School district buses and other vehicles will not operate when weather conditions (fog, rain, snow, storms) or other natural elements make it unsafe to do so. Because weather conditions may vary around the school district and may change quickly, the best judgement will be used that is possible with the information available.
The final decision in declaring conditions unsafe to operate will be made by the superintendent and assisted by the supervisor of transportation and the actual on location reports of the drivers, when possible.
When school is canceled because of weather anywhere in the school district, all schools will be closed. Commercial radio, television, web sites, and/or automated phone services will be used to notify employees, students, and the public when school is canceled or temporarily delayed.
When weather conditions worsen during the day, attempts to stop at all designated scheduled stops will be made. If conditions at any given stop do not allow for safe release of students, the bus will proceed on the next safe stop. If no stops can be made safely, the students will be returned to their respective buildings, where parents will be required to pick up their children.
When weather conditions create a situation where the driver has less than 300 feet of visibility at a stop, the driver should immediately report the situation by bus radio for instructions. If a decision is made not to receive the students at the stop, a telephone call shall be made to the parents. If the students cannot be picked up, it shall then be the parents’ decision on whether to send the students to school and the parents’ responsibility to transport the students. If the students cannot be discharged at the stop, the parents shall be informed of where the students shall be discharged; if the parents cannot be reached, the students shall be transported back to the school. Once vehicles are on the road, the drivers are to use their best judgement whether to stop at a particular stop, keeping utmost in mind the safety and well-being of their passengers.
- First Adoption:
- 1983-01-24
- Revision Adoption:
- September 20, 1989/ June 30, 1994/ October 11, 2009/ June 27, 2021
- Reviewed Dates:
- June 30, 1991/ May 1, 2000
- Legal Reference:
- Iowa Code Sections 279.8; 279.10; 321.372(1); as amended.