FILE:  EDDA

 

SPECIAL USE OF SCHOOL BUSES

 

 

It shall be the policy of the Sabine Parish School Board to permit the use of school buses for student trips or excursions to enhance instructional activities.  The use of buses for such trips shall be strictly governed by regulations adopted by the School Board and/or established by the Superintendent or administrative staff.  All arrangements for any trip or excursion shall be made by either the transportation supervisor or the Superintendent.

 

In addition to any regulations that may be prescribed, the School Board shall require the following:

 

  1. Application for use of any school bus must be submitted to and approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee prior to the date of anticipated use.

  2. Only qualified licensed school bus operators shall drive school buses on any student trip or excursion and expenses thereof shall be paid by the local school.

  3. Only school students and school personnel shall be permitted to ride the bus on such trips.  Appropriate school patrons may be used as chaperons as approved by the principal.

  4. Outside organizations that request usage of a school bus shall employ operators certified by the State of Louisiana and the School Board.  The name of the person hired should accompany the request for bus usage, if known.  Appropriate liability insurance coverage shall also be required.  Mileage shall be charged as set by the School Board.

  5. Any school that does not comply fully with the regulations shall be denied the use of buses for the remaining part of the school year.

 

BUS BREAKDOWNS

 

When mechanical or other problems prevent the operation of a school bus, either School Board-owned or contract bus, the Superintendent or his/her designee, and/or the school principal, shall be notified by the bus operator as soon as possible.  Arrangements shall be coordinated so as to complete any route.

 

Should emergencies or bus breakdowns cause a bus to be unusable for any appreciable length of time, the arrangements shall be as follow:

 

  1. For a School Board-owned bus, the Supervisor of Transportation shall assign another bus to be used on the route.

  2. For a bus provided by a contract bus operator, the operator shall contact the principal or the Supervisor of Transportation to coordinate the usage of another available bus.  The School Board may lease to the contract operator a bus owned by the School Board if one is available.  The contract bus operator may choose to lease a bus from a private agency. If available, a principal may opt to lease the school’s activity bus to the contract bus operator to transport students.  Schools shall be encouraged to allow operators to lease activity buses in emergency situations when buses are not available for lease elsewhere.  In times of emergency, the Superintendent shall have the discretion to determine which bus may be utilized.

  3. The use of activity buses is primarily the responsibility of the school to which the bus is assigned.  Reimbursement shall be made to the school for the use of that school’s activity bus.  Reimbursement shall be made to the School Board for use of a School Board-owned bus.  Rental fees and mileage may be charged as applicable and as set by the School Board.  Accurate records of mileage shall be kept for such usage.  All forms and other documentation regarding emergency bus usage shall be signed by the bus operator and submitted to the School Board office at the end of each week.

 

Revised:  May 13, 2013

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:81

Board minutes, 5-13-13

 

Sabine Parish School Board