EDAA School Buses and Vehicles

EDAA 

School Buses and Vehicles  

Use of buses and other school vehicles by the district shall conform to current law. School buses and other school vehicles will not be loaned, leased, or subcontracted to any person, groups of persons, or organizations except as allowed by law, subject to board approval. 

Liability 

All school vehicles will be adequately insured. 

Safety 

For the purposes of this policy, “school transportation provider” is defined to include school bus drivers, school passenger vehicle drivers, and other school employees who may transport students. 

Every school transportation provider shall have a valid driver’s license. Such drivers shall have full authority and  responsibility for the passengers riding in school vehicles.  

Students or other persons riding in school buses or school vehicles who violate district policy or bus and/or school vehicle rules will be reported to the proper administrator. Violations of these policies and/or rules may  result in disciplinary action by school officials or reports to law enforcement as appropriate. 

Speed Limits 

The board may set speed limits for district vehicles, which may be lower than state-allowed maximum speed limits. 

Safety Inspection 

The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall be responsible for bus and other transportation inspections. 

Defects found in school vehicles shall be repaired as soon as possible. The director of transportation shall be responsible for keeping school vehicles in good operating condition. 

Scheduling and Routing 

Scheduling androuting shall be the responsibility of the superintendent or the superintendent’sdesignee. Bus and transportation schedules and routing maps will be updated annually prior to the start of school.  

Records 

Every school transportation provider will keep accurate records pertaining to each assigned vehicle. The types of records shall be developed by the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee. 

Any record developed by the administration for the purpose of monitoring vehicle use will include, but may not be limited to, the following information: miles driven each trip, gas and oil usage, purpose of the trip, destination, time of departure, and time of return. Such records will be signed by each driver at the conclusion  of each trip and submitted to the person responsible for collection of these records. An annual summary report  will be used in the compilation of the district's budget. A copy of the annual report may be given to the board  on or before the regular board meeting in June or upon request.

Licensing of Drivers 

It shall be the responsibility of all school transportation providers provide proof of a valid driver’s license  appropriate for the vehicle(s) to be driven for the district to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee at the beginning of each school year. If a school transportation provider's license is suspended or  revoked at any time, the suspension or revocation shall be reported to the superintendent, and the employee  shall immediately cease driving a school vehicle and transporting students. School transportation providers  shall be provided access to this policy annually. 

Housing of School Vehicles 

All school vehicles shall be housed in areas designated by the superintendent. Buses may be housed in the district's central storage area or assigned to a designated driver who may then house the bus as directed. 

If district vehicles are assigned to designated employees, the employee shall be responsible for the proper care,  maintenance, and housing of the vehicle at a district-owned site, while on school business, or at the employee's residence. 

Transportation to Summer Athletic Events 

The board authorizes the superintendent to approve the use of school buses or other school vehicles in transporting district students to summer athletics and activities, when such programs: 

• are recognized by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) and offered by the school district during the school year;  
• are directed by current USD 443 staff (i.e. Head or Assistant Coach);  
• serve primarily the students of USD 443;  
• Compensate USD 443 at the usual and customary rates charged for the use of the vehicles, and for district drivers, if needed;  
• utilize drivers who meet current policy guidelines and regulations for transporting students and operating district vehicles; and  
• make requests for vehicles in a timely manner and are approved by the school  
• district’s Athletic/Activities Director(s) and the Transportation Supervisor.  

Any staff requests for such use shall be submitted to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee at least two (2) weeks prior to the activity and shall include the following information: the time, date, and duration of trip;  

• the purpose of the transportation;  
• the projected number of students requiring transportation for such event;  
• the type of bus(es) or vehicle(s) requested;  
• which district staff member(s) will be accompanying the student(s) on such trips; and  
• whether or not additional school transportation providers would be required to provide such transport. 

All such requests for the use of school district vehicles must include the pre-payment of the estimated costs for the use of the vehicles. Also, the names and emergency contact information for each student and adult utilizing  school district transportation must be provided to the Transportation Department prior to the trip. 

The superintendent may grant or deny such requests after taking into consideration the following factors:  

• the expense of providing requested transport;  
• the availability of funds for such purpose; 
• the availability of adequate school staff to chaperone and/or provide transportation;
• the availability of and/or the coverage of liability insurance for this purpose;  
• priority of assignment and availability of necessary vehicles;  
• Title IX and other fairness considerations in granting use or repeated use to a particular group of  student participants; and  
• other good cause as determined by the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee. 

Policy Reference: ED

Policy References: JBCA and JGG

Adoption Date: 06/06/2006, Revised 07/07/2008; 03/03/2014; 08/10/2015; 07/11/2022