Policy 6600 - Transportation

The Superintendent or designee will be responsible for scheduling bus transportation, including the determination of routes and bus stops as well as overseeing the transportation program. 

The District may provide safe and efficient transportation to and from school for all students living in the District: 

1. Whose route stop of an elementary level student is more than one (1) radius mile from their attendance area school, the route stop of a secondary level student is more than one and a half (1 ½) radius miles from their attendance area school; 
2. Whose walking route to school is hazardous; 
3. Whose disability prevents them from walking or providing their own welfare while walking; 
4. Who has another compelling and legally sufficient reason to receive transportation services. 

Parents or guardians of students whose assigned bus stops are beyond the maximum walking distance may receive reimbursement for private transportation at the state mileage reimbursement rate or be provided passes for public transportation at the district’s discretion and expense. 

At the request of an eligible student, the district may allow the student to transport their infant on a school bus or other student transportation vehicle provided by the district. The infant must be transported in a rear-facing child restraint system as defined in the federal motor vehicle safety standards found in 49 C.F.R. § 572.213. If the district denies the students’ request to transport their infant by school bus, the district must authorize other arrangements for individual transportation in accordance with RCW 28A.160.030. For purposes of this paragraph, “eligible student” means any student served by the transportation program of the district or compensated for individual transportation arrangements authorized by RCW 28A.160.030 whose route stop is outside the walk area for a student’s school, except if the student to be transported is disabled under RCW 28A.155.020 and is either non ambulatory or not capable of protecting their own welfare while traveling to or from the school or agency where special education services are provided, in which case no mileage distance restriction applies. 

The district’s transportation program will comply in all ways with state law and regulation. Transportation services of the district may include approved bus routes, district-approved field trips, school activities (participants only), and extracurricular activities. 

The Board of Directors may authorize children attending an approved private school to ride a school bus provided that bus route and stops are not altered, space is available, and a fee to cover the per seat cost for such transportation is collected. Private school students attending one or more classes in the Richland School District will receive busing free of charge provided that bus route and stops are not altered, and space is available. 

Routes and Scheduling 

The purpose of bus scheduling and routing is to achieve maximum service with a minimum fleet of buses insofar as this is consistent with rendering safe and reasonably equal service to all students entitled to such service. 

To operate the transportation system as safely and efficiently as possible, the following factors will be considered in establishing bus routes: 

1. Where an alternate route may be considered without sacrifice of efficiency or economy, preference will be given to that route more directly serving the largest number of students; 
2. Location of bus stops may be determined by such factors as student safety, economy and efficiency. Students may be required to walk up to one (1) or one and one half (1 ½)to two (2) miles from their home to their bus stop provided that the walking route is safe; and 
3. School schedules will be adjusted to allow maximum utilization of each bus in the system by altering elementary and secondary trips. 

The district shall apply for state transportation apportionment funds and shall maintain the records required to obtain such funding. 

Inclement Weather Routes and Schedules 

The district will develop inclement weather bus routes and schedules (Snow Routes) to be used when weather conditions make the usual bus routes impassable or, in the superintendent or designee’s judgement, too hazardous. At the beginning of the school year, copies of snow routes will be distributed to parents with instructions on how to obtain snow route information. 

School Bus Trespass 

It is a gross misdemeanor for individuals to enter or remain unlawfully on a school bus, do any act that creates a substantial risk of harm to passengers or the driver, and cause a substantial interruption or impairment of services rendered by the bus. This doesn’t apply to enrolled students, law enforcement officers or other authorized personnel engaged in the performance of their official duties, individuals with written consent from the district allowing them to enter or remain on the school bus, and emergency situations where entering the bus is necessary to protect the safety or wellbeing of students or others. 

The district will implement educational programs and awareness campaigns to inform students, parents/guardians and the community about the importance of maintaining safety and security on school buses. These initiatives will highlight the potential criminal consequences of school bus trespassing. 

Placards warning of the consequences of school bus trespassing will be affixed to the outside of all school buses, so they are easily visible, if district funds allow. 

Legal References:

Adoption:

(Formerly #8100)