Revised: July 11, 2005 751
Revised: October 29, 2014
Revised: August 10, 2016
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
A. Ridership Eligibility
The Evansville Community School District shall provide transportation services to all students attending school within the District who reside two (2) or more miles from the school they are to attend. Transportation may also be provided for students who reside less than two (2) miles from the school they are to attend if in the Board’s judgment the health and safety of the student is at issue. Child care facilities licensed by the state of Wisconsin located in the District such that they qualify through distance or safety provisions shall be eligible for bus transportation of all school age students. Students whose residences do not qualify for bus service but who are enrolled in child care facilities that do qualify for bus service shall be provided bus transportation to and from the licensed child care facilities. Parents/guardians of such students shall complete a form from the District Contracted Transportation Provider (Bus Contractor) requesting this service and provide proof of enrollment from the child care provider. In addition, all students with disabilities who physically or otherwise are unable to walk to their school will be offered transportation regardless of distance. The District shall provide transportation for the students attending private schools in accordance with the directives of Wisconsin Statutes.
B. Route and Schedules
The District Contracted Transportation Provider (Bus Contractor) shall conduct studies of bus routes to provide the safest, shortest routes which will get all eligible riders to school and back in the most economical way. Routes shall be arranged in such a way as to equalize, as nearly as possible, the length of routes and loads to provide for the efficient utilization of buses. Parent(s)/guardian(s) who would like their children either picked-up or dropped off at a point other than their residence along the established bus route, must make a written request to the Bus Contractor. The Bus Contractor will either approve or deny the request. If denied, the parents/guardians may appeal the decision to the District Administrator. Requests will be automatically denied if a bus is filled to capacity or if the request would cause the bus to deviate from the established route.
Except as noted in paragraph A above, transportation will not be provided to students living within the municipal limits and within two (2) miles of the school as measured door to door along the most direct route in which the school exists except for students with disabilities. Students outside the municipal limits will be transported if their residence is more than a half (.5) mile from school.
C. Location of Bus Stops, Pick-Up and Discharge Points
If a safe turn-around exists and the student lives half (.5) of a mile or more from the main road, the bus will make a pick-up. If a safe turn-around or drive is not available, or the student lives less than half (.5) of a mile from the main road, the student shall be expected to walk to the main road or a safe, designated pick-up point. The Bus Contractors will judge the relative safety of a turn-around area.
- Where students’ homes are located in near proximity (one block), a central stop area will be designated for all students involved. Safety will be the prime factor in choosing the central pick-up spot. Stops should be at least .1 mile apart.
- Student(s) living in concentrated population areas will be required to assemble at a bus-loading point(s) unless a safety factor is involved. The bus will not pick up at individual homes in concentrated population areas.
- Dead end lanes and roads will not be entered by any bus unless the lane or road is a quarter mile (.25) long for students in grades 4K-4 and half mile (.5) long for students in grades 5-12. Such pick-ups must be examined and approved individually by the Bus Contractor. A condition of pick-ups on dead-end lanes or roads shall include the availability of a safe and adequate turn around for the bus and complete and timely snow removal.
- Parent(s)/guardian(s) wanting a change in drop-off or pick-up points must file a signed permanent transportation change form/request with the Bus Contractor. Changes must be approved by the Bus Contractor and meet the following criteria:
- Changes must be permanent in nature and for the duration of the school year, if possible.
- Room must be available on the bus if the requested change requires a change in buses.
- Temporary bus changes will be approved on a short-term basis for emergency situations. Requests of a social nature will not be approved without 24 hour prior approval and space availability. (Example: slumber parties, scout meetings, overnight stays.)
Legal Ref.: Sections 115.787 Wisconsin Statutes (Individualized Education Programs)
118.51(14) (Full-Time Open Enrollment, Transportation)
120.13(27m) (School Board Powers)
121.51-121.56 (Transportation Aid)
TRANS 300, PI 7, Wisconsin Administrative Code
Local Ref.: Policy #751.1 – Procedures for Student Transportation Services
Policy # 751.2 – School Bus Safety Program
Policy #751.3 – Use of Video Cameras on School Buses
Policy #751.4 – Co-and Extra-Curricular Transportation
Policy #751.4 Form – Contest Travel Release
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