TRANSPORTATION BY ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES

TRANSPORTATION BY ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES

po8650Adopted July 31, 2008Revised December 18, 2025

8650 - TRANSPORTATION BY ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES

When the transportation of students by school bus is not practical, the Board of Education may provide transportation to students via Board-owned and operated or contracted alternative vehicles. Alternative vehicles may include any passenger vehicle that is originally designed and constructed for the transportation of nine (9) or fewer passengers, not including the driver. Students shall not be transported in larger passenger vehicles (e.g., non-conforming extended van-type vehicles) carrying more than nine (9) passengers.

Students may not be transported between home and school on Multi-Function School Activity Buses ("MFSAB"). These vehicles meet school bus construction standards except that they do not have traffic control devices, and are prohibited by Federal regulations from transportation between home and school. MFSAB’s may be used for non-routine transportation as listed in Policy 8640.

Similar to school buses, alternative passenger 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 District to which the students are assigned or to their nonpublic or community schools or for other approved purposes.

Passenger vehicles that meet the capacity restrictions above may be equipped with additional equipment for the purposes of safeguarding passengers and the driver including, but not limited to: barriers between the passenger and driver compartments, supplemental passenger restraint systems (such as five (5) point belts) and two-way radio equipment and vehicle tracking equipment. All vehicles used for special needs transportation shall be equipped with emergency seat-belt cutters that are accessible to the driver and/or aide assigned to the vehicle. 

The Board authorizes the use of an alternative 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 District 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 alternative vehicles. Vehicles shall be inspected prior to each use for student transportation by the driver, and 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 an alternative 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 alternative vehicle drivers employed by the Board shall complete the required Ohio School Van Driver training program prior to transporting students by van, 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 van 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 van. Van drivers do not need a commercial driver's license.

The Superintendent is responsible for developing and implementing the appropriate administrative guidelines for this policy.

Revised 10/19/23

Revised 7/18/24

© Neola 2025