707 Policy Appendix D: School Bus Driver Responsibilities - Reporting School Bus Incidents and Accidents, Operating Rules and Procedures, Emergency Procedures, Maintaining and Inspecting Equipment, Use of Type III Vehicles

I.    School Bus Driver Responsibilities.

A.    School bus drivers will report all instances of student misconduct on the school bus in accordance with school district requirements.

B.    School bus drivers will promptly report any school bus accident in accordance with school district procedures.

C.    School bus drivers will be prepared to deal with emergency situations in accordance with school district requirements and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Patrol guidelines

D.    School bus drivers will report criminal behavior they witness on the school buses or at school bus stops in accordance with school district requirements.  

E.    School bus drivers will operate school buses in accordance with Minnesota state traffic and school safety rules and the Minnesota state school bus safety rules.

II.    School Bus Education Support Professionals.  The school district may provide for school bus education support professionals.  The school transportation safety director will establish qualifications, training requirements and duties for any school bus education support professionals.

III.    Type III Vehicles

A.    Any vehicle designed to carry passengers must meet all legal requirements for a school bus.  Any Type III vehicle used to transport students must carry all required emergency equipment and comply with all state regulations for Type III vehicles.

B.    Travel, in-district and out-of-district transportation of students for school related activities must be in contracted vehicles except in the case of emergency or unscheduled transportation.  In cases of emergency, students may be transported in vehicles with a seating capacity of 10 or fewer passengers without meeting the requirements for a Type III vehicle. 

C.    All drivers of Type III vehicles will be licensed drivers and will be familiar with the use of required emergency equipment.  All Type III drivers must comply with state laws and regulations for Type III vehicle drivers.    

D.    Any Type III vehicle used to transport students must comply with state laws and regulations around the use of appropriate child/occupant restraint systems.

IV.    The school district will require all school buses to comply with Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Patrol school bus safety inspection standards.

V.    The school district transportation safety director will implement a system for maintaining and inspecting equipment.

Adopted/Revised     
Appendix D Revised: 7/31/18
Appendix E 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