7125     R&P                   School Bus Routing and Bus Stops                            7125 R&P

A. The following goals are established to keep student ride time to a minimum. 

1. Less than forty-five (45) minutes one-way ride time should be expected for most students.
2. Goals for maximum one-way ride times:

·   Base Elementary Students - One hour and 15 minutes

·   Base Secondary Students - One hour and 30 minutes

·   Magnet and Calendar Option Students - Thirty (30) minutes in addition to the above times.

2. Number of students on buses: students are assigned based upon the following load limits:

3. Requesting changes to bus stop locations:

1.       Parents/guardians who are seeking a change to the location of the bus stop assigned to their children, shall submit a request for change by completing a Transportation Service Request Form to the Transportation Operations Manager.

2.       The request should state clearly the action which is desired and justification for the requests.

3.       After receiving an appeal concerning a  stop, the Transportation Operations Manager may:

·   Let the original decision stand with respect to the establishment of a  stop, or

·   Make a change in accordance with state law or the established rules and regulations of the State Board of Education.

4.       The response to the request shall be provided to the requestor in writing within two weeks of the date of receipt, with answers clearly stated and fully explained.  A copy will be provided to the principal.

5.       If the request is denied, the parent may seek review of the decision in accordance with Policy 6520, Student Grievances. 

D.      Requesting service to or from before or after school care providers:

1. General transportation: Service to or from before or after school care providers for the duration of the school year may be provided when all of the following criteria are met:

·   Approval of a request to transport the student to a before or after school care provider will be for the school year, and not for one-time use,

·   The provider must be located in the base attendance or application draw area of the student’s school,

·   Seating space must be available on the bus,

·   Provider must be located along an existing established school bus run.

·   Must be of no additional cost,

·   Must not be in the designated  walk zone

·   Buses cannot enter day care or after school care center property, which is considered private property;

2. Exceptional Children: service to or from before or after school care providers for the duration of the school year may be provided when all of the following criteria are met: 

·   Approval of a request to transport the student to a before or after school care provider will be for the school year, and not for one-time use;

·   The provider must be located in the base attendance or application draw area of the student’s school, or the schools serving the area in which the student resides.

·   Seating space must be available on the vehicle;

·   Must be of no additional cost;

·   If the provider is a day care or after school care center,  staff must be present to load/unload students;

·   Buses/vehicles cannot enter daycare or after school care center property, which is considered private property.

3. Requesting service:

·   Parents/guardians may request service to before or after school care providers using Transportation Service Request Form.

·   Each request will be considered according to the criteria listed above, and the parent/guardian will be notified of the decision in writing.  A copy will be provided to the principal.

·   If the request is denied, the parent may seek review of the decision in accordance with Policy 6520, Student Grievances. 

5. Criteria for determining safe bus stops:
1. Transportation Department  staff will consider the following criteria—not necessarily in priority order—when determining the location of bus stops:

·   Adequate lighting,

·   Students’ pathway to the bus stop,

·   Stop is not isolated by its surroundings (visibility from nearby residences, etc.),

·   Availability of space for multiple students to wait,

·   Approaching motorists’ view of the bus stop and the stopped bus,

·   Street traffic patterns --curves, blind spots, etc.,

·   Street or highway traffic volume and speed, and

·   Available space for bus to safely stop and/or turn around.

2. Transportation Department staff will drive the affected bus route and/or visit the bus stop in order to obtain full information about requests for change.