STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

 

 

 

The Board of the Ames Community School District shall provide transportation either directly or by reimbursement for all resident students attending public schools, pre-school through twelfth grade subject to the following conditions:

 

A.  Elementary and middle school students shall be entitled to transportation only if they live more than two miles from the school designated for attendance.

 

B.  High school students (commencing with grade nine) shall be entitled to transportation only if they live more than three miles from the school designated for attendance.

 

C.  Any student may be required to meet a school bus on the approved route a distance not to exceed three-fourths of one mile without reimbursement.

 

D.  Where transportation by school bus is impracticable or where school bus service is not available, the parent(s)/guardian(s) residing beyond the statutory distance may be required to transport their child(ren) to the school(s) designated for attendance. The parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be reimbursed for such transportation service in the amount stipulated by the Code of Iowa. Parent(s)/guardian(s) shall not receive reimbursement for furnishing transportation for more than three family members who attend elementary/middle school and one family member who attends high school.

 

E.  Where unsatisfactory roads or other conditions make it unsafe, the District may require the parent(s)/guardian(s) to transport their child(ren), up to two miles to connect with a vehicle of transportation. The parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be reimbursed for such transportation at the rate stipulated by the Code of Iowa per mile per day, one way, per family for the distance from the student's residence to the bus route.

 

F.    Where transportation by school bus is impracticable or not available, or other existing conditions warrant it, arrangements may be made for use of common carriers. The cost shall be based upon the actual cost of service and approved by the Board.

 

Discretionary transportation service may be available at a fee approved annually by the Board.

 

Distance to school or to a bus route shall, in all cases, be measured on the public highway only over the most passable and safest route, starting in the roadway opposite the private entrance to the residence of the student and ending in the roadway opposite the entrance to the school grounds or designated point on the bus route. Eligibility for transportation will be determined as students register for transportation services. No change in eligibility will be made except at the start of the school year or second semester.

 

Legal Reference:     Chapter 285.1, Code of Iowa

                                    Chapter 281-43, Iowa Administrative Code

 

 

 

ADOPTED:       Prior to 1971; Revised July 1974, July 1976, June 1978, August 1989,

                           June 1997, July 2010

 

 

REVIEWED:     March 21, 1994; June 16, 1997; May 19, 2003; July 19, 2010

 

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

 

 

 

The administration procedures for implementing the student transportation services shall be a cooperative effort between the District and the provider. These services will be provided with the following exceptions due to either distance or safety requirements.

 

Exceptions to Distance Requirements

 

A.  Elementary and middle school students residing less than two miles or high school students residing less than three miles from their designated school may board buses traveling routes established for the transportation of students residing beyond the statutory distances on a “seats available” basis. “Seats available” will be offered to students on a first come first served basis if the existing route bus is not scheduled for capacity from the regular route. This service shall be provided only if it is mutually beneficial.

 

B.  Students who ride on a “seats available” basis must pay a fee for such service as set forth in this policy. The conditions under which this service is provided may be changed at the discretion of the Board.

 

C.  Students eligible for free and reduced-price lunches as determined by the current US Department of Agriculture income scale are eligible for free busing if they reside inside of the statutory distance. The “seats available” criterion will apply and they are subject to the following distance limits: elementary and middle school students must reside over one-half mile from their designated school; and high school students must reside over one mile from the high school.

 

D.  Students may be transported without regard to statutory distance and without charge:

 

       1.  For the purpose of transferring or changing attendance areas to meet the needs of the District.

 

       2.  For other reasons approved by the Board.

 

E.  A monthly fee up to the maximum average cost per pupil will be charged based on the prorated cost per student, computed annually by State formula.

 

F.   Transportation passes shall be purchased on a monthly basis. Transportation passes may be purchased for morning or afternoon service, at half the applicable fee.

 

G.  A student in residence at the beginning of a month shall be required to pay for a full month, even if the student elects to receive transportation after the month begins.

 

       1.  A student who moves into an eligible area will be charged on a prorated basis according to the amount of transportation provided.

 

       2.  No refunds or rate adjustments shall be made for days buses cannot operate because of weather or other circumstances beyond the control of the district. Extenuating circumstances such as extended illness shall be considered on an individual basis for refund.

 

 

 

August 1989; Revised March 1994, July 2010