need your help
Can you please send me what you have and follow for NOT traveling on undedicated, private or gated communities.
We have it in our school board policy but I noticed that most districts do not. We have a development challenging our policy and guidelines and they are claiming no other school districts follow the above statement.
Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.
No. 810-AR
ADMINISTRATIVE
REGULATION
QUAKERTOWN COMMUNITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT
BUS TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS
A. Bus Stop Locations
The Quakertown Community School District has a list of tentatively established stops (stops which have been generated over a number of years) that is annually reviewed. A final list, approved by the Board, is published in local newspapers each year prior to the beginning of school.
A list of bus stops is kept in the Business Services Department and at the office of the District’s transportation contractor. A copy is also available in each school building. Since the list of stops covers the entire District, it is annually added to, or deleted from, according to the location of students. Bus stop changes may be necessitated after a new school term begins, in order to respond to community needs. It is also possible that bus stops may be changed to accommodate changing student counts. The time required to effect a bus stop change will be determined by the time needed for data collection, investigation and evaluation of findings, as well as the time needed for appropriate notifications.
The following are taken into consideration when establishing a new stop, deleting an existing stop, or changing the location of an existing stop:
1. The number of students affected.
2. The size of the bus required for the particular route in question.
3. The location of other established stops in the area.
4. The buses currently using a stop (elementary or secondary).
5. The safety of the stop in question. This is determined jointly by the District’s Director of Business Affairs, the District’s Director of Pupil Personnel Services and the transportation contractor. This will be done in conjunction with guidelines established by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and related documented evidence.
6. Bus stops are to be maintained a reasonable distance apart as long as it is not in a hazardous area under state guidelines. Too many stops too close together lengthens the amount of time buses are on the routes. While the District tries to keep riding time within a reasonable range, riding time is directly related to the location of the school building, traffic conditions and the dispersion of students attending the school.
7. The following general restrictions may impact on bus stop locations:
School buses will not be routed over unpaved, unmaintained, or undedicated roads, or roads otherwise deemed inappropriate for school bus operations.
School buses will not be routed through housing developments that the District considers inappropriate for school bus operation or where adequate walking surfaces exist.
School buses may be routed only one way on certain roads for safety reasons.
School buses will not be stopped on hills that may be too steep for safely starting and/or stopping a bus.
School buses will not be required to back up until all other options are thoroughly evaluated.
Bus Stops will not be changed after October 15, with the exception of new move-ins
or move-outs, or under highly unusual circumstances.
Generally, in the case of move-ins or move-outs, or in highly unusual circumstances, the Board authorizes the administration to establish temporary bus stops until the end of the school year, or in some cases, until the next School Board meeting.
I think parents confuse safety with convenience–two different things.
There are many factors to consider:
Can bus turn around safely
Can road accommodate bus (too narrow)
Do transit buses travel into community
How will drivers access community if gate locked
Will drivers have to exit bus to unlock gate (cannot if other students on bus)
If student has IEP with curb to curb, districts must be compliant but could use smaller vehicle.
I’m thinking that since the township/borough does not maintain these roads, they are not public roads and therefore districts would not be required to travel on these roads. I would treat “gate” like front door.
I am not sure if there are any PA legal statues requiring districts to enter gated communities or private/undedicated developments. I would stand by Board policy. I suggest you contact your solicitor for guidance.