Support Services

This board adopts as policy the Standards for Idaho School Buses and Operations of the State Department of Education, 2001.

To afford more equal opportunity for public school attendance, the board will, where practical, provide transportation for the public school students within this district.

Regularly enrolled students and dually enrolled students of this district who reside one and one-half (1�) miles or more from the school of attendance, may avail themselves of the transportation services the district operates in that particular area. The transportation services provided by this district are a privilege, not a right. Students may be prevented from availing themselves of transportation services due to disciplinary infractions.

A day care, family day care home, or group day care facility as defined in Section 39-1102, Idaho Code, may substitute for the student’s residence for student transportation to and from school. This district will not transport students between childcare facilities and home.

SAFETY BUSING

The board may transport students living less than one and one-half (1�) miles from their attended school when, in its judgment, the age, health, or safety of the student warrants such transportation. The board acknowledges that students who reside within 1� miles of the nearest appropriate school of attendance may encounter some hazards while walking to and from school. If the hazard(s) encountered as a pedestrian are determined to be so severe that the student is not safe, the board will seek approval from the state department of education to provide transportation for the student.

The board will appoint an ad hoc transportation committee whose purpose is to objectively evaluate the hazards encountered on pedestrian routes within 1� miles from the district’s schools. The committee will be composed of district staff, transportation professionals (city, county, state traffic engineers, and law enforcement professionals), parents, and student advocates (district and/or regional PTA representatives). The committee will meet as necessary to accomplish the objectives set forth in this policy and will comply with the open meeting laws.

Committee Responsibilities

1. Obtain approval from the board of a measuring instrument for assessing the various hazards encountered by student pedestrians. The committee may propose the instrument developed by the state department of education or an alternate instrument.

2. Develop and obtain approval from the board of a scoring mechanism, which designates a level of hazards that are deemed to pose an unreasonable safety risk for student pedestrians.

3. Identify all pedestrian routes within 1� miles of each of the district schools.

4. Identify hazards that a student would likely encounter on the pedestrian routes within 1� miles of each of the district schools.

5. Assess the various hazards which a student may encounter on the pedestrian routes, utilizing the board approved measuring instrument.

6. Assess each request for a safety busing site in accordance with the approved measuring instrument, recommending approval or disapproval to the board.

7. Reassess each approved safety busing site at a minimum of once every three (3) years, using the approved measuring instrument.

8. Report the committee’s recommendations to the board at the board’s regular meeting in August or at other times as requested by the board chairman.

9. Recommend proposals to be shared with the appropriate governmental entity(ies) for improving student pedestrian routes by removing or minimizing hazards.

The district will solicit route evaluation requests from all interested patrons. Such requests will be forwarded to the committee for assessment, utilizing the board approved measuring instrument.

The district will maintain all documentation of the evaluations of pedestrian route hazards and will make such documentation available to the state department of education, as requested.

The board may initially approve a safety busing request prior to submitting the required forms to the state department of education. All safety busing requests must be approved by the board and submitted to the state department of education by March 31 of the school year to be considered for reimbursement. A copy of the committee’s assessment score must be attached to the request.

ESTABLISHING BUS ROUTES AND NONTRANSPORTATION ZONES

Each year the board will establish bus routes and determine non-transportation zones not later than at the regular August meeting of the board. In approving the routing of school buses, or the maintenance and operation of all transportation equipment, or the appointment or employment of chauffeurs, the primary requirements to be observed by this board are the safety and adequate protection of the health of the students. All changes to established bus routes must be approved by this board.

Non-transportation zones are the geographical areas of this district, as designated by the board, which are impractical by reason of scarcity of students and/or remoteness or condition of roads to be served by established bus routes.

OPERATION OF BUSES AND VANS

To provide transportation to students, this district may purchase or lease, and maintain and operate school buses and vans, which vans will not have a seating capacity in excess of fifteen (15) persons; enter into agreements or contracts for the use of a charter bus(es); enter into contracts with individuals, firms, corporations, or private carriers; or make payments to parents or guardians, subject to the statutory limitations, when transportation is not furnished by the district.

