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.

The board shall annually approve bus routes upon the recommendation of the superintendent and the transportation director.  Transportation routes will be determined after considering the number of students to be transported in each area of the district, the seating capacity of the buses, the distance to be traveled, safety factors, efficiency and economy of the routes, and such other factors as deemed pertinent.  The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee may temporarily adjust routes as deemed necessary.

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.

Approved November 11, 2013    
Reviewed August 16, 2023       
Revised November 26, 2018  

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.

The driver will have the authority to maintain order on the school vehicle.  It is the responsibility of the driver to report misconduct to the transportation director and building administrator.

The board supports the use of video cameras, including video and audio recordings, on school buses used for transportation to and from school as well as for field trips, curricular or extracurricular events.  The video cameras may be used to monitor student and/or employee behavior and may be used as evidence in a student or employee disciplinary proceeding.  The video recordings may be student records or employment records subject to school district confidentiality, board policy, and administrative regulations.

After one violation of the bus conduct rules, or for a serious violation of bus conduct rules, the building principal will have the authority to suspend transportation privileges of the student or impose other appropriate discipline.

Approved December 16, 2013     
Reviewed August 16, 2023    
Revised November 26, 2018  

The board in its discretion may provide school district transportation for extracurricular activities including, but not limited to, transporting student participants and other students to and from extracurricular events.

Students participating in extracurricular events, other than those held at the school district facilities, may be transported to the extracurricular event by school district transportation vehicles or by another means approved by the superintendent.  Students attending extracurricular events, other than those held at the school district facilities may be transported to the extracurricular event by school district transportation vehicles.

Students, who are provided transportation in school district transportation vehicles for extracurricular events, will ride both to and from the event in the school vehicle unless arrangements have been made with the building principal or the athletic director prior to the event.  A student’s parent may personally appear and request to transport the student home from a school-sponsored event in which the student traveled to the event on a school district transportation vehicle.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board annually as to whether the school district will provide the transportation authorized in this policy.  In making the recommendation to the board, the superintendent will consider the financial condition of the school district, the number of students who would qualify for such transportation, and other factors the board or superintendent deem relevant.

Approved December 16, 2013     
Reviewed August 16, 2023    
Revised November 26, 2018  

Transportation to and from the student’s attendance center for summer school instructional programs is within the discretion of the board.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation regarding transportation of students in summer school instructional programs at the expense of the school district.  In making the recommendation to the board, the superintendent will consider the financial condition of the school district, the number of students involved in summer school programs, and other factors deemed relevant by the board or the superintendent.

The school district may use school vehicles for transportation to and from summer extracurricular activities.  The superintendent will make a recommendation to the board annually regarding their use.

Approved December 16, 2013     
Reviewed August 16, 2023    
Revised November 26, 2018  

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.

Approved December 16, 2013     
Reviewed August 16, 2023    
Revised November 26, 2018  

Only in unusual circumstances will the board make school district transportation vehicles available to local nonprofit entities which promote cultural, educational, civic, community, or recreational activities for transporting to and from nonschool-sponsored activities in the state.  The local nonprofit entity must pay the cost of using the school district vehicle as per the current fee schedule.

In the event school district transportation vehicles are made available to local nonprofit entities, it is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop requirements for application for, use of, and payment for using the school district transportation vehicles.

Approved December 16, 2013     
Reviewed August 16, 2023    
Revised November 26, 2018  

The school district will conduct school bus and other vehicle safe riding practices instruction and emergency safety drills at least twice during the school year for students who utilize school district transportation.

Each school vehicle will have, in addition to the regular emergency safety drill, a plan for helping those students who require special assistance to safety during an emergency. This will include, but not be limited to, students with disabilities.

School district vehicle drivers are required to attend each safety drill.  Employees are responsible for instructing the proper techniques to be followed during an emergency, as well as safe riding practices.

Approved December 16, 2013     
Reviewed August 16, 2023    
Revised November 26, 2018  

School district vehicles 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.  The superintendent will be assisted by the actual “on location” decisions and reports through the director of transportation.

Bus drivers will report weather and road conditions by bus radio when requested to do so. If radio contact is not possible, the driver will proceed to the next stop which does not present a hazard and make telephone contact personally, with the assistance of a student rider, monitor, or other person.

When school is cancelled because of weather anywhere in the school district, all schools will be closed.  Employees and students will be notified by commercial radio, television, web site and/or automated phone service when school is cancelled or temporarily delayed. 

When weather conditions deteriorate during the day after school has begun, cancellation notices will be announced as outlined above.  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.

Approved December 16, 2013     
Reviewed August 16, 2023    
Revised November 26, 2018  

The board recognizes that it has a role in reducing environmental pollutants and in assisting students and others be free from pollutants that may impact their respiratory health.  Unnecessary vehicle idling emits pollutants and wastes fuel.  The board directs the superintendent and the director of transportation to collaborate and provide appropriate training and directives to bus drivers in an effort to reduce school vehicle idling time.

Approved December 16, 2013      
Reviewed August 16, 2023   
Revised November 26, 2018  

It is the goal of the Red Oak Community School District Transportation Department to provide the safest student transportation possible. Beginning in 2020-21, the District is purchasing school buses equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts. The District requires that all students riding a school district bus equipped with seat belts wear seat belts while the bus is in motion.

All students will receive instruction on the proper use of seat belts during the twice annual bus safety drills. Drivers are not responsible (i.e. liable) for students wearing seat belts while riding. Drivers are responsible for instructing students to put on seat belts prior to the bus moving.

Students who may require assistance in using seat belts should ask the bus driver for help, so that all students are safely belted in their seat before the bus is in motion. Drivers will announce prior to the bus leaving that each student needs to be in their seat with the seat belt fastened.

Students refusing to use seat belts create a safety concern for themselves and others, and are subject to school district disciplinary actions. Repeated refusal to wear seat belts can result in suspension from bus riding privileges.

All adults accompanying students as bus riders are expected to utilize the lap/shoulder seat belts, too.

Approved August 24, 2020
Reviewed August 2, 2023
Revised