Policy 6600P

Route Guidelines

Routes should be established so as to:

1. avoid, whenever possible, left-hand turns when entering or exiting high speed roadways;
2. never cross students on a four lane road;
3. minimize stopping on multi-lane roads, unless the bus can get completely off the road;
4. avoid, if possible, crossing railroad tracks;
5. provide transportation to students who live within the distance specified for state funding from school or who would have to walk on a roadway declared unsafe by the board;
6. deliver students to their school no more than thirty (30) minutes before school starts. NOTE: It is desired that students arrive at school within ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes of starting time;
7. pick up students at school within five (5) minutes of dismissal.
8. allow for a minimum “dead head” time between and to runs and no more than fifteen (15) minutes standby time between runs, provided that, unless approved by the superintendent, all waiting time will be on school property;
9. avoid travel on dead end roads, unless it is necessary within these guidelines and there is an ample, safe area in which a bus can turn around;
10. fill each bus to rated capacity, provided that it is economically feasible and within the other routing guidelines. Design routes in such a way that attempts to efficiently take advantage of bus capacity while also attempting to minimize time on the bus for optimal educational benefit;
11. have minimum overlap or duplication in bus routes serving the same school; and
12. avoid travel on private roads, drives or property, on unimproved roads (not surfaced to county/city standards), or roads which are in such bad condition as to cause damage to a bus. Require conditional hold harmless agreements from property owners requesting travel onto private property.

 

Bus Stop Guidelines

Bus stops will be established which:

1. are frequent enough so students do not have to walk more than one (1) mile to and from the bus. Bus stops may be more frequent when the road has been declared unsafe for walking. Students will not be required to walk to or from bus stops in areas that do not provide safe walk ways;
2. are located where students can stand a safe distance from the road;
3. allow, where possible, the bus to get completely off of the road;
4. provide at least 500 feet on 35-mile-per-hour roadways, and 800 feet on 50-mile-per-hour roadways of unobstructed visibility, both ways. In areas without the minimum unobstructed visibility, the county will be contacted to install bus stop warning signs;
5. require as few students as possible to cross roadways with no students crossing multiple lane roads and highways; and
6. are located where no damage is likely to occur to private property and where the number of students waiting does not create unsafe conditions and/or situations.

 

Adopted: April 26, 2017