Standards for Idaho School Buses and Operations, Idaho State Department of Education, 2001

Proper conduct by students contributes greatly to the safety of this district's transportation program. Therefore, the following rules of student conduct must be observed:

The bus driver shall first endeavor to convey to the student the seriousness of the violation of any of the rules of student conduct. Upon continued violation, the driver shall refer the student to the principal/designee of his/her respective school. The principal/designee shall seek to impress upon the student the need for improvement in bus conduct. The principal/designee shall suspend the student's bus transportation privileges according to building policy.

Suspension of bus transportation privileges for students with disabilities as defined by Public Law 94-142, and subsequent amendments, and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, shall follow federal guidelines and the provisions of this policy.

Any vandalism/destruction of school bus property shall result in payment for damages and may result in automatic forfeiture of all school bus privileges for one (1) calendar year (365 days from date of occurrence).

Nothing shall prevent the district from denying transportation to any student in any school bus or other transportation equipment operated by or under the authority of the district, upon good cause given in writing to the parent or guardian of such student.

The student must be in attendance at the school on the day his/her transportation privilege is suspended.

Pupil Transportation, Responsibilities and Operations Manual,
Idaho State Department of Education, revised 1991.

School transportation may be used in connection with the operation and support of extra-curricular activities and student activities.

A use charge shall be charged against the activity or sponsoring student group requesting the transportation.

All school bus drivers and all school personnel dealing with transportation must be familiar with the provisions of state and federal transportation laws pertaining to the operation of school busses, and shall at all times observe all policies set forth in the Pupil Transportation, Responsibilities, and Operations Manual.

Pupil Transportation & Responsibilities and Operations Manual,
Idaho State Department of Education, revised 1991,
and all subsequent revisions.

POLICY TITLE: Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Program POLICY NO: 712

This district has an interest in establishing a work environment free from the influence of drugs and alcohol for the benefit of its drivers, students and the public. This policy is adopted to ensure that the district’s transportation drivers are free from the affects of drugs and alcohol while at work or on district business. Questions pertaining to this policy will be directed to the superintendent or his or her designee.

DEFINITIONS

Alcohol: The intoxicating agent in beverage alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or other low molecular weight alcohols including methyl and isopropyl alcohol.

Alcohol use: The consumption of any beverage, mixture, or preparation, including any medication containing alcohol.

Alcohol screening test: An analytical procedure to determine whether a driver may have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in his or her system. In controlled substance testing, it means an immunoassay screen to eliminate “negative” urine specimens from further consideration.

Confirmation test: A second test, following a screening test with a result of point zero two (0.02) or greater, that provides quantitative data of alcohol concentration. For controlled substances testing, confirmation test means a second analytical procedure to identify the presence of a specific drug or metabolite which is independent of the screen test and which uses a different technique and chemical principle from that of the screen test in order to ensure reliability and accuracy. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is the only authorized confirmation method for cocaine, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines, and phencyclidine.

Driver: Any person operating a school bus owned or operated by the district. This includes full time, regularly employed drivers; casual, intermittent or occasional drivers; leased drivers and independent owner-operator contractors.

Safety-sensitive function: Any activity by a bus driver during any period in which he/she is actually performing, ready to perform, or immediately available to perform bus driving duties.

Refusal to submit to a test means that a driver:

1. Fails to provide adequate breath for testing without a valid medical explanation;

2. Fails to provide adequate urine without a valid medical explanation;

3. Engages in conduct that clearly obstructs the testing process.

PROHIBITIONS

A bus driver for this district will not:

Report to duty or remain on duty requiring the performance of safety-sensitive functions while having an alcohol concentration of point zero four (0.04) or greater.

Be on duty or operate a school bus while in possession of alcohol.

Use alcohol while performing safety-sensitive functions.

Perform safety-sensitive functions within four (4) hours after using alcohol.

