Elementary students are legally eligible for transportation if they live more than two (2) miles from the school designated for attendance, and secondary students are entitled if they live more than three (3) miles.
Transportation of students who require special education services will generally be provided as for other students, when appropriate. Specialized transportation of a student to and from a special education instructional service is a function of that service and, therefore, an appropriate expenditure of special education instructional funds generated through the weighting plan.
Transportation of a student to and from a special education support service is a function of that service, and is specified in the individualized education program (IEP) or the individualized family service plan (IFSP). When the IEP or IFSP team determines that unique transportation arrangements are required and the arrangements are specified in the IEP or IFSP, the school district will provide one or more of the following transportation arrangements for instructional services and the AEA for support services:
- Transportation from the student’s residence to the location of the special education and back to the student’s residence, or childcare placement for students below the age of six.
- Special assistance or adaptations in getting the student to and from and on and off the vehicle, en route to and from the special education.
- Reimbursement of the actual costs of transportation when by mutual agreement the parents provide transportation for the student to and from the special education.
The school district is not required to provide reimbursement to parents who elect to provide transportation in lieu of agency-provided transportation.
A student may be required, at the board’s discretion, to meet a school vehicle without reimbursement up to three-fourths of a mile. The board may require the parent to transport their children up to two miles to connect with school bus vehicles at the expense of the school district when conditions deem it advisable. It is within the discretion of the board to determine such conditions.
Parents of students who live where transportation by bus is impracticable or unavailable may be required to furnish transportation to and from the designated attendance center at the expense of the school district. Parents, who transport their children at the expense of the school district, are reimbursed at the rate per mile set by the state.
Transportation arrangements made by agreement with a neighboring school district will follow the terms of the agreement. Students, who choose to attend a school in a school district other than their resident school district, will provide transportation to and from the school at their own expense.
Students residing within corporate limits are not entitled to transportation to and from school except under the following conditions:
- Transportation is provided from the elementary attendance center and Middle School building to the High School attendance center for all High School pupils residing within the corporate limits of any town within the district.
- The board may at their discretion, provide transportation for resident elementary children who live within corporate limits, if it is proven that extreme safety hazards exist. Transportation is provided from present attendance centers for all students attending school within the corporate limits of a town other than that within which they reside, except all high school students will be transported to the High School building.
- School bus transportation for students participating in after school activities is available to the attendance centers located in Chelsea, Tama, and Toledo as well as to the community of Montour.
- Special transportation may be provided for any pupil whose handicap for subsequent special education service requires him/her to be transported to and from or in and about school.
- A parent or guardian of an elementary student whose residence is more than two (2) miles away may request that a licensed child day care facility be designated for pick-up and delivery of their child. The request shall be for a period of at least one semester and may not be submitted more than twice during a school year.
(April 18, 1983; December 16, 1991; June 16, 1997; May 20, 2002; July 7, 2003; May 2, 2011; June 23, 2014; November 18, 2019)