| The School Board of Polk County |
| Bylaws & Policies |
| Unless a specific policy has been amended and the date the policy was revised is noted at the bottom of that policy, the bylaws and policies of The School Board of Polk County were adopted on November 12, 2013 and were in effect beginning November 12, 2013. |
8600 - TRANSPORTATION
It is the policy of the School Board to provide transportation for those students whose distance from their school makes this service necessary within the limitations established by State law and the regulations of the State of Florida. Such laws and rules shall govern any question not covered by this policy.
Provisions for reciprocal agreements with contiguous school districts for school bus transportation services, inspections, and screening requirements shall be in accordance with Florida statute.
School buses shall be purchased, housed, and maintained by the District for the transportation of resident students between their home areas and the schools of the District to which they are assigned.
Students living more than two (2) miles from their home school will be eligible for District provided bus transportation. Students who attend school out of their home school zone will not be eligible for District provided transportation. Students shall board the bus at the nearest designated stop and will not enter or leave the bus at any other designated stop, except upon approval of the principal or principal’s designee.
Students living within two (2) miles of school may be provided District bus transportation under the following conditions:
| A. | Permanently disabled students, whose Individual Education Plan requires special transportation. | |
| B. | Temporarily disabled students upon request and verification of disability and length of time of disability. | |
| C. | Elementary school students whose grade level does not exceed grades 6 and whose walking routes to school meet the State criteria for hazardous walking conditions. | |
| State law requires the Board and other governmental entities work cooperatively to identify conditions that are hazardous along student walking routes to school and requires such conditions shall be inspected by a representative of the School District and a representative of the State or local governmental entity that has jurisdiction over the perceived hazardous location. If it is determined that the condition meets the criteria established in State law for hazardous walking conditions, the Board shall provide transportation to students who would be subjected to such conditions. The Board and Superintendent shall follow State law with respect to the responsible entity for correcting hazardous walking conditions. | ||
| D. | Elementary students residing within two (2) miles of their school may be provided bus transportation at the discretion of the Transportation Department. This transportation will only be provided if seats are available on existing buses serving the school and the student gets to an established bus stop. |
Students eligible for transportation who are beyond the accessibility of school bus transportation shall be provided isolated transportation by payment to the parent of an amount established by the Board. Payment of the amount established will be based upon the date of the application or the date the service began whichever occurred first during the current attendance reporting period.
Parents of students who are utilizing school bus transportation and become or are determined to be non-eligible for the services as defined by State statute, shall be notified in writing. The student will be allowed to ride the bus for a minimum of three (3) additional days depending on the circumstances of the non-eligibility. If the student was riding the school bus illegally, removal from the bus will be immediate.
Bus routes shall be established so that an authorized bus stop is available within reasonable walking distance, as defined by State statute, of the home of every resident student entitled to transportation services. The Superintendent is authorized to make any necessary changes in the approved route.
The Board authorizes the installation and use of video recording devices in the school buses to provide for the safety and well being of the students while on a bus.
The Superintendent shall comply and require the compliance by the Director of Transportation, Principals, and bus drivers with State Board of Education Rules governing transportation, which are found in F.A.C. Chapter 6A-3, and shall take steps necessary so that the Director of Transportation, bus drivers, principals, and parents are fully and timely informed of their respective powers and responsibilities thereunder.
The Superintendent shall require that bus operators, and attendants if used, be instructed as to their responsibilities for students who are transported at public expense as follows:
| A. | The operator or attendant of a bus transporting students shall remain with the bus so that students aboard will be under supervision at all times, except to call for assistance in case of an emergency or accident involving the students or bus. | |
| B. | In cases where a student with physical disabilities is unable to leave the area of a student stop without assistance, the school bus operator shall not assume responsibility for such assistance except in an emergency that threatens the safety of such student or students. | |
| C. | The operator and attendant (if used) shall be provided training related to students; however, the operator and attendant (if used) shall not give medicine and shall limit his/her assistance to that which may normally be expected of a reasonable, prudent person or as specified in the student’s Individual Educational Plan. |
The Superintendent shall require that bus operators and attendants are provided instructions, in writing, as to any special conditions or non-medical care which a student may need while on the bus.
Further, the Superintendent shall require the Director of Transportation to consider the knowledge, skills, and abilities related to student management techniques, as well as the characteristics of students with disabilities, when selecting or assigning operators and attendants for routes serving ESE students.
Parents, guardians, and students shall be informed at least annually in writing of their responsibilities for the following:
| A. | to ensure the safe travel of their students during the portions of each trip to and from school and home when the students are not under the custody and control of the District, including during each trip to and from home and the assigned bus stop when the District provides bus transportation; | |
| B. | to ensure that students ride only on their assigned school buses and get off only at assigned bus stops, except when the District has approved, upon the request of the parent or guardian, alternative buses or arrangements; | |
| C. | to ensure students are aware of and follow the District’s adopted Code of Student Conduct while the students are at school bus stops and provide necessary supervision during times when the bus is not present; | |
| D. | to ensure that, when the physical disability of the student renders the student unable to get on and off the bus without assistance, the parent or guardian provides the necessary assistance to help the student get on and off at the bus stop, as required by District policy or the student’s individual educational plan. |
F.S. 316.183(3)
F.S. 316.217(1)(b)
F.S. 1006.21
F.S. 1006.22
F.S. 1006.23
F.S. 1011.68
F.S. 1012.45
© Neola 2016