I. General Considerations
Specific uses of school vehicles for the following is authorized in order listed:
- To cooperate with civil and military authorities in case of a disaster preparedness plan.
- The daily and regular transportation of students to and from school, the transportation of school lunches and such incidental transportation of board members, staff and parents as may arise.
- To and from school sponsored activities when under the directions of a qualified member of the staff. If the faculty member is an approved school bus driver, he/she can act both as a driver and faculty sponsor.
- To facilitate the operation of school sponsored summer educational and extra-curricular programs.
- Use by non-school sponsored groups and individuals.
The school vehicles shall not be used for activities except those planned and supervised by school authorities. Every effort shall be made to use local school vehicle transportation whenever a group of students is transported.
II. Non-School Sponsored Groups and Individuals Considerations
The school district will make school vehicles available to non-school groups when it does not interfere with the regular educational program or activity program of the students of the school system, and buses with qualified drivers are available. The following terms and purposes will be observed:
- Adult “Pep” Buses: School bus transportation may be used for adults, as spectators to attend those events outside the regular school day in which STC students are participating provided that at least 20 adults are transported on each bus. Each adult is to be charged a fee sufficient to reimburse the district for the cost as indicated below.
Elementary or preschool age children may ride the adult pep bus at the regular student rate provided that they are accompanied by their own parent or guardian.
- Rental for Non-School Purposes (in order of priority):
a.
For students who regularly attend STC district when the purpose of the sponsorship is primarily non-profit (Example: 4H groups, etc.).
b. For senior citizen groups when the purpose of the sponsorship is primarily non-profit.
c. For other adult groups when the purpose of the sponsorship is primarily non-profit and the sponsoring individual or group is non-profit in nature.
d. Non-profit groups in a fund raising endeavor, and for profit commercial enterprises activities judged acceptable by the administration. Fees calculated in this category shall be multiplied by 1.25 (or 125% of actual costs). The administration may elect to negotiate an alternative fee above estimated costs for special purposes and long-term regular use.
Non-school groups have the following restrictions placed on their use of school vehicles:
- School vehicles may not be scheduled for use by individuals or groups who have past-due accounts for past facility or bus rental fees or assessments.
- Rental of school vehicles may be denied for selected occasions, such as holidays, if necessary school personnel are not available.
- School vehicles can only be used if an adult resident of the district signs an agreement to pay the required fees, to accept liability for all damages and personal injury resulting from and during the usage, and to adhere to regulations established by the administration. The Board of Directors shall be the sole judge of unwarranted destruction of property or damages.
- School vehicles can only be used if a school employee or other adult, judged to be qualified by the administration, is available to take responsibility for supervision. When costs are involved, the organization or individual arranging for use shall pay for supervision. If non-school sponsored student groups are permitted to use facilities, they may be required to pay the cost of adult supervision. Employees of the school who are paid extra for supervision of facilities must be paid by the district and the district may be reimbursed by the organization/individual using the facilities.
- It will be the responsibility of the organization renting the school vehicles to refuse admission to the school vehicles to person or persons who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- The use of a school vehicles is restricted for purposes accepted by the administration as being in good taste. Good taste will include a judgment of community acceptability, timing, etc.
- Use of school vehicles may be denied if the use would cause the district to require a school employee to work on a Sunday morning.
- The administration may deny the use of school vehicles when it might interfere with higher priority use, when it might interfere with required maintenance or cleaning, when safety or supervisions provisions cause concern, when the nature of the activity causes concern or is not clearly defined, or when energy costs indicate the fees would be insufficient to cover costs.
- School vehicles will not normally be rented to groups or individuals who reside outside the South Tama County District, and buses will not normally be rented unless those to be transported are primarily residents of South Tams County District.
Non-school groups interested in renting school transportation should contact the superintendent or his designee at least one week prior to the event. The superintendent or his designee will direct the transportation and secure the driver. Groups will pay the annual cost per mile as figured on the latest completed Annual Transportation Report. Except for adult pep buses, an additional fee will be charged non-school groups to reimburse for the cost of driver salary, benefits, and expenses for non-driving time. All payments will be made to the South Tama Community District.
All laws and rules pertaining to student transportation will be observed by non-school groups transported.
(April 18, 1983; December 19, 1994; July 7, 2003 ; May 2, 2011; June 23, 2014; November 18, 2019)