BUS. & NON-INSTR. OPER.

School Bus Transportation

"School bus" means every vehicle operated for the transportation of children to or from school, except vehicles which are:  (a) privately owned and not operated for compensation, (b) used exclusively in the transportation of the children in the immediate family of the driver, (c) operated by a municipally or privately owned urban transit company for the transportation of children as part of or in addition to their regularly scheduled service, or (d) designed to carry not more than eight persons as passengers, either school owned or privately owned, which are used to transport pupils to their homes in case of illness or other emergency situations.  The vehicles operated under the provisions of paragraph "d" of this section shall be operated by employees of the school district who are specifically approved by the local superintendent of schools for the assignment.

School Bus Uses

School buses may be used to provide transportation for each resident pupil who attends a public school and/or each resident pupil who attends a non-public school who is entitled to transportation under the laws of the State of Iowa, the policies of the D.E. and the rules and regulations of the Board of Directors.

School buses may be used at the discretion of the Board of Directors for transportation of persons to activities in which pupils from the schools are participants or are attending the activity for which the school is responsible.

Student Eligibility for Bus Service

Public & Non-public school students, grades K-5, living more than one and one-half miles from a designated attendance center, grades 6-8, living more than two miles from a designated attendance center and grades 9-12 living more than three miles from a designated attendance center will be furnished transportation or accommodated in the manner prescribed by the Code of Iowa and local school district guidelines.

Such action must be approved at a regular meeting of the Board.

Special Education Bus Service

Resident pupils qualifying for special education classes in a school other than the usual school designated for attendance may be provided transportation.

The Board of Directors may also approve transportation for handicapped pupils to their designated attendance center.

Alternative/Exceptional Education Bus Service

Resident pupils who are administratively assigned to alternative/exceptional education classes or programs in a school or location other than the usual school designated for attendance may be provided transportation.

The following stipulations shall apply:

• The pupil must qualify under the Student Eligibility for Bus Service guidelines specified in board policy 305.5 relative to distance from the alternative/exceptional education program site.

• In the case of the Homeless Student at-risk program for students in emergency shelter care, transportation to the attendance site will be limited to the conclusion of the term in which the special transportation is begun unless there is a formal administrative extension.

Alternative/Exceptional Education Programs shall include, but not be limited to:

• English as a Second Language and Bilingual Programs

• Homeless/Shelters/Foster Home Program

• Alternative To Expulsion Program

• Administrative Advisory Council Transfer

Summer School Transportation

Buses may be used for summer school transportation if the program needing the service has funds to pay the contracted provider of bus services.

Equipment

"School bus" means every vehicle operated for the transportation of children to or from school, except vehicles which are:  (a) privately owned and not operated for compensation, (b) used exclusively in the transportation of the children in the immediate family of the driver, (c) operated by a municipally or privately owned urban transit company for the transportation of children as part of or in addition to their regularly scheduled service, or (d) designed to carry not more than eight persons as passengers, either school owned or privately owned, which are used to transport pupils to their homes in case of illness or other emergency situations.  The vehicles operated under the provisions of paragraph "d" of this section shall be operated by employees of the school district who are specifically approved by the local superintendent of schools for the assignment.

PROCEDURE FOR EPILEPTIC AND DIABETIC BUS RIDERS

Each school nurse will furnish the Director of Transportation a list of bus students who have seizure disorders or diabetes.  The Director of Transportation will notify each bus driver if a student on his/her bus has a seizure disorder or is a diabetic.

EPILEPTIC (SEIZURE) DISORDERS

1. If a student has a seizure on the bus, the driver will pull over and stop the bus in a safe spot.

2. He/she will then proceed as follows:

• Remain calm - (this is difficult, but possible)

• Do not attempt to restrain movements

• Allow student to lie on seat or floor

• If possible, turn student to the side to prevent the tongue from blocking the air passage

• Protect the student from  injury by cradling the head

• Do NOT attempt to force anything in the person's mouth

• If chewing, place a folded handkerchief between teeth

• Person may have breathing difficulty and turn blue (don't panic)

• A seizure usually lasts about one (1) minute

3. When the seizure is over, radio the dispatcher to notify the school, and if the student seems OK, continue on the route.  You may ask a responsible student to sit beside him/her.
    
4. If a seizure lasts five (5) minutes or the student is groggy, the driver should radio the dispatcher to contact the nurse or principal at the student's school to ask for advice and remain in contact until the seizure is over and instructions are received and understood.
    
5. If a seizure lasts ten (10) minutes, an ambulance should be called to the bus to take the student to the emergency room.  If the bus is near a hospital, the driver may have a dependable student protect the seizure victim and drive directly to the emergency room.
    
6. Specific written instructions may be given for a particular student which differ from this general policy.

DIABETIC

If a diabetic student says that he/she isn't feeling well or says he/she is getting shaky:

1. Ask him/her if he/she has had his/her insulin.

2. Ask him/her if he/she has had breakfast, lunch, etc.

3. Allow him/her to eat a sugar cube, pop or candy.

4. Notify school or parents.

5. If seizure or unconsciousness occur, call an ambulance.

Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar are:  (Too much insulin)

• Nervousness

• Pale

• Hunger

• Moist skin

• Weakness

• Abnormal behavior

• Normal or shallow breathing

• Seizures

Signs and symptoms of diabetic coma (too much sugar and not enough insulin - usually comes on more slowly)

• Breath smells fruity

• Respiration deep and labored

• Dry warm skin

• Drowsy

• Thirsty

1. Notify Parents Immediately

2. If unconscious, call ambulance

• Legal Reference -- Code of Iowa Chapter 321.1, 321.373, 285.10

• Updated 6/82, 4/91, 8/93, 11/97, 7/99, 10/03

• Reviewed 5/96, 7/99, 10/03