The district may provide transportation to and from school for a student:

• Whose residence is beyond the one mile radius from the school to which the student is assigned;

• Whose walking route to school is hazardous;

• Whose disability prevents him/her from walking or providing for his/her own welfare while walking; or

• Who has another compelling and legally sufficient reason to receive transportation services. The parent or guardian of a student whose assigned bus stop is beyond the maximum walking distance may receive reimbursement for private transportation at the state mileage reimbursement rate.

Each year the superintendent shall present to the board for the number of students who are transported that live within the minimum distance of their schools and for whom there appears sufficient justification for the district to provide transportation. In this report, the superintendent shall also provide the reasons why each of these students is transported.

The district's transportation program shall comply in all ways with state law and regulation. Transportation services of the district may include approved bus routes, district-approved field trips, school activities (participants only) and extracurricular activities (rooters). The superintendent is authorized to permit a parent of a student enrolled in school to ride a bus when excess seating is available and private or other public transportation is not reasonably available.

The board of directors may authorize children attending an approved private school to ride a school bus provided that the bus route and stops are not altered, space is available, and a fee to cover the per seat cost for such transportation is collected.

ROUTES AND SCHEDULES

The superintendent shall be responsible for scheduling bus transportation, including the determination of routes and bus stops as well as overseeing the transportation program.

The purpose of bus scheduling and routing is to achieve maximum service with a minimum fleet of buses insofar as this is consistent with rendering safe and reasonably equal service to all students entitled to such service. The board may authorize the use of a district-owned passenger car in lieu of a bus for transporting students to and from school.

In order to operate the transportation system as safely and efficiently as possible, the following factors shall be considered in establishing bus routes:

• Where an alternate route may be considered without sacrifice of efficiency or economy, preference shall be given to that route more directly serving the largest number of students.

• Location of bus stops may be determined by such factors as student safety, economy and efficiency. Students may be required to walk up to one mile from their home to their bus stop provided that the walking route is safe.

• School schedules shall be adjusted to allow maximum utilization of each bus in the system by alternating elementary and secondary trips.

The district shall apply for state transportation apportionment funds and shall maintain the records required to obtain such funding.

EMERGENCY ROUTES AND SCHEDULES

The district shall develop emergency bus routes and schedules to be used when weather conditions make the usual routes impassable or, in the superintendent's judgment, too hazardous. At the beginning of the school year, copies of emergency routes and schedules shall be distributed to parents with instructions on how to obtain emergency information.

If roads are closed to buses but not to private vehicles, the district may continue to operate the instructional programs of the schools without providing bus transportation until the roads are again open to buses.

GENERAL OPERATING REGULATIONS (WAC 392-145-015)

When a teacher, coach or other certificated staff member is accompanying students on the bus, such person will be responsible for the behavior of the students in their charge: but, should a situation arise involving the safety of the students or other persons, the bus driver shall have final authority and responsibility.  (Expected behavior is outlined in the student rules.)

Teachers and all other school district staff members shall refrain from requesting students to transport prohibited items between home and school on a school bus.  Items, which shall not be transported within the passenger area of a school bus, also include all forms of animal life (except seeing-eye dogs), firearms, weapons, breakable containers, flammables and all other articles, which could adversely affect the safety of the bus and passengers.  (The teacher doesn't have to ever be on a school bus to violate this section.  Any large article, such as special projects, may "adversely affect safety…")

Heavy, sharp, bulky and/or other articles, which may be hazardous in the event of an accident or an emergency stop, shall not be transported in the passenger area of any school bus.  Specific attention is directed to items such as skis, ski poles, vaulting poles, musical instruments, riser platforms, etc. (Anything transported in the passenger compartment must be out of the center aisle.)

There shall be no standees allowed while the bus is in motion.  (Each passenger shall have sufficient seating space.)

SELECTED ADOPTED SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES

SCHOOL BUSES

• Students riding buses shall conform to the "Rules and Regulations for Students Riding School Buses" as prepared by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction; and to the policies and regulations of the district as adopted by the Board of Directors.

• Coaches, chaperones or teachers shall maintain discipline of their respected group while riding in district vehicles.

• Maintenance of discipline while driving is the final responsibility of the driver.

• The driver has final responsibility should a situation arise involving safety of passengers or others.

Adoption Date: March 27, 2003

CURLEW SCHOOL DISTRICT #50

Revised: 4.09