Use alcohol for eight (8) hours following an accident, or until he/she undergoes a post-accident alcohol test, whichever occurs first.

Refuse to submit to a post-accident alcohol or controlled substances test; a random alcohol or controlled substances test; a reasonable suspicion alcohol or controlled substances test; or a follow-up alcohol or controlled substances test.

Report for duty or remain on duty requiring the performance of safety-sensitive functions when the driver uses any controlled substances, except when the use is pursuant to the instructions of a physician who has advised the driver that the substance does not adversely affect the driver’s ability to safely operate a school bus.

Report for duty, remain on duty or perform a safety-sensitive function if he/she tests positive for controlled substances.

REQUIRED TESTING

Pre-employment Testing

Prior to performing any safety-sensitive functions, a bus driver will undergo testing for alcohol and controlled substances. The test results from the pre-employment testing must show an alcohol concentration of less than point zero four (0.04), and a controlled substances test result indicating a verified negative result before a bus driver will be allowed to operate a school bus.

Baseline Testing

This district requires all bus drivers to submit to testing for the presence of alcohol and/or controlled substances within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this policy.

Post-accident Testing

As soon as practicable following an accident involving a school bus, the bus driver operating the bus involved in the accident will be tested for alcohol and controlled substances if:

1. The accident involved the loss of human life;

2. Personal injury to another person required medical treatment away from the scene of the accident;

3. The bus driver incurred an injury;

4. Damage to property owned by the school district or a third party is estimated to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000); or

5. The bus driver received a citation for a moving traffic violation arising from the accident.

A bus driver involved in a work-related accident requiring medical attention will inform his or her supervisor as soon as possible after the accident. Any needed alcohol or controlled substances tests may be promptly conducted in conjunction with his or her medical treatment. A bus driver who is injured in a work-related accident and is unable to provide a specimen for testing will authorize the release of relevant hospital reports or other documentation indicating the presence, or lack of alcohol or controlled substances at the time of the accident.

A bus driver subject to post-accident testing will remain readily available for such testing or may be deemed by the school district to have refused to submit to testing.

A post-accident test for alcohol will be administered within two (2) hours following the accident if possible. No test for alcohol will be administered after eight (8) hours following the accident. A post-accident controlled substance test will be administered within thirty-two (32) hours following the accident.

If it is determined by the district’s administration that a bus driver’s accident was caused solely by unsafe conditions or by the actions of a third party, the school district reserves the right to waive post-accident testing unless the accident involved the loss of human life or the bus driver received a citation for a moving traffic violation arising from the accident.

Random Testing

A random test is a test that is unannounced and results in every bus driver having an equal chance of being selected for testing at any given time. The random selection method used by this district will consist of placing all drivers’ names into a hat and a name will be pulled out at intervals chosen by the superintendent or his or her designee. Such random testing may result in a driver being tested more than once a year.

The minimum annual percentage rate for random alcohol testing will be twenty-five (25) percent of the average number of bus driver positions. The minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing will be fifty (50) percent of the average number of bus driver positions. The minimum annual percentage rates set forth may change based upon the Federal Highway Administration’s yearly minimum annual percentage rates.

Each bus driver notified that he/she has been selected for random alcohol and/or controlled substances testing will immediately go to the testing site; provided, however, that if the bus driver is performing a safety-sensitive function at the time of the notification, the driver will proceed to the testing site as soon as possible.

A bus driver will only be tested for alcohol while the driver is performing safety-sensitive functions, just before the bus driver is to perform safety-sensitive functions, or just after the driver has ceased performing such functions.

Reasonable Suspicion Testing

A bus driver will be required to submit to an alcohol test and/or a controlled substances test when the district has reasonable suspicion to believe that the bus driver has violated this policy. The district’s determination that reasonable suspicion exists to require the bus driver to undergo an alcohol and/or controlled substances test will be based on specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations concerning the appearance, behavior, speech or body odors of the bus driver.

