Adopted 6-23-2010
HIAWATHA VALLEY EDUCATION DISTRICT POLICY 799
799
BUS TRAVEL ON PUBLIC ROADS
I.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to assure the safe transportation of children on public roads.
II.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
Roadways and turnarounds must be free of permanent, seasonal, or temporary safety hazards. The
bus contractor will evaluate all conditions which prohibit or limit safe travel; such as unplowed
snow, ice, running water, tree branches, fallen objects, obstacles in the road, steep shoulders
without guard rails, restricted traffic conditions, road construction, downed power lines,
inadequate space for travel or turnaround, or any other hazardous condition. The bus contractor
shall be responsible for evaluating road conditions and hazards that may affect safe travel and
make a determination as to whether or not such conditions prohibit the bus from safely traveling
on the road in question. The bus contractor is empowered to make the final determination as to
whether or not a road can be safely traveled. The safety of students should be the primary concern
in responding to these road conditions.
III.
NOTIFICATION OF PARENTS
The bus contractor will attempt to contact parents of children that will not be picked up when a
bus encounters any hazard that prevents the bus driver from running a route safely. It is, however,
understood that the bus contractor, despite their best efforts, may not be able to reach a parent in
this situation. The bus contractor is expected to use due diligence in attempting to contact parents.
If the hazard is likely to exist beyond 24 hours, the bus contractor is required to notify the parents
affected. The bus contractor will develop and implement temporary adjustments to the bus route if
possible and practical. Such alterations must be approved by the education district’s transportation
coordinator.
IV.
IMPASSIBLE ROADS
While performing their bus route, a bus driver may determine that a particular road is impassible
or may encounter a hazard that does not allow for safe passage. When this occurs, the driver
should not attempt to travel the road. If this situation occurs during morning pick up, affected
parents may elect, at their discretion, to transport their child(ren) to school. If this situation occurs
during afternoon drop off, the driver should only allow the child to exit the bus if the hazard
encountered is within a reasonable walking distance to the child’s house and the child can
reasonably negotiate or avoid the hazard. If the driver determines that it is not safe to drop the
child off because of the existing hazard or because the distance the child must walk is
unreasonable, the driver should notify the bus contractor’s office personnel of the situation. The
bus contractor will contact the child’s school and direct the driver to return the child to school
after completion of the bus route. Education district personnel will contact the parent and make
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Adopted 6-23-2010
arrangements for the parent to pick up their child at the school building. If the bus contractor is
unable to contact appropriate personnel at the child’s school, the contractor should contact the
education district’s transportation office or business office for direction.
V.
NO TRAVEL ROADS
There are roads in the district that due to the type of road surface such as gravel or crushed rock,
dangerous incline, pitch or lack of guardrails that may be deemed as roads that busses will never
travel on. A review of these types of roads will be done by the contractor and district
transportation office using the above criteria as well as the history of the road maintenance along
with road and bridge weight restrictions. If a road is deemed as a road that a bus will never travel
on, affected families will be notified by mail with the alternate bus stop location. It is anticipated
that there will be very few “no travel roads” in the district and this classification would only be
established if student safety would be compromised. Roads will be reviewed as circumstances
change.
VI.
SEASONAL TRAVEL ROADS
Administration will establish and communicate a time period for the seasonal travel roads by
August 15 annually. Additionally, the bus contractor and district transportation office will
consider winter road conditions that create hazardous travel conditions. Affected families will be
notified by mail with the alternate bus stop location. It is anticipated that several roads will fall
into this category; however, roads will only be considered for this category after a comprehensive
analysis has been completed. Student safety will be the top priority when considering any roads as
seasonal travel roads. Roads will be reviewed as circumstances change.
Legal References:
Cross References:
Hiawatha Valley Education District Schools Policy 899 (Inclement Weather and
Emergency School Closings)
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