West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 126 - Education › Title 126 - LEGISLATIVE RULE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Series 126-092 - West Virginia School Bus Transportation Regulations, Procedures, and Specifications for the Design and Equipment of School Buses (4336) › Section 126-92-3 - Bus Passenger Regulations

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
3.1. The
				Executive Director of the WVDE Office of School Facilities and Transportation
				(State Director), shall serve as the liaison with county boards in the
				implementation of Policy 4336.
3.2.
				The operator shall be in charge of any passengers riding the bus. The operator
				shall follow W. Va. 126 CSR 99, Policy 4373, Expected Behavior in Safe and
				Supportive Schools (Policy 4373) to provide discipline on buses.
3.3. The county board shall provide training
				on Policy 4373 to all operators and aides upon initial employment with the
				county, and any time Policy 4373 is revised.
3.4. Enrolling or enrolled students,
				employees, or persons approved previously by a county board are the only
				passengers eligible to be transported by the county school transportation
				system. Under no circumstances is a student to be left at a bus stop
				unattended. Operators shall follow the county's ridership procedures.
3.5. All students living greater than two
				miles from their assigned school or nearest bus route are eligible for school
				transportation services. Transportation services are not recommended on
				streets, roadways, or private property developments which are not maintained by
				the West Virginia Department of Highways or a public municipality, or a private
				property development that law enforcement agencies may not respond to an
				accident, or anywhere visibility, sight distances, or adequate space to
				maneuver the bus may be in question. It shall be the responsibility of the
				county board to develop a policy to address these issues and to determine if
				these conditions exist prior to establishing a bus route.
3.6. Students shall participate in emergency
				evacuation drills at least twice and three times for pre-kindergarten (pre-k)
				student(s) annually. The first drill is to be completed by October
				31st and the second by April
				30th of each school year.
3.7. Transportation requirements regarding WV
				Universal Pre-K are addressed in WVBE Policy 2525: West Virginia's Universal
				Access to a Quality Early Education System (Policy 2525). Policy 2525 addresses
				seating arrangements, supervision, and contact with families when children who
				typically ride the bus are absent. Transportation and school staff are
				responsible for requirements addressed in Policy 2525, as designated in the
				policy. Additionally, it is recognized that compartmentalization, the passive
				safety restraint systems required in buses under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
				Standards (FMVSS) 222, provides a higher level of safety to children over 40
				pounds; however, if a child weighing 40 pounds or less is transported, the
				following guidelines should be considered. All passengers under the age of five
				weighing 40 pounds or less
should
be secured in a CSRS
				and, if secured, shall meet the following:
3.7.a. each child shall be transported in a
				CSRS suitable for the child's weight, age, height, or specialized need that
				meets applicable FMVSS.
3.7.b. each
				child shall be properly secured in the CSRS.
3.7.c. the CSRS shall be properly secured to
				the bus seat, using an anchor age system that meets applicable FMVSS.
3.7.d. the seat directly behind a child
				transported in a CSRS shall remain unoccupied unless occupants in that seat are
				in a CSRS as well, or unless the seats are of an integrated type.
3.7.e. the services of a bus aide should be
				considered to assist the operator when transporting a student requiring a
				CSRS.
3.7.f. lap belts shall only
				be used to secure a CSRS, not a child. If lap belts are used to secure a CSRS,
				the bus seat(s) shall be seat belt-ready.
3.7.g. any use of lap/shoulder belt
				combinations shall meet all federal and state
				regulations.