Such observations will be made by a supervisor or district official having received a minimum of sixty (60) minutes of training on alcohol misuse and a minimum of sixty (60) minutes of training on controlled substance use. Said training shall include the physical, behavioral, speech, and performance indicators of probable alcohol misuse and use of controlled substances. The individual making the determination that reasonable suspicion exists will not conduct such tests.

A reasonable suspicion alcohol test is authorized only if the observations are made during, just preceding, or just after the period of the work day that the bus driver is required to be in compliance with this policy. No action will be taken against a driver based solely on the driver’s behavior and appearance, with respect to alcohol use, in the absence of an alcohol test.

DRUG TESTING PROCEDURES

The drug testing procedures will include, but not be limited to the following controlled substances:

1. Cocaine;

2. Marijuana;

3. Opiates;

4. Amphetamines; and

5. Phencyclidine.

Urine samples collected under this policy will not be used to conduct any other analysis or test.

The collection site person is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the specimen collection and transfer process, and will carefully ensure the modesty and privacy of the driver, and will avoid any conduct or remarks that might be construed as accusatorial or otherwise offensive or inappropriate.

If, during the specimen collection process the collection site person detects an effort by the driver to adulterate or substitute a specimen, a second specimen will be requested. If a second specimen is provided both will be tested. If the driver refuses to provide a second specimen the district will be so informed. Such conduct will be considered equivalent to testing positive and will result in an applicant not being offered employment with the district. A bus driver will have his or her employment with this district terminated in such a circumstance.

The entity or person(s) designated by this district to perform alcohol testing procedures and/or the specimen collection and analysis will strictly follow the Department of Transportation’s rules, provide the necessary qualified personnel; protect the integrity of the testing processes, safeguard the validity of the test results, and ensure that those results are attributed to the correct driver.

RETENTION OF RECORDS

The following records will be retained for five (5) years:

6. Records of driver alcohol test results indicating an alcohol concentration of point zero two (0.02) or greater;

7. Records of driver verified positive controlled substances test results;

8. Documentation of refusals to take required alcohol and/or controlled substances tests.

9. Calibration documentation;

10. Driver evaluation and referrals; and

11. A copy of each annual calendar year summary.

The following records will be retained for two (2) years:

12. Records related to the alcohol and controlled substances collection process; and

13. All training records.

The following records will be retained for one (1) year:

14. Records of negative and canceled controlled substances test results; and

15. Alcohol test results with a concentration of less than point zero two (0.02).

CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS

This district will not release bus driver information compiled pursuant to this policy except in the following circumstances:

A bus driver, upon written request, is entitled to receive copies of any records pertaining to the driver’s use of alcohol or controlled substances, including records of test results.

Results of all bus driver alcohol and/or controlled substances testing will be provided at the request of the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), any DOT agency, or any State or local officials with regulatory authority over the district or any of its bus drivers.

Records may be used in a lawsuit, grievance, worker’s compensation claim, unemployment compensation, or other proceeding initiated by or on behalf of a bus driver, and arising from the results of an alcohol and/or controlled substance test administered under this policy.

Records will be made available to a subsequent employer or other identified person upon receipt of a written request from a bus driver. The release of information is permitted only in accordance with the terms of an employee’s consent.

NOTIFICATION OF TEST RESULTS

This district will notify a bus driver of the results of a pre-employment controlled substances test if the bus driver requests the results within sixty (60) calendar days of being notified of the disposition of the employment application.

This district will notify a bus driver of the results of random, reasonable suspicion and post-accident tests for controlled substances if the test results are verified positive. The employee will also be informed which controlled substance or substances were verified as positive.

In those instances where the medical review officer has been unable to contact the driver to discuss the results of a controlled substances test, the superintendent or designee will make reasonable efforts to contact and discuss the test results with the individual, regardless of employment status. The superintendent or designee will request that the individual contact the medical review officer within twenty-four (24) hours, and will also inform the medical review officer of such notification.

