Westbrook School Department Policy

File: EEA Page 1 of 2

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

A.

It is the policy of the Westbrook School Department to work diligently to ensure the safety of our students. The following guidelines will be used in establishing bus routes and bus stops although in some circumstances there will be exceptions due to safety considerations. All bus stops will be established with due consideration of safety, road conditions and traffic. The School Committee will provide transportation for all students living beyond a reasonable distance from their school or from a scheduled bus stop as defined by the School Committee. This distance is defined as follows: Grades Pre Kindergarten Kindergarten Grades K-4 Grades 5-8 Grades 9 -12

Per Federal Guidelines .3 mile .3 mile .5 miles 1.5 miles

Distance shall be measured by the shortest publicly traveled way from the residence point of pickup to the bus stop or school building. Busses do not turn into cul-de-sacs, dead end streets, private property or non accepted streets of the City of Westbrook. B.

Exceptions to the above distances may be made for the following reasons: 1. Questionable Walking Conditions Questionable walking conditions shall be defined as those which would potentially place a child of a given age in a situation of greater than normal risk. In general, questionable conditions could involve walking on heavily traveled or high speed roads or streets where no crossing guides or crossing lights are available. The Transportation Coordinator shall make the determination if a questionable walking condition exists and will make appropriate adjustments. If necessary, the decision can be appealed to the Superintendent / designee. 2. IEP / 504 Plan Decision

C.

Waivered Students Such transportation is the sole responsibility of the student’s parent/guardian unless provisions are required under an IEP.

D.

Eligible Bus Students outside the defined walking distances/ Drop off Location Eligible Bus Students outside the defined walking distances will only be transported to and from school. A maximum of 2 pre-defined bus stop(s) one primary and one alternate for the pick-up and dropping off of students will be allowed for each school year within the school boundary lines (i.e. home and daycare drop off)

E.

Medical Allowance of an additional school bus pick-up or drop-off Students will only be allowed an additional school bus pick-up or drop-off bus stop (s) if medical reasons pertain. It will be the responsibility of the parent / guardian for any alternate transportation needs. Transportation will not be provided outside each school district area.

F.

Definition of a bus stop (s): Authorized bus stops will be located so as to load and unload students with the most safety allowed by road conditions. The distance between stops may vary according to safety factors. If possible, students will be loaded and unloaded so that it is not necessary for them to cross a main

One Promise: The best education for all for life.

Westbrook School Department Policy

File: EEA Page 2 of 2

highway to reach their homes. Requests for bus stops other than those authorized under this policy must be made in writing to the Superintendent, whose decision shall be final. Authorized bus stops will be located so as to consolidate stops whenever possible. The pickup and drop off location determined to be safe, accessible and central location for a student or a group of students as determined by the Westbrook School Department. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure the student’s safety on the way to and from and at the bus stop. G.

If a student has to change his / her primary location to the alternate location, or if the student is taking alternate means of transportation, a note from the parent / guardian will be given to the homeroom teacher / school office at the beginning of the school day. In an emergency situation, the school office will accept a request for a bus change to the alternate location after the beginning of the school day but before 12 noon. The school office will notify the transportation department of any emergency changes at least one hour prior to the student’s dismissal from school. Requests involving a bus change will be honored if space is available on the requested bus.

H.

If the provision offered, for an emergency situation is abused, then a review will take place between the parent / guardian, school principal and the Superintendent / designee. The Superintendent / designee will make the final decision within one business day of the review.

I.

Any request for a change in a student’s bus or bus stop during the school year must be directed to the Superintendent / designee by his/her parent/guardian. The Superintendent / designee will make a decision on how the student(s) will be transported based on the factors in Paragraph E within a reasonable period of time.

Legal Reference:

20-A MRSA § 5401

Adopted:

January 21, 1963

Revised:

October 8, 1986; February 22, 1995; September 29, 1999; June 28, 2000; June 12, 2002; January 10, 2007; May 13, 2009; August 15, 2012; October 14, 2015

Reviewed by the Policy Committee: May 6, 2003; October 20, 2014

One Promise: The best education for all for life.