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Transportation Services 

Approved 6/11/03
Policy Revision:  8/6/14, 10/11/17, 11/12/25

Philosophy:

Pupil transportation responsibilities involve the combined effort of four distinct groups of individuals: District personnel, drivers, pupils, and parents. Each of these groups shares in the responsibility for pupils’ safety while adhering to school policies and the State’s Safe School Policies.

School District Responsibility:

The Board will do the following:

  1.       Establish the policies and procedures that govern the program’s operations.
  2.       Establish pupil regulations governing the behavior, proper conduct, and safety procedures while students are on the bus and at the bus stop.
  3.       Conduct a training program for school bus drivers to ensure that all policies, procedures, and regulations are understood and why they must be enforced.
  4.       Ensure that parents receive written copies of bus rules and regulations that clearly define their roles and responsibilities regarding student punctuality, attitude, and behavior. 
  5.       If necessary, provide training in pupil management that extends beyond enforcing rules and regulations.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-601-2 (March 15, 2024)
Utah Admin. Rules R277-601-3 (March 15, 2024)

Driver Responsibility:

School bus drivers have direct responsibility for passenger safety on all routes. Drivers are to maintain proper student discipline when loading, unloading, and transporting students to and from school. Drivers are to be courteous, friendly, fair, and consistent in maintaining discipline on the buses. In addition, school bus drivers will do the following:

  1.        Be familiar with all rules, policies, and procedures affecting pupil transportation.
  2.        Establish communication with each building administrator and work to ensure proper conduct and communication.
  3.        Establish proper rapport with pupils. Instruct pupils in proper behavior, general procedures, and drills.
  4.        Drivers may suspend students who create discipline problems on the bus for violation of District policy.
  5.       On daily routes, the driver may not stop the bus and load or unload students except at designated stops.
  6.       Follow the District’s Bus Conduct Policy (EAB) in dealing with busing problems.
  7.       The teacher/supervisor on an activity bus trip is responsible for discipline. Drivers are to intervene only if safety is involved or if permission is granted by the teacher/supervisor. On regular routes, the driver is both driver and supervisor.
  8. Maintain order as a safety practice and stress the following points:
    1.     Minimize interior noise.
    2.     Controlled passenger movement.
    3.     Orderly entrance and exit.
    4.     No movement of objects.
    5.     Silence at railroad crossings.
    6.     No transportation of unauthorized persons or materials.
    7.     Discussions and seat assignments to handle minor infractions.
    8.     Use of appropriate procedures in dealing with discipline problems or student misconduct.

Pupil Responsibility:

Proper pupil behavior is important because a pupil’s distraction of the driver can cause accidents. Pupils should be aware of and abide by reasonable regulations to enhance safety. The pupil should clearly understand the consequences of unacceptable behavior. The following procedures will protect the pupil’s rights and maintain order on the bus:

  1.       Pupils must be aware that they are responsible for their actions and behavior.
  2.       Pupils must be aware of the rules and procedures outlined in the District’s Bus Conduct Policy (EAB) and adhere to them.
  3.       Pupils must display proper respect for the rights and comfort of others.
  4.       Pupils should realize that school bus transportation can be denied if they do not conduct themselves properly.
  5.       Pupils should be aware that any driver distraction is potentially hazardous to their safety.

Parent/Guardian Responsibility:

Parents and guardians have the following responsibilities:

  1.       Becoming familiar with rules and regulations as indicated in the District’s Bus Conduct Policy (EAB) and encouraging children to abide by them.
  2.       Assisting children in understanding rules and regulations.
  3.       Recognizing their responsibility for the actions of their children.
  4.       Effecting desirable changes in their behavior.
  5.       Supporting safe-riding procedures.
  6.       Supporting procedures for emergency procedures.
  7.       Supporting procedures for safely crossing the highway before boarding and after leaving the bus.
  8.       Supporting procedures to follow in emergencies.
  9.       Supporting respect for the rights and privileges of others.

Transportation Director—

South Sanpete School District shall select an employee to serve as Transportation Director who shall have a basic understanding of the State’s Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations.

Responsibilities:

  1.       Provide assistance to the Board in planning, budgeting, and forecasting the purchasing and selling of District vehicles.
  2.       Assist school officials in school site selection and busing issues.
  3.       Oversee the maintenance of the buses and maintain a pre-trip inspection program.
  4.       Recruit, select, and supervise personnel in the instruction process.
  5.       Determine regular bus routes and schedules, and also review and approve hazardous routes.
  6.       Develop and implement pupil safety programs as needed.
  7.       Collaborate with the Superintendent, teachers, transportation personnel, students, parents, and public and private agencies to enhance quality and safety through the School Traffic Safety Committee.
  8.       In compliance with the Utah Highway Patrol and Risk Management, investigate and report accidents.
  9.       Maintain records and prepare reports for USBE (November 1 and July 15).
  10.       Plan and implement procedures for field trips, bus requests, driver assignments, and substitute drivers, among other tasks.
  11.       Oversee the School Traffic Safety Committee for the District.
  12.       Oversee the Bus Safety Committee, which reviews bus accidents.
  13.       Review complaints, concerns, and safety issues related to drivers and the District's transportation department, and take the necessary steps to address and correct them.
  14.       Oversee bus inspection—

Design and construction:

All buses used by the District will conform to the requirements outlined in the Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations and the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, applicable to both new and used buses. Further, the District will purchase no buses that do not meet the Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations unless an exemption has been obtained from the State Board of Education.

Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations p. 12-14, 17-18 (2019)

Markings:

Every school bus, when operated for the transportation of school children, shall bear upon the front and rear of the bus a plainly visible sign containing the words “School Bus” in letters not less than eight inches in height, which shall be removed when the vehicle is not in use for the transportation of school children.

Utah Code § 41-6a-1302(1) (2024)

Each school bus shall have a clearly legible sign placed on the bus and at each entrance, warning that unauthorized entry onto the bus is a violation of state law.

Utah Code § 76-9-107(5) (2025)

Lights:

Every school bus shall, in addition to other required equipment and distinctive markings, be fitted with signal lamps mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. These lamps shall display two alternately flashing red lights at the front, at the same level, and two alternately flashing red lights at the rear, also at the same level. All these lights must be visible from 500 feet in normal sunlight.

Utah Code § 41-6a-1301(1) (2015)

Every school bus shall also be equipped with yellow signal lamps mounted near each of the four red lamps and at the same level, but closer to the vertical centerline of the bus. These lamps shall display two alternately flashing yellow lights to the front and two alternately flashing yellow lights to the rear, and they shall be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.

Utah Code § 41-6a-1301(2) (2015)

Inspection:

Before any new school bus shall be put into service, the District shall inspect and test the bus to verify conformance with the Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations. Tests which shall be conducted during the acceptance inspection of a school bus shall include, but not be limited to:

  1.       Inventory of required safety features.
  2.       Function tests of all lamps and signals, emergency braking system, horn, and other operating systems.

If further inspection is required, the District will request that Utah Department of Transportation officers provide an acceptance test.

Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations p. 13 (2019)

The District shall perform annual safety inspections on its school buses in accordance with regulations of the Utah Highway Patrol Division. The District shall remove from public highways any buses that have defects that endanger the safety of passengers or other drivers until such defects have been remedied. District buses are also subject to random inspection by the Utah Highway Patrol.

Utah Code § 53-8-211(2), (3) (2020)

Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations p. 19 (2019)

Utah Code § 53-8-211(2)(a), (2)(b)(iv) (2021)

* Any policies and standards not currently reflected in the South Sanpete School District’s

Transportation Policies shall be observed as listed in the State’s guide on “Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations.” School Traffic Safety Committee—

Philosophy:

The purpose of the School Traffic Safety Committee is to meet at least annually and address specific problems and issues related to school bus safety for each school in the District, as specified in Utah Code 53A-3-402 (16). The committee reviews and recommends school traffic safety improvements, boundary changes for safety purposes, student routing plans, and school safety program criteria.

Policy:

The School Traffic Safety Committee shall be composed of:

  1.        One representative from the District.
  2.        One PTA representative from the District
  3.        A representative from the county or municipality.
  4.        A representative from a state or local law enforcement.
  5.        A state or local traffic safety engineer (DOT representative).
  6.        The District’s Transportation Director.
  7. A certified District Bus Trainer.
    1.        The Committee shall receive suggestions from school community councils, parents, teachers, and others and recommend school traffic safety improvements and boundary changes to enhance safety.
    2.        The Committee shall annually review and submit to the Department of Transportation and affected municipalities and counties a child access routing plan for each elementary, middle, and junior high school within the District.
    3.         The Committee shall consult with the Utah Safety Council and the Utah Division of Family Health Services and shall provide training to all District school children in grades K-5 on school crossing safety and use.
    4.         The Committee shall help ensure the District’s compliance with rules made by the Transportation Commission under Utah Code § 41-6a-303 and may establish subcommittees as needed to assist in accomplishing its duties.

Utah Code § 53A-3-402(17) (2021)

Rental of School Buses—

Philosophy:       

The general philosophy of the South Sanpete Board of Education is that transportation equipment purchased by the South Sanpete School District is to be used primarily for school purposes. Taxpayers shall not be expected to subsidize busing equipment or personnel not necessary for school purposes.

Policy Statement:

Only entities with liability coverage through Risk Management may rent South Sanpete School buses. No bus shall be rented without the prior approval of the Transportation Director, Business Administrator, and Utah Risk Management.

The District must have on file a copy of the renter’s insurance coverage/policy from Risk Management. The District shall designate one of its certified bus drivers to be the driver for rental requests.  The rental bus may not leave the State of Utah, according to liability coverage from the Utah Risk Management Division. The District will not compete with any Sanpete County business renting buses. The amount of rent charged by the District will be at least equal to the amount necessary for maintenance and to cover overhead costs of renting the bus. The rental fee shall include the total round-trip mileage (based on the District’s current bus rate per mile) and driver expenses, which comprise wages, FICA, Retirement, per diem, and lodging (if applicable).

A School Bus Rental Application and a copy of the Certificate of Insurance from the Risk Management department must accompany all bus rentals.

pdfPolicy_EAA.pdf