Each driver who has engaged in conduct which violates this policy will be advised of the resources available to the driver in evaluating and resolving the problems associated with the misuse of alcohol and use of controlled substances, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of substance abuse professionals and counseling and treatment programs.

Each driver who engages in conduct which violates this policy will be evaluated by a substance abuse professional, at the driver’s own expense, who will determine what assistance, if any, the employee needs in resolving problems associated with alcohol misuse and controlled substances use.

SELF-REFERRAL

All bus drivers employed by this district who may consider themselves alcohol or controlled substances dependent will be encouraged to obtain an evaluation by a licensed substance abuse professional and seek treatment, if so recommended. This district will provide informational assistance in locating professional substance abuse counseling to any driver requesting such assistance.

Bus drivers undergoing alcohol or controlled substances rehabilitation will do so at their own expense (other than those expenses covered by the district’s insurance program), on their own time, or during an unpaid leave of absence approved by the district prior to taking the leave.

Any bus driver who demonstrates successful progress or completion of a recommended course of treatment may return to work only after passing an alcohol and/or controlled substances test at the driver’s expense. Any such driver will be expected to comply with all aspects of this policy.

POLICY VIOLATION CONSEQUENCES

Any individual who tests positive in the pre-employment test for alcohol (point zero four (0.04) or higher) or controlled substances will not be offered employment with this district. Any bus driver who tests positive for alcohol (point zero four (0.04) or higher) or controlled substances will have his or her employment with this district terminated.

No driver tested under this policy who is found to have an alcohol concentration of point zero two (0.02) or greater, but less than point zero two (0.04), will perform or continue to perform safety-sensitive functions for this district, until the start of the driver’s next regularly scheduled duty period, but not less than twenty-four (24) hours following administration of the test. No action will be taken under this policy against a driver based solely on test results showing an alcohol concentration less than point zero four (0.04).

The possession, use, purchase, or distribution of alcohol or controlled substances by a bus driver in a district vehicle, on district property, or during work hours is prohibited. Any bus driver who violates this prohibition will have his or her employment with this district terminated.

A bus driver’s off-the-job illegal use, manufacture, purchases, possession, or distribution of controlled substances, drug paraphernalia or illegal use of alcohol, resulting in criminal charges against the driver will result in the driver being requested to submit to alcohol and/or controlled substances testing. If the tests are positive, the driver will fall within the provisions of this policy. If a bus driver is convicted of the above-stated offense, the driver will have his or her employment with this district terminated.

Any driver who refuses to be tested, or fails to release or provide information as required by this policy, will have his or her employment with this district terminated.

The terms of this Transportation Workplace Alcohol and Drug Testing Program are intended to achieve a work environment where bus drivers are free from the affects of alcohol and/or controlled substances. The provisions of this policy may be revised as necessary. This district anticipates that by implementing the provisions of this policy, its drivers will enjoy the benefits of working in a safer and more productive environment.

Further information is available from the superintendent or designee concerning the effects of alcohol and controlled substances use on an individual’s health, work, and personal life; signs and symptoms of an alcohol or a controlled substances problem of a driver or a coworker; and available methods of intervening when an alcohol or a controlled substances problem is suspected, including confrontation, referral to any employee assistance program and/or referral to management.

The Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991
P.L.102-143
49 CFR Parts 40 and 382

Any employed or contracted school bus driver for this school district, who observes a violation of the law requiring all drivers to stop before reaching a stopped school bus with visual signals flashing shall prepare a written report on a form provided by the Idaho Department of Education indicating that a violation has occurred.

The school bus driver or a school official shall deliver the report to a peace officer of the state, county, or city in which the alleged violation occurred within 72 hours after the alleged violation occurred.

For each district vehicle owned and used, the board shall have in affect at all times insurance purchased from a company or companies licensed to operate in this state, in amounts not lower than the minimum set by the State Board of Education, indemnifying the insured against claims for any injury to or death of a person arising out of the operation of the school transportation system.

