Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 761 - Transportation Department › Public Transit › Chapter 911 - School Transportation Services Provided by Regional Transit Systems › Rule 761-911.10 - Operating Policies

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
School transportation services provided by regional transit
				  systems must be designed to maximize the safety of student riders and must, at
				  a minimum, meet the following standards:
(1)
Passenger
				loading/unloading.
Unless prohibited by law, students transported in
				vehicles other than school buses must be loaded and unloaded on the same side
				of the street as their residence or other origin or destination. Students may
				be released only to the custody of a designated school official, parent or
				guardian, employee of the department of health and human services, or law
				enforcement official, unless other arrangements are made in advance.
(2)
Student passenger behavior and
				discipline policy.
Each contract for school transportation service
				must include a policy relating to the behavior of students while they ride in
				vehicles. The regional transit system or school must provide instruction to all
				drivers assigned to school transportation service relative to the content and
				application of the policy. If a student is removed from a vehicle for one or
				more policy violations, the student may be released only to the custody of a
				school official, parent or guardian, employee of the department of health and
				human services or a law enforcement officer. In all cases, the school must be
				notified immediately of any such disciplinary action, and a written report must
				be filed with the school describing the circumstances resulting in the
				removal.
(3)
Standing
				prohibited.
Under no circumstances shall a student be permitted or
				required to stand while a vehicle is in motion. Every student must be provided
				an appropriate seat at all times.
(4)
Stops at rail crossings.
Every driver must make a complete stop before driving across the tracks of any
				railroad crossing, in accordance with Iowa Code section
				321.343.
(5)
Accident reporting.
If a
				driver is involved in a collision or other incident causing or having a
				potential to cause injuries to students, the regional transit system must
				immediately notify the school of the incident. The regional transit system must
				file all accident reports required by law. In addition, the regional transit
				system must complete a school bus accident report on a form prescribed by the
				department of education and submit it to the school or the department of
				education.
(6)
Passenger
				instruction/evacuation drills.
Each school must provide students
				assigned to school transportation service with school bus passenger safety
				instruction and emergency evacuation drills at least twice each school year.
				These evacuation drills must involve a vehicle of the same type used to provide
				the school transportation service.
(7)
Special training for drivers
				carrying students with disabilities.
Each school contracting for
				school transportation services for a student with one or more disabilities must
				provide the regional transit system with information on any special needs of
				the student and, if necessary, provide the assigned driver with appropriate
				information and training on how to appropriately respond to the needs of the
				student during transit and in the event of an emergency.
(8)
Posttrip inspection.
After each trip that had students on board, the driver must perform a posttrip
				inspection of the interior of the vehicle. The posttrip inspection must include
				a walk-through to the back of the vehicle to ensure that no sleeping or hiding
				children are left behind.