportation vehicles shall be used for transporting students and others to school-sponsored events within the state.  School district transportation vehicles may be used for transporting students and others to school-sponsored events outside the state.  In determining whether to allow transportation outside the state, the administration shall consider the nature of the trip, the cost and method of payment for the trip, the cost and burden of complying with the Interstate Commerce Commission regulations, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.

Students, who are provided transportation in school district transportation vehicles by the school district for school-sponsored events, shall ride both to and from the event in the school vehicle.  A student’s parent or guardian may personally ask the sponsor or coach to transport the student home from a school-sponsored event in which the student traveled to the event on a school district transportation vehicle.

Arrangements for the use of a school bus for an excursion, field trip, or other school-sponsored activity must be made at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled time of the activity.  In addition, the bus must be driven by a qualified school bus driver and the pupils must be accompanied by a member of the staff who will be responsible for the conduct and general supervision of the pupils.

Legal Reference:        
Iowa Code §§ 256B.4; 285.1-.4; 321 (2011).
281 I.A.C. 41.412.

Approved:                                                                  
August 11, 1975                                                         

Reviewed:
June 12, 2023

Revised:
May 11, 1981
November 14,  2016

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 annually 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.

Nonresident 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 students by the school district.

Legal Reference:        
Iowa Code §§ 285.1-.2, .10, .16 (2013).

Approved:                                                                  
August 11, 1975

Reviewed:
June 12, 2023

Revised:
May 11, 1981
October 8, 1989
September 19, 1994
November 14, 2016

School district vehicles may be made available to local nonprofit entitites which promote cultural, educational, civic, community, or recreational activities for transporting to and from nonschool-sponsored activities within the state as long as the transportation does not interfere with or disrupt the educational progoram of the school district and does not interfere with or delay the transportation of students.  The local nonprofit entity must pay the pro rata cost of using the school district vehicle as determined by the Board.  Due to Interstate Commerce Commission regulations, school district vehicles will not be available for nonschool-sponsored trips outside of Iowa.

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 the application for, use of, and payment for using the school district transportation vehicles by local nonprofit entities for a nonschool-sponsored activity.

Legal Reference:        
Iowa Code §§ 285.1(21), .10(9), (10) (2013).
281 I.A.C. 41.412; 43.10

Approved:                                                            
September 19, 1994

Reviewed:
June 12, 2023

Revised:
October 13, 1997
November 14, 2016

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 or designee.  The superintendent will be assisted by the actual "on location" reports of the drivers.

Several drivers each year will be specially designated to report weather and road conditions by bus radio when requested to do so.  Other employees and students will be notified by commercial radio 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.  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.

Legal Reference:        
Iowa Code § 279.8 (2013).

Approved:                          
October 13, 1980

Reviewed:
June 12, 2023

Revised:
May 11, 1981
June 10, 1985
September 19, 1994
October 13, 1997
November 14, 2016