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 shall be entitled to transportation to and from their attendance center at the expense of the school district.

Transportation of students who require special education services shall 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 shall be specified in the individualized education program or the individualized family service plan (IFSP).  When the IEP 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 shall be 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, shall be reimbursed at the rate per mile set by the state. 

Transportation arrangements made by agreement with a neighboring school district shall follow the terms of the agreement.  Students, who choose to attend a school in a school district other than their resident school district, shall provide transportation to and from the school at their own expense.

Legal Reference:  20 U.S.C. §§ 1401, 1701 et seq. (1994).
                                      34 C.F.R. Pt. 300 et seq. (2002).
                                      Iowa Code §§ 256B.4; 285; 321 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 41.98; 43.

Cross Reference:  501.17 Homeless Children and Youth
                                      507.8   Student Special Health Services
                                      603.3   Special Education
                                      711      Transportation

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                            01/19/2015
                                                                                            01/20/2020

Students utilizing school transportation shall 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 will be the responsibility of the driver to report misconduct to the building administrator.

The board supports the use of recording devices on school buses used for transportation to and from school as well as for field trips, curricular or extracurricular events.  The recording devices will be used to monitor student behavior and may be used as evidence in a student disciplinary proceeding.  The recordings are student records subject to school district confidentiality, board policy and administrative regulations.

After one warning for bad conduct, the building principal will have the authority to suspend transportation privileges of the student or impose other appropriate discipline.

It will be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the building principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding student conduct and discipline when utilizing school district transportation.

Legal Reference:          Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 285; 321 (2003).

Cross Reference:          503      Student Discipline

                                    506      Student Records

                                    804.6   Use of Recording Devices on School Property

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 01/20/2020                           Revised 12/21/2009

                                                                            11/15/2021                                       02/16/2015

                                                                                                                                     01/20/2020

                                                                                                                                     11/15/2021

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, shall ride both to and from the event in the school vehicle unless arrangements have been made with the building principal 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 shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board annually as to whether the school district shall provide the transportation authorized in this policy.  In making the recommendation to the board, the superintendent shall 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.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 256B.4; 285.1-.4; 321 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 41.98; 43.

Cross Reference:  504      Student Activities
                                      711      Transportation

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                           01/19/2015
                                                                                           01/20/2020

The school district shall purchase transportation vehicles which meet the requirements of the board and the Iowa Department of Education.  The purchase of such vehicles shall be in compliance with board policy.

School district student transportation vehicles shall be inspected by the Iowa Department of Education.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to arrange for the inspection of the school district transportation vehicles requiring inspection and to develop a program for routine maintenance of school district vehicles.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 285.10(3) (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 43.30-.31, .41.

Cross Reference:  705.4   Purchasing - Bidding
                                      711      Transportation

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                           01/19/2015
                                                                                           01/20/2020

The board may annually approve and review the school district bus routes.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the school bus routes keeping in mind the safety of the students, the size of the school buses, the length of the route, the cost to the school district, and other factors deemed relevant by the superintendent.  The superintendent shall also develop emergency school bus routes that may be necessary due to weather or other conditions.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 285.10-.11 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 43.1-.2.

Cross Reference:  711      Transportation

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                           01/19/2015
                                                                                           01/20/2020

The school district is required to provide a certain level of transportation service to its resident students.  The board has complete discretion to provide additional transportation service to its resident and nonresident students.  School district transportation vehicles may, at the discretion of the board, make special stops on the bus route as a courtesy to the passengers.  Changes in the bus route for discretionary stops must be reviewed by the board.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to recommend to the board whether a school vehicle will make a discretionary stop.  In making this recommendation, the superintendent shall consider the safety of the students, the size of the school buses, the length of the route, the cost to the school district, and other factors deemed relevant by the board or superintendent.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 285.10 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 43.10.

Cross Reference:  711      Transportation

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                           01/19/2015
                                                                                           01/20/2020

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

Transportation to and from the student's attendance center for summer school instructional programs shall be within the discretion of the board.  It shall be 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 shall 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.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 285.10 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 43.10.

Cross Reference:  711      Transportation

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                           01/19/2015
                                                                                           01/20/2020

The board has sole discretion to determine the method to be utilized for transporting nonresident and nonpublic students.  Resident students and nonresident students paying tuition may be attending a nonpublic school accredited by the State Department of Education, and they 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 shall obtain the permission of the superintendent prior to being transported by the school district.  Permission must be received by the nonresident student’s 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 shall be 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 shall be prorated.

