Lewisburg Area School District Policies	Printable version
810 Student Transportation 810. STUDENT TRANSPORTATION The Board recognizes its responsibility to safely transport all eligible resident students to schools operated or supported by the district and to safely transport some eligible students to private schools in accordance with law. School bus means a motor vehicle that is designed to carry eleven (11) passengers or more, including the driver, and is used for the transportation of preprimary, primary or secondary school students to or from public, private or parochial schools or events related to such schools or school-related activities. School vehicle means a motor vehicle, except a motorcycle, designed for carrying no more than ten (10) passengers, including the driver, and used for the transportation of preprimary, primary or secondary school students while registered by or under contract to the school district. The term includes vehicles having chartered, group and party rights under the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and used for the transportation of school children. The Board shall purchase, equip, and maintain vehicles and/or contract for school bus services for the transportation of students to and from school at regularly scheduled hours and for field trips and extracurricular activities. The Board shall provide transportation for students living within the prescribed limits when walking conditions to the school are found to be hazardous by the Department of Transportation. The Board shall transport handicapped students without regard to distance or hazardous walking conditions. The Board shall transport eligible resident students who are enrolled in nonpublic schools within the distance prescribed by law. A school bus driver shall not be employed until s/he has complied with the mandatory background check requirements for criminal history and child abuse and the contractor has evaluated the results of that screening process. The district will also receive copies of the clearances of each bus driver transporting district students. The Board prohibits any diesel-powered motor vehicles weighing 10,001 pounds or more to idle for more than five (5) minutes in any continuous sixty-minute period while parked, loading or unloading, except as allowed by law. The Board shall ensure that permanent signs, notifying drivers of the idling restrictions, are maintained on district property at locations where diesel-powered motor vehicles weighing 10,001 pounds or more load or unload. Signs shall also be posted at locations that provide fifteen (15) or more parking spaces for such diesel-powered motor vehicles. The Board authorizes the use of video and audio recording on school buses and school vehicles. The Board prohibits the use of audio recording on any school bus or school vehicle that is not being used for a school-related purpose. The school bus driver shall be responsible for the discipline of students while they are being transported. The Board directs the Superintendent or designee to ensure that: 1. Each school bus and school vehicle that is equipped with video and audio recording equipment contains a clearly posted notice informing drivers and passengers of the potential for video and audio recording. 2. Parents/Guardians and students are annually informed, by letter mailed to the students’ home addresses, of the policy authorizing video and audio recording on school buses and school vehicles. The principal may suspend a student from bus transportation for disciplinary reasons, and the parents/guardians shall be responsible for the student’s transportation. The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible to: 1. Establish rules governing the number of chaperones to accompany students in connection with school-related activities. 2. Prepare a district map or schedule indicating each bus stop and bus route. 3. Maintain records and make required reports regarding school transportation. 4. Distribute rules governing student conduct during transportation; such rules shall be binding on all students transported by the district. Reports Of Employee Crimes/Child Abuse As outlined in policy 810.2, the bus contractor shall implement and enforce a policy requiring all employees to immediately report having been charged with a crime or convicted of a crime immediately upon notification of same. The bus contractor shall immediately notify the school district in writing of the information received from the bus contractor's employee for purposes of determining whether or not said employee is eligible to serve as a bus driver for the school district. The procedures shall also include the provision that the failure on the part of employees to make such a timely notification shall subject them to disciplinary action, including termination. This responsibility is in addition to the requirement for clearances that must be presented to the district when an individual is initially hired by the district or the contract carriers. If any bus drivers have been charged as stated in this policy, the transportation contract carriers shall, in their written, yearly notification, include the name of the employee, nature of the offense, and the status of the disposition. The district will review this information to determine if the employee shall continue to transport district students. Alternative Transportation The district shall provide alternate transportation when seating is available and advance permission from the district administration has been obtained. Alternate transportation shall be provided for child care of elementary school students only (K-6). In emergency situations a student may be granted permission for alternate transportation on a temporary basis (thirty (30) days). References: School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 111, 1331, 1361, 1362, 1365, 1366, 1374, 2541, 2542 State Board of Education Regulations – 22 PA Code Sec. 8.1 et seq., 15.1 et seq., 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 23.6 State Department of Transportation Regulations – 67 PA Code Sec. 212.101, 447.1 et seq. Child Protective Services Law – 23 Pa. C.S.A. Sec. 6301 et seq. Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act – 35 P.S. Sec. 4601 et seq. Transportation of Individuals with Disabilities, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations – 49 CFR Part 37, Part 38 Wiretap and Electronic Surveillance Act – 18. Pa. C.S.A. Sec. 5704 Vehicle Code – 75 Pa. C.S.A. Sec. 102 Board Policy – 000, 103, 103.1, 121, 504, 517, 810.2