The district shall operate a school lunch program for the benefit of the regularly enrolled students of the district and authorized adults. The school lunch program will be operated in compliance with all appropriate United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations concerning the operation of food programs.

The school lunch program shall be financed through allowable regular or special funds in this district, including the Commodity Support Program. The school lunch program shall be operated so that its regular operating costs come from the state and federal programs as well as money collected from the sale of lunches to students and adults. The price of the sale of lunches to students and adults shall be established annually by the board.

When necessary, the board may expend capital or operating funds for support of the lunch program, subject to the regular budgetary procedures of the district.

This district may transport nonpublic school students when requested, if there is space available to transport such students and commercial bus transportation is not reasonably available.

All nonpublic school students will be picked up only at established school bus route stops approved by this district. The nonpublic school student’s parents, or the nonpublic school shall be responsible for proper supervision of the loading and unloading of the student(s) by an adult.

All nonpublic school students riding the buses of this school district will be subject to all laws, policies, rules and regulations applying to public school students being transported on such buses, and may be disciplined according to district policies and procedures. Such discipline may include termination of bus-riding privileges.

In the event this district does transport nonpublic school students the full cost for providing such transportation will be recovered by this district. The full cost will be calculated as follows:

*NOTE: As required by the Idaho Constitution, School districts must charge parochial school students for costs incurred. In order not to unconstitutionally discriminate against any religious group, districts must also charge nonsectarian private school students the same amount. Attorney General Guideline, Feb. 25 1994.

This school district establishes and adopts these policies governing the student transportation system and will inform students, teachers, administrators and transportation personnel of the requirements.

The board of trustees will designate the school officials who will have responsibility and authority for operation of the student transportation system. The function of each official will also be designated.

This school district will maintain a personnel file for each school bus driver which will include the following:

Appropriate supervision will be provided of loading and unloading areas at or near each school. The building principal or designee will schedule school personnel for such duties.

The district will provide emergency training and evacuation drills for students and bus drivers.

The district’s transportation supervisor will ride on each route and with each driver at least one time per year. The supervisor will evaluate the driver’s performance and the safety of the route and bus stops. Documentation of the evaluation will be retained in the driver’s personnel file.

The district will affix notices approved by the state department of education on or near the school bus doors of all existing buses, and all new buses, owned or leased by this district, or operated by a contractor of the district, to warn individuals against unauthorized school bus entry.

3. Enters a school bus and refuses to disembark after being ordered to do so by the driver.

POLICY TITLE: Use of Vehicles Other than School Buses to Transport Students POLICY NO: 724

Privately-owned vehicles may be used to transport students only when transportation by a school bus is not feasible and the vehicle is intended and used for commercial transportation (i.e. taxis, hotel shuttle vans, city buses, etc.) Under no circumstances will students be transported by the district to and from school or district sponsored extra-curricular activities in a private vehicle, which is not intended and used for commercial transportation.

“Driver” means any person operating a school bus owned or operated by the district while transporting students to or from school or approved school activities. This includes full-time, regularly employed drivers; casual, or substitute drivers; leased drivers and independent owner-operator contractors.

The board of trustees will employ drivers only upon written application approved by the State Department of Education. Applicants must be over the age of eighteen (18), of good moral character, and not addicted to the use of intoxicants or narcotics. Persons or entities which provide student transportation services under contract with the district are required to supply the same information as required of school bus driver applicants.

A driver will be subject to the physical examination standards of the federal motor carrier safety regulations.

While operating a school bus, a school bus driver must, at all times, be in the possession of a current commercial driver’s license (CDL) including endorsements as specified in Idaho Code Section 49-105. The permit must be in a form approved by the State Department of Education and must be carried on the driver’s person or prominently displayed at all times that the driver is operating any school bus carrying students. The board, after a hearing and for cause, may revoke a driver’s permit.

Pupil Transportation Manual, Idaho State Department of Education, revised 1996 and all subsequent revisions.