Each year, no later than the regular August board meeting, the board will establish bus routes and determine non-transportation zones in accordance with state and federal law and district policies. The board may later change such routes or zones when change in the condition of roads, or in the number of students being transported, would justify such alteration. In approving the routing of school buses, or the maintenance and operation of all transportation equipment, or the appointment or employment of chauffeurs, the primary requirements to be observed by the board are the safety and adequate protection of the health of the students. All changes to established bus routes and establishment of routes that require a bus to back to turn around on a public roadway must be approved by the board.
Non-transportation zones are the geographical areas of this district, as designated by the board, which are impractical by reason of scarcity of students and/or remoteness or condition of roads to be served by established bus routes.
DRIVER AND ROUTE EVALUATION
At least once per year the district’s transportation supervisor or the district’s school bus driver trainer will evaluate each bus route and each driver for the purpose of assessing driver performance and the safety of routes and bus stops. Documentation of the driver and route evaluation will be maintained in the driver’s personnel file.
SUPERVISION OF SCHOOL LOADING/UNLOADING ZONES
The building principal or designee shall provide adequate supervision of loading and unloading areas at or near their school during the loading and unloading of school buses. Supervision will be appropriate to the size of the loading/unloading area and the number of students present to ensure close, continuous and interactive supervision whenever students and/or buses are present in the loading area.
BUS STOPS
Bus stops will be established in safe locations with at least one-hundred (100) yards clear visibility in both directions, whenever possible, and at least forty (40) feet from intersections, whenever possible. Bus stops will not be established less than one and one-half (1 ½) miles from the nearest appropriate school except when in the judgment of the board, the age or health or safety of the students warrants.
When establishing bus stop locations, the district considers the safety and protection of the health of students, including proximity to registered sex offender residences. District staff responsible for establishing bus stops may obtain information under the Sex Offender Registration Notification and Community Right to Know Act to assist in making decisions on bus stop locations. The superintendent or designee may determine a minimum distance of bus stops from a registered sex offender residence. All bus stops will be reviewed at least annually.
It is expected that school buses stop to load/unload passengers at designated bus stops in accordance with the law. Students shall not leave or board the bus at locations other than the assigned home stop or assigned school unless arrangements for doing so have been approved by the school principal or designee. The superintendent or designee may develop procedures and appropriate forms for obtaining approval of alternate student bus stops.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
The board recognizes that there may be instances when severe inclement weather (e.g. snow or ice) necessitates temporary alteration or cancellation of bus routes to ensure the safety of students. The superintendent or bus supervisor is authorized to make decisions as to the emergency operation of school buses, the cancellation of bus routes, and the closing of schools in accordance with his or her best judgment. The board may develop guidelines in cooperation with the superintendent to inform such decisions.
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LEGAL REFERENCE:
Idaho Code Sections
18-8301 et seq. – Sex Offender Registration Notification and Community Right-to-Know Act
33-512 – Governance of Schools
33-1501 et seq. – Transportation of Pupils
IDAPA Sections
08.02.02.004.01 – Standards for Idaho School Buses and Operations
08.02.02.170 – School Bus Drivers and Vehicle Operation
CROSS-REFERENCE:
702 – Student Transportation System
726 – Safety Busing
ADOPTED: April 17, 2024
AMENDED: