8650 - TRANSPORTATION BY VEHICLES OTHER THAN SCHOOL BUSES

The Governing Board shall provide transportation to students via Board owned and operated school vehicles other than school buses (hereinafter, "school vehicles") when the use of school buses is not reasonable. School vehicles shall only be used for the transportation of nine (9) or fewer passengers, not including the driver, in accordance with the original design and construction of the vehicle. Students shall not be transported in larger passenger vehicles (e.g., non-conforming extended van-type vehicles) carrying ten (10) passengers or more (particularly twelve (12) to fifteen (15) passenger vans).

Similar to school buses, school vehicles shall be purchased, housed, and maintained by the Board for the transportation of resident students between their home areas and the schools of the Center to which the students are assigned or to their nonpublic or community schools. However, such use shall generally be limited to preschool children, special needs children, children inaccessible to school buses, students placed in alternative schools, and children enrolled in nonpublic or community schools in certain circumstances. School vehicles may also be used to transport students to and from field trips and/or other Board-approved school-related activities.

The Board authorizes the use of a vehicle designed to carry nine (9) passengers or less plus a driver instead of a school bus to transport students to a chartered nonpublic or community school if all of the following apply:

1. the number of students in the vehicle does not exceed nine (9);
2. the Center regularly transports students to a chartered nonpublic or community school;
3. the driver has a valid driver’s license, is accustomed to driving the vehicle, and meets statutory and administrative requirements for a motor van driver (with the exception of having a commercial driver’s license);
4. the driver may not stop on the roadway to load or unload passengers;
5. the driver and all passengers are expected to comply with State laws regarding child and occupant restraint devices and safety while in the motor vehicle.

Individuals who meet statutory requirements to drive a school bus are qualified to drive school vehicles. Vehicles will be inspected not less than two (2) times each year by a qualified mechanic who will determine whether the vehicle is safe to transport students.

Students who are transported by school vehicle are expected to conduct themselves in the same manner required of students transported by school bus and shall be subject to all applicable disciplinary rules.

All school vehicle drivers employed by the Board shall complete the required Ohio School Van Driver training program prior to transporting students, meet all other qualification requirements, and comply with the Ohio Pupil Transportation and Safety Rules and applicable Board policies and guidelines relative to student transportation. No individual shall be employed as a school vehicle driver if the individual has not received a certificate certifying that the driver is at least twenty-one (21) years of age with a minimum of two (2) years of driving experience, and is qualified physically and otherwise (O.A.C. 3301-83-06(F)) for the position. Only authorized Board employees or contractors employed by an agency that provides services to the Board may operate and transport students via school vehicle. Vehicle drivers do not need a commercial driver's license.