Bus Route Policies

In the development of student bust stop locations, a number of factors are considered. School buses are routed in the most efficient manner consistent with state law and school board guidelines regarding establishment of safe school bus stops. Realizing that there may be conflicting issues involved with school bus stop locations, the following factors are utilized in considering a bus stop location:

1. Visibility from the student's home is not a factor in determining bus stops. It is the parent/guardian's responsibility to escort their student to/from the bust stop if there is a concern about the student waiting at the stop. In certain areas, students may be required to walk up to 1.5 miles to the nearest bus stop.                                                                                                                                                                                                             Areas within 1.5 miles of all schools are considered the be walk zones in accordance with Idaho State Pupil Transportation guidelines, which state:                                                                                                                 No board of trustees shall be required to provide transportation for any pupil living less than one and one-half (1 1/2) miles from the nearest appropriate school. A board of trustees may require pupils who live less than one and one-half (1 1/2) miles from the nearest established bus stop to walk or provide their own transportation to such bus stop. That distance shall be determined by the nearest and best route from the junction of  the driveway of the pupil's home and the nearest public road, to the nearest door of the schoolhouse he/she attends, or to the bus stop, as the case may be. The board may transport any pupil a lesser distance when in its judgement of age or health or safety of the pupil warrants. (Idaho Code 33-1501 Para.2)

2. Buses will not travel down cul-de-sac streets or narrow roads. Also, buses will not travel on private roads that are not maintained by the county or on private property. Backing a bus is not allowed except in an emergency situation.

3. Bus stops may not be located within 300 feet of each other in order to legally operate the 8-way warning light/stop arm system prior to stopping the bus. Stops are generally located in the center of a block, or a central location. Having a bus pass by a student's home does not warrant adding or changing the bus stop.

Please note:

School bus drivers are not permitted to change stop locations without approval from the transportation department. Drivers who stop at locations other than those approved are in violation of district policy and Idaho law. This violation subjects drivers to disciplinary action. All requests for stop/route changes need to be directed to the Transportation Department rather than to the bus driver. Requests, if approved, may take up to ten days to process.