Peel District School Board                                                                                             

TRANSPORTATION

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION

To Regular Day Schools

1.       (a) The Peel District School Board's eligibility distances for transportation are outlined below:

(i) Kindergarten students	1.0 km. (.625 miles)
(ii) Grades 1 - 4 students	1.6 km. (1 mile)
(iii) Grades 5 - 6 students	2.0 km (1.25 miles)
(iv) Grades 7 - 8 students	3.2 km. (2 miles)
(v) Secondary students	4.8 km. (3 miles)

(b) The distances noted in Statement 1.(a)(i) to (iv) are as follows:

The shortest, safe walking route measured along sidewalks, roadways and paved pedestrian walkways from school property line to home property line.  This measurement is made using the geographic information system (GIS) component of the board's transportation management software and will exclude walking paths that are rated by municipal officials as having a greater potential to flood than the standard for municipal walking paths.

(c) Where transportation is provided for students via school buses, Principals may issue bus privilege cards.

(d) Where deemed appropriate by the Manager of Transportation, tickets for public transit may be issued to school students.

(e) This policy pertains to all students other than the physically and developmentally challenged students.

2. The Board's Transportation Officers may authorize bus transportation for:

(a) Students for whom, in the opinion of the Controller of Corporate Support Services, transportation is required for safety or other reasons.

(b) Students whose physical or mental condition necessitates special consideration.

(c) Students where, in the opinion of the Board, unusual circumstances exist.

The Board will not accept responsibility for the transportation of students taking advantage of the flexible boundary policy.

3. The Transportation Officers may authorize transportation for students not eligible for transportation under existing Board policy, subject to all of the following conditions.

(a) That available space exists on an existing bus route to the student's designated school.

(b) That requests be forwarded to the school principals, who at their discretion and based on their knowledge of seat availability, will forward in writing, requests for transportation to the appropriate Transportation Officer.

(c) That the student access the bus at an existing bus stop location.

(d) That the parents or guardian sign an acknowledgment form, indicating their awareness that the student is not eligible for transportation and that transportation privileges may be withdrawn at any time.  The form will be provided to the school by the Transportation Office, completed by the parent through the school and returned to the Transportation Office.

(e) That implementation of service, for the majority of authorized requests of this nature, will be assigned by October 15 of each school year.

(f) The allocation of available seats be left to the discretion of the Principal of the school.

4. In situations where students from more than one school are utilizing the same bus, it shall be the responsibility of the principals involved to jointly determine distribution of available seating between the schools using the above noted priority system.

5. Students attending special classes outside their normal attendance area may be required to walk to the school they would normally attend in order to obtain transportation provided by the Board.

6. Where it is not feasible or economical to supply bus services, the Transportation Officers may authorize the use of taxi service or supply bus tickets for use on a public transportation service.

7. Students, in order to avail themselves of the bus services assigned to their particular area, may be required to walk distances, as follows:

Kindergarten: 0.4 kilometres

Grades 1 – 4: 0.4 kilometres

Grades 5 – 12: 1.2 kilometres

8. For the safety of all transported students, school buses do not enter into subdivisions under construction.

9. Bus drivers may require students to produce their bus privilege cards at any time, and may deny access to the bus to any student who does not carry a card.

10. Transportation services to and from school are provided for students located at a daycare centre or babysitter residence, as opposed to their home residence, subject to all of the following conditions:

(a) the daycare centre or babysitter location is within the normal school attendance area for the student involved;

(b) the daycare centre or babysitter location is within the area of the school attendance area deemed eligible for transportation;

(c) the student access the bus consistently at the same location.

11. Bus drivers are required to enforce the conditions printed on the back of each card, and may collect the card of any student who does not conform to the regulations.  The bus drivers will report to the school principal as soon as possible any incident which required them to collect the card, and the principal will determine what action, if any, is to be taken.

12. Students must not be removed from a school bus until they reach the school or their home unless their actions are endangering the safety of the driver and passengers.  If a student has to be removed from the bus, the principal of the school and the appropriate Transportation Officer must be notified as soon as possible.

13. Bus routes and schedules will be drawn up by the Transportation Officers based on data supplied by the schools.

14. Problems concerning eligibility for bus privileges should be resolved at each school, but if this is not possible, they should be referred to the appropriate Transportation Officer.

15. The Transportation Officers, under the direction of the Manager of Transportation will be responsible for coordinating bus or taxi routes which extend beyond the boundaries of one area.

16. School principals are requested to refer to the appropriate Transportation Officer any problems concerning bus routes or scheduling.  No change in routes or scheduling may be made without the approval of the Transportation Officer.

17. All school buses will stop at railway crossings whether or not protected with a warning device.

SAFETY 

1. It is recommended that all municipalities within the Region of Peel be requested to install the necessary signs indicating the school zone speed of 40 kilometres per hour.
2. If the school bus is involved in an accident or incident the driver should immediately stop and assess the situation including the condition of all students.  The driver must immediately advise the carrier of the situation.

FIELD TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS

1. Field trips and excursions may be subsidized from a school's instructional supply budget provided the total expenditure does not exceed the budget.

2. Arrangements for transportation for field trips and excursions will be made by the school.

FIELD TRIP EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

1. If the school bus is involved in an accident or incident. The driver should immediately stop and investigate.

2. The driver should turn off the ignition and check for fire.  There should be no smoking or open flame near the bus.

3. The warning flags or flares should be immediately set out.

4. The teacher must be responsible to see that the police and the principal of the school are notified immediately.

5. The principal shall inform the superintendent and the appropriate Transportation Officer.

6. The principal and/or designate shall communicate by telephone, as soon as possible, with a parent of each child on a bus involved in an accident or incident, advising the parent of the situation and of the child's status.

Policy #39 - Transportation is aligned with and supports the principles and expectations of the Board Human Rights Policy #51 and Equity and Inclusive Education Policy #54.

(Underlined, bolded print indicates new language)

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