Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-911.10 - Operating policies
School transportation services provided by regional transit systems must be designed to maximize the safety of student riders and must, at a minimum, meet the following standards:
(1)
Passenger
loading/unloading. Unless prohibited by law, students transported in
vehicles other than school buses must be loaded and unloaded on the same side
of the street as their residence or other origin or destination. Students may
be released only to the custody of a designated school official, parent or
guardian, employee of the department of health and human services, or law
enforcement official, unless other arrangements are made in advance.
(2)
Student passenger behavior and
discipline policy. Each contract for school transportation service
must include a policy relating to the behavior of students while they ride in
vehicles. The regional transit system or school must provide instruction to all
drivers assigned to school transportation service relative to the content and
application of the policy. If a student is removed from a vehicle for one or
more policy violations, the student may be released only to the custody of a
school official, parent or guardian, employee of the department of health and
human services or a law enforcement officer. In all cases, the school must be
notified immediately of any such disciplinary action, and a written report must
be filed with the school describing the circumstances resulting in the
removal.
(3)
Standing
prohibited. Under no circumstances shall a student be permitted or
required to stand while a vehicle is in motion. Every student must be provided
an appropriate seat at all times.
(4)
Stops at rail crossings.
Every driver must make a complete stop before driving across the tracks of any
railroad crossing, in accordance with Iowa Code section
321.343.
(5)
Accident reporting. If a
driver is involved in a collision or other incident causing or having a
potential to cause injuries to students, the regional transit system must
immediately notify the school of the incident. The regional transit system must
file all accident reports required by law. In addition, the regional transit
system must complete a school bus accident report on a form prescribed by the
department of education and submit it to the school or the department of
education.
(6)
Passenger
instruction/evacuation drills. Each school must provide students
assigned to school transportation service with school bus passenger safety
instruction and emergency evacuation drills at least twice each school year.
These evacuation drills must involve a vehicle of the same type used to provide
the school transportation service.
(7)
Special training for drivers
carrying students with disabilities. Each school contracting for
school transportation services for a student with one or more disabilities must
provide the regional transit system with information on any special needs of
the student and, if necessary, provide the assigned driver with appropriate
information and training on how to appropriately respond to the needs of the
student during transit and in the event of an emergency.
(8)
Posttrip inspection.
After each trip that had students on board, the driver must perform a posttrip
inspection of the interior of the vehicle. The posttrip inspection must include
a walk-through to the back of the vehicle to ensure that no sleeping or hiding
children are left behind.
Notes
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