707 Policy Appendix B: School Bus Safety Training, Roles of Parents

I.    STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY TRAINING 

A.    The school district may deny transportation to a public or nonpublic student who fails to demonstrate school bus safety.   

B.    The school district will provide students enrolled in Pre-k through grade 10 with bus safety training. Students enrolled in Pre-k through grade 6 will receive bus safety training by the end of the third week of school. Students enrolled in grades 7 through 10 will receive bus safety training by the end of the sixth week of school. School bus safety training will be age appropriate and in a language the student understands. School Bus Safety Training includes information about:

1.    Appropriate conduct while on the bus and at bus stops

2.    Danger zones of ten feet surrounding a school bus

3.    Procedures for safely boarding and leaving a school bus

4.    Procedures for safe vehicle lane crossing, and 

5.    School bus evacuation as well as other emergency procedures.

II.    ROLE OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF ISD 279 STUDENTS 

A.    Parents and guardians support their students in school bus safety by

1.    Becoming familiar with school district rules, policies, regulations, and principles of school bus safety, contained in this Policy 707, the school district web site, student parent handbooks and in student bus safety materials,

2.    Assisting students in understanding safety rules and encouraging them to abide by those rules,

3.    Supporting safe riding practices and reasonable discipline efforts,

4.    Supporting procedures for emergencies established by the school district,

5.    Encouraging their students to respect the rights and privileges of others,

6.    Having their children properly dressed for the weather, and

7.    Having a plan in case the bus is late.

B.    Parents and guardians support the school district in maintaining school bus safety by communicating safety concerns to school administrators.

C.    Parents and guardians are responsible for getting their student to and from the designated bus stop safely each day and are encouraged to escort their students to their bus stops and/or monitor their student when walking or waiting at their stop.   

III.    STUDENT TRAINING – BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY 

A.    Each district school will provide student safety education for bicycling and pedestrian safety.

B.    Nonpublic schools within the school district will provide bus, pedestrian, and bicycle safety training to nonpublic school students transported by the school district.  The administrator for any nonpublic school within the school district will certify to the school district Director of Facilities & Transportation Operations or his/her designee that all students attending the nonpublic school have received school bus, pedestrian and bicycle safety training.

C.    The school district’s curriculum for bus safety is maintained and available for review at each school building or at the Educational Service Center.

Adopted/Revised
Appendix B Revised: 7/31/18
Appendix B Revised:  10/3/16
Appendix B Adopted:  6/7/11
Revised: 5/20/14
Revised: 6/7/11
Revised:  10/15/02
Revised:  10/16/01
Adopted:  1/5/99 (formerly Policy 3810)
Revised:  2/17/98
Revised:  4/21/87
Revised:  11/15/83
Adopted:  8/15/78

Legal Reference
M.S. 123B.88 Independent School Districts; Transportation 
M.S. 123B.90 School Bus Safety Training
M.S. 123B.91 School District Bus Safety Responsibilities
M.S. 169.443 Safety of School Children; Bus Driver’s Duties
M.S. 169.446 Safety of School Children; Training and Education Rules
M.S. 169.451 Inspecting School and Head Start Buses; Rules; Misdemeanor
M.S. 169.454 Type III Vehicle Standards
M.S. 169.458 Reportable Offense on School Bus
M.S. 169A.31 Alcohol-Related School Bus or Head Start Bus Driving

Cross Reference
Policy 442 – Travel
Policy 506 – Student Discipline
Policy 515 – Protection and Privacy of Student Records
Policy 550 – Suspension
Policy 551 – Exclusion and Expulsion
Policy 608 – Instructional Services – Special Education
Policy 921 – Non-Use of Tobacco on School Premises
Policy 922 – Non-Use of Chemicals on School Premises