TTransportation Policy
The Board of Education
shall be responsible for the safety and welfare of all children who are
being transported to and from school. It shall carry out the rulesand regulations
promulgated by the State Board of Education and it shall adopt any other
rules and regulations consistent with those of the State Board that are
deemed necessary. The Board shall also ensure the safe and economical operation
of all school buses. It shall establish and maintain rules for bus drivers
and children that will achieve the aims of
safety and economy.
The Board requires that all buses bid or purchased after September 8, 1992 shall be equipped with seat belts. School bus drivers and all school bus passengers shall be required to wear seat belts when transported in school buses so equipped not later than September 7, 1994. Seat belts shall be fastened when the driver and passengers board the vehicle and they shall be kept fastened at all times while on board the vehicle. Seat belts may be unfastened only when the individual is departing the vehicle. The Board further requires that drivers and passengers using private vehicles to transport pupils wear seat belts in the same manner.
I. GENERAL SUPERVISION
1. The Board of Education authorizes the organization of a Transportation committee which shall function as an advisory committee on all matters relative to School Bus Transportation and shall determine and submit specific recommendations to the Board of Education on matters of operational policy relative to:
a. Rules and regulations governing drivers, contractors and children.
b. Bid and contract award for new buses.
c. Maintenance and repairs to equipment including scheduling for repairs so as to insure continued performance of said equipment.
d. All business involving
bus driver personnel, appointments, transfers,
dismissal, suggested policy on salaries, etc.
e. Recommend the approval of bus routes and changes.
OPERATIONS
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2. The Transportation Committee shall be comprised of the following:
a. Three members of the Board of Education.
b. The Transportation Supervisor.
c. The School Business Administrator/Board Secretary.
3. The Board of Education may make such other rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith, respecting the duties of contractors, drivers and the deportment of children on buses as may be deemed necessary for the proper conduct of pupil transportation.
4. The business administrator and/or the transportation supervisor, with approval of the Board of Education, may plan routes in such a manner that pupils may be loaded or unloaded on the side of the road on which they reside, taking into consideration safety of the student, timeliness of arrival at destination and cost effectiveness. In some instances, students will be required to cross highways such as U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 9 to reach their bus stops. Also, consideration shall be given to consolidation of stops in certain areas in order to alleviate traffic congestion due to frequent stops. Stops shall be no closer than 300' in accordance with State of New Jersey Motor Vehicle law.
5. A11 rules and regulations contained herein shall pertain to contractors and their drivers equally with the Board of Education drivers.
6. All drivers shall drive with their lights on.
7. All drivers shall check their rear-door buzzer daily as part of the pre-trip inspection.
8. The Transportation Supervisor shall be responsible for the supervision of all other transportation personnel and the implementation of the district's transportation program.
9. Before changes are made in transportation policy or bus routes, the advice of the transportation committee will be solicited.
OPERATIONS
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10. District students shall be assigned only one seat on one bus unless the transportation supervisor is presented with a court order requiring the child to be transported on two different bus routes. This is to be interpreted to mean the bus a student takes in the a.m. will be the bus the student takes home in the p.m. The only exceptions would be:
a. Joint custody
students;
b. Students participating in after school activities;
c. IEP.
Students will be permitted to ride only on one bus except in emergency with signed permission from parent and principal or specifically stated in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) prepared. All exceptions will be on file with the Director of Transportation. All exceptions will require that a permanent seat is available on the specific route that the exception is being requested. The principal or his designee will verify that a seat is available. The Transportation Director in consultation with the Child Study Team will discuss each special education student transported to determine what special training will be needed for the student.
11. As a general rule, buses will not enter dead end side streets or roads which do not have an area in which a bus can turn around without backing up or cul-de-sacs which have cars parked or trash cans in the cul-de-sac and do not provide a minimum of turning radius.
12. Transportation may be provided for after school activities and sports when requested one week in advance and vehicles are available.
13. Large items such as musical instruments, sports equipment and some lunch containers, shall be stowed on or under seats. No items may block the aisle, front or rear passenger exit doors.
14. Students shall not be allowed to eat or drink while being transported to and from school. Students shall not be allowed to eat or drink while the bus is in motion going other than to and from school. At no time will glass containers be carried on the bus.
16. Smoking and chewing tobacco are not allowed on any bus.
17. Any damage done to the bus by students (i.e. - cut seats, broken windows, etc.) will be billed to the parent(s) of the student(s) involved.
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18. All vehicles transporting district students shall be equipped with two-way radios.
19. No animal shall be permitted on any school bus except Seeing Eye dog for a blind child.