9015 - Transportation Guidelines

Mixed Grades on Buses

When elementary students are riding with secondary students, bus supervisors, coaches, or in the absence of a bus supervisor or coach, a bus drivers will ensure that secondary students and elementary students are separated in their seating arrangement. Usually elementary students will be seated at the front of the bus and secondary students toward the back. The transportation director will review and approve situations that require elementary and secondary students to ride the bus together.

Bus stops

The Board will designate safe areas for bus stops (R277-600-6(5)A. To promote efficiency, the minimum distance between bus stops will be 3/10 of a mile (2010 State Standards). Bus routes shall avoid, whenever possible, bus stops on dead-end roads. A student is responsible for their own transportation to bus stops up to one and one-half miles from home. (Utah Code R277-600-6-(6)(a)). Special education students are responsible for their own transportation to bus stops unless determined otherwise in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) (Utah Code R277-600-6-(6)(b)). All bus stops will be designated a bus stop and bus driver will take every safety precaution at bus stops to ensure the safety of students.

Seat Belts

There are no requirements for seat belts for students on school buses.

Inspection of Bus-All trips

The school bus operator is the key to an effective daily inspection program. It is the operator’s responsibility to make a planned and systematic inspection of the bus before and after each trip and complete the required inspection sheet.

Prohibited Use of Electronic and Telecommunications Devices

The safety of passengers and of the public is a school bus operator’s primary responsibility at all times, consistent with training and policy. While the school bus is in motion and not appropriately parked or secured, a school bus operator shall not use a cell phone, wireless electronic device, or any headset, earpiece, earphones or other equipment that might distract a driver from his/her responsibilities, whether hand held or not. (However, operators may use two-way radios or mounted GPS systems if done in a safe and appropriate manner.) R277-601-3

Number of students to establish a route

The minimum number of general education students required to establish a route is ten (10); the minimum number of students with disabilities required to establish a route is five (5). If a route is required for less than these numbers, the Board will propose such a route to the State Superintendent for approval. R277-600

Bus Emergency Drills

Bus drivers will provide training to instruct pupils on how to properly vacate a school bus in case of an emergency. Without training, there is a danger of pupils blocking the emergency door by all trying to exit at the same time. There is also a danger when pupils jump from the rear emergency door exit. To avoid these situations, schools should organize and conduct emergency exit drills for all pupils who ride the school bus. A minimum of one emergency drill is required per semester.

Teacher/Coach/Advisor Bus Drivers

The school district encourages schools to keep the bus driver role as separate from other duties as possible. The school district recognizes that it is frequently convenient or necessary to have a teacher, coach, or advisor drive the bus on school activities. The transportation director evaluates and approves drivers for all routes. The director will consider student supervision, time on duty, and other factors when determining if a teacher, coach, or advisor should drive the bus for a school activity.

Revised June 25, 2024