The charge to the nonresident students shall be determined based on the students' pro rata share of the actual costs for transportation.  The parents of these students shall be billed for the student's share of the actual costs of transportation.  The billing shall be according to the schedule developed by the superintendent.  It shall be 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 shall make a recommendation annually to the board regarding the method to be used.  In making a recommendation to the board, the superintendent shall 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 shall be 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.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 285.1-.2, .10, .16 (2003).

Cross Reference:  711      Transportation

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 01/19/2015                           Revised 12/21/2009
                                                                                            01/20/2020

School district vehicles may be available to local nonprofit entities which promote cultural, educational, civic, community, or recreational activities for transporting to and from nonschool-sponsored activities within the state as long as the transportation does not interfere with or disrupt the education program of the school district and does not interfere with or delay the transportation of students.  The local nonprofit entity must pay the cost of using the school district vehicle as determined by the superintendent.  Prior to making the school district transportation vehicle available to the local nonprofit entity, the "school bus" signs shall be covered and the flashing warning lamps and the stop arm made inoperable.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for use of school district transportation vehicles to transport students and others to school-sponsored events within the state and for application for, use of, and payment for using the school district transportation vehicles by local nonprofit entities for a nonschool-sponsored activity.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 285.1(21), .10(9), (10) (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 43.10.

Cross Reference:  711      Transportation
                                      900      Principles and Objectives for Community Relations

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                           01/19/2015
                                                                                           01/20/2020

The school district shall conduct school bus safe riding practices instruction and emergency safety drills twice a year for students who utilize school district transportation.

Each school bus vehicle shall 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 shall include, but not be limited to, students with disabilities.

School district vehicle drivers are required to attend each safety drill.

Employees shall be responsible for instructing the proper techniques to be followed during an emergency, as well as safe riding practices.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 321 (2003).
                                      281 I.A.C. 43.40.

Cross Reference:  503      Student Discipline
                                      507      Student Health and Well-Being
                                      804.2   Warning Systems and Emergency Plans

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/21/2009                           Revised                   
                                                                                           01/19/2015
                                                                                           01/20/2020

School district buses 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 of the drivers.

Several drivers each year will be specially designated to report weather and road conditions by bus radio when requested to do so.  Other drivers and students will be notified by an automated calling system and local media when school is cancelled or temporarily delayed.  When school is cancelled because of weather anywhere in the school district, all schools will be closed.

When weather conditions deteriorate during the day after school has begun, cancellation notices will be announced by an automated calling system and local media.  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.

The following information is provided to make parents aware that in the event school is open but roads may not be accessible, the district may implement a Hard Surface Route schedule for students. 

• In the event that road conditions are unsafe for school buses, the district will announce that Hard Surface Routes will be used.
• That announcement will be:
  
  • Posted on the website https://www.independence.k12.ia.us/
  • Given to local radio and tv stations
  • Sent out via school messenger
• We will be picking up and dropping off students at intersections of gravel and paved roads. If you happen to live on a paved road and currently use busing in the morning and after school, those times may have changed.
• If you plan on riding from one of the available stops, you will need to be there at least 5 minutes before to make sure that we don’t hold up traffic on the roads.
• For safety reasons, we will not be letting students off at an intersection if there isn’t someone there to pick them up. If this happens, that student will be taken back to their school, where they will have to have someone come and pick them up.
• If Hard Surface Routes are used in the morning, they will be used that afternoon as well.
• Hard Surface Routes also apply to the Preschool take home and pick up.
• If you know in advance where you will be riding from, please let the driver know or contact the bus garage and we will inform the bus driver.
• If you have any questions please contact the bus garage at (319) 334-7435.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8 (2003).

Cross Reference:  601.2   School Day

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 01/19/2015                           Revised 12/21/2009
                                                                                           01/20/2020                                           01/20/2020

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, in conjunction with the Director of Transportation, to work on administrative regulations to implement this policy and reduce school vehicle idling time.

Legal References:  Iowa Code §279.8 (2007).

Cross References:  403      Employee Health and Well-Being
                                        507      Student Health and Well-Being
                                        711      Transportation

Approved 4/16/2007                               Reviewed 12/21/2009                             Revised __________          
                                                                                              01/19/2015
                                                                                              01/20/2020