See also Policy 12-1R
A. Generally
Pursuant to the authority granted to the Preston County Board of Education in Chapter 18, Article 5, Section 13, of the School Laws Of West Virginia, the board shall provide, at public expense, means of transportation for all children enrolled in programs of the Preston County Schools who live more than two miles by the nearest available road to their assigned attendance center. In addition, the board may provide adequate means of transportation for children living less than two miles from school within the available revenues or where extremely hazardous conditions exist. In each situation, the board will approve bus routes to be established only on roads that are approved and maintained by the State Department of Highways to the satisfaction of the board of education. The board may further provide adequate transportation for school participating in approved curricular and extra-curricular activities.
B. Operation of Buses
In all cases, the buses or other transportation vehicles owned by the board shall be driven or operated by drivers regularly employed by the board of education. The board shall carry such insurance on said vehicle and drivers as may be required by law, State Board Regulations, or County Board regulations.
C. Student Conduct on Buses
The Board considers the transportation of students a privilege to be enjoyed by eligible students and believes the safety of students to be of paramount importance. Students who ride school buses are expected to follow all regulations established by the State Department of Education, the county superintendent, the transportation director/designee, or the school principal. The bus operator shall stand in place of the parent while the child is being transported on his/her bus and shall maintain proper order and control.
Those students who fail to comply with the established rules and regulations shall be disciplined in accordance with Board Policy 11-29.
D. Guidelines for Curricular and Extracurricular Trips
Successful curricular and extracurricular trips are well planned, well chaperoned and provide the safest means of transportation for the students and their chaperones. It is the principals' responsibility to monitor all trips to determine that these criteria are being met The use of school buses outside the state border shall be limited to within one hundred miles of the state line. To assist the principal in this responsibility, the superintendent shall establish guidelines to be followed by those persons involved in such trips.
E. Training - Student Responsibilities
Each year, all students shall be provided instruction as to proper conduct, rules and regulations, emergencies, and school closings due to inclement weather.
LEGAL REFERENCE: West Virginia Code 18-5-13
West Virginia School Transportation Regulations
ADOPTED: November 28, 1983; August 28, 1995