Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a) Section 29-3 of
the School Code [105 ILCS
5/29-3] requires the school boards of certain school
districts to provide free transportation to pupils as delineated in that
Section. These school districts may provide free transportation to other
students in accordance with the remaining applicable provisions of Article 29
of the School Code [105 ILCS 5 /Art. 29]. Districts that are not required to
provide free transportation may do so at their option.
b) Each district seeking State reimbursement
for pupil transportation shall comply with the provisions of Article 29 of the
School Code and 23 Ill. Adm. Code 120 (Pupil Transportation Reimbursement). In
order to qualify for reimbursement, school districts not required to provide
transportation pursuant to a specific Section of Article 29 that elect to do so
must afford the same service to all eligible pupils. For example, if a district
is not required to transport students under Section 29-3 of the School Code
[105 ILCS 5/29-3] but elects to transport some students residing more than 11/2
miles from their attendance centers, then the district must transport all
students in that same situation in order to claim reimbursement for any
transportation service.
c) Each
district that is required to provide free transportation has the responsibility
of providing sufficient buses for transporting all eligible pupils.
d) Each school district is required to
conform to the equipment standards and regulations established by the
Department of Transportation.
e)
Each local school board that provides transportation shall designate a person
under its direct supervision to ensure adherence to all laws and regulations
affecting safe pupil transportation.
f) School bus routing is the responsibility
of the local school board. School districts shall arrange school bus stops to
maximize safety, so that buses will not have to back up, and so that crossing
arms will not infringe upon pedestrian crosswalks or cross streets. School
buses are not required to enter private property.
g) Local school boards shall institute
policies and practices that promote the safety and well-being of school bus
passengers, including provisions that support Section 10-22.6(b) of the School
Code [105 ILCS
5/10-22.6(b)]. Local school boards shall require that
all school bus drivers who transport pupils have been trained as discussed in
Section
1.515
of this Part. The requirements set forth in subsections (h) through (n) of this
Section shall serve as minimum statewide requirements for operating a school
bus. Transportation for students who receive special education and related
services shall be as set forth in the State Board's rules for Special Education
(23 Ill. Adm. Code 226). Local school boards may adopt more stringent
requirements, at their discretion.
h) Operation of the Bus by the Driver
1) The service door shall be closed at all
times when the bus is in motion.
2)
Windows shall not be lowered below the stop line painted on the body
pillar.
3) The emergency door shall
be unlocked but securely latched when operating the school bus.
4) The driver shall not leave the bus while
the motor is running.
5) The
gasoline tank shall not be filled while there are any persons on the bus or
while the motor is running.
6) The
school bus signs shall be displayed only when the bus is being used for
official school transportation.
7)
The required alternately flashing warning lights and stop arm shall be used
only when stopping to receive or discharge students.
8) The driver shall not back a bus at the
school while students are in the vicinity unless a responsible person is
present to guide the bus driver.
9)
The driver shall not permit a weapon or explosive of any kind on the
bus.
10) The driver shall not smoke
when operating a school bus.
i) Passenger Treatment and Supervision
1) All passengers shall be seated when the
bus is in motion.
2) Students shall
not be asked to leave the bus along the route for breach of discipline, nor
shall they be asked to sit anywhere other than on a seat for breach of
discipline.
3) The bus driver shall
observe the requirements of the district's policy adopted pursuant to Section
12-816 of the Vehicle Code [625
ILCS 5/12-816] with respect to ensuring that no
passenger remains on the bus at the end of a route, a work shift, or the work
day.
j) Loading and
Unloading
1) When children are picked up and
must cross a roadway, the driver shall beckon them to cross the road when it is
safe to do so.
2) The driver on a
regular route shall not be expected to wait for a tardy student and may proceed
on a timely route if the student is not in sight.
3) At school, the bus shall be driven onto
the school grounds to discharge pupils or they shall be otherwise discharged so
they will not have to cross a street if at all possible. At all discharge
points where it is necessary for pupils to cross a roadway, the driver shall
direct students to a point at least ten feet in front of the bus on the
shoulder of the roadway and shall direct them to remain there until a signal is
given by the bus driver for the students to cross.
4) A driver shall not allow a student to get
off the bus at any place other than the student's designated discharge point
unless permission is granted by the proper school official.
5) If a loading zone is not visible to
traffic approaching from either direction, the district shall notify the
Illinois Department of Transportation and request a determination as to the
need to erect appropriate signs.
k) Permitted Occupants
1) The manufacturer's capacity for a bus
shall not be exceeded.
2) Only
persons authorized by the school district shall be allowed to ride school
buses. Except with the permission of school authorities, the driver shall
transport no school children with animals. Any animal transported shall be
properly confined at all times when it is on a school bus.
l) Accidents
1) In case of an accident or breakdown while
the bus is transporting students, the first consideration shall be whether it
is safer to evacuate the students or to have them remain on the bus.
2) All accidents shall be reported
immediately to the appropriate school officials.
3) A School Bus Accident Report shall be
completed in a format prescribed by the State Superintendent of Education and
shall be forwarded to the regional superintendent immediately after any
accident.
4) In case of a death
that occurs as a result of a school bus accident, the responsible district
official shall immediately notify the regional superintendent by
telephone.
m) Railroad
Crossings
Each driver of a school bus shall stop at all railroad
crossings except where protected by a human flagman or law enforcement officer
or marked as having been exempted by the Illinois Commerce Commission pursuant
to Section 11-1202 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625
ILCS 5/11-1202] .
1) The driver shall stop between 15 and 50
feet in front of the first rail. While stopped, the driver shall open the
service door, listen and look in both directions for any approaching train.
When the driver determines that no train is approaching, he or she shall close
the door, then proceed completely across the grade crossing without changing
gears.
2) A driver who has stopped
at a railroad crossing that is protected only by flashing lights and who
determines that no train is, in fact, approaching (i.e., a malfunction is
apparent) may proceed despite the warning lights, provided that he or she has
complied with the requirements of subsection (m)(1) of this Section.
3) The driver shall not use the alternately
flashing warning signals or stop arm at railroad grade crossings.
n) School Bus Crossing Arm
1) A school bus driver shall use the school
bus crossing arm whenever the bus stops to allow students to enter or leave the
bus. The driver shall allow sufficient space for the full extension of the
crossing arm without infringing on other vehicles, other obstacles, the
pedestrian crosswalk, or a cross street. However, a driver may omit using the
crossing arm at school loading areas where school buses are parked bumper to
bumper or when extending the crossing arm would impede pedestrians' crossing,
extend into the adjacent cross street, or collide with another object or
vehicle.
2) A school bus driver
shall report to the affected school district any instance when the crossing arm
cannot be used as required. School districts shall use this information in
evaluating school bus routes and pickup and dropoff points. Districts shall
retain these records in a manner consistent with their retention policies
applicable to other records.
3) A
school bus shall not be used if its crossing arm is found to be inoperable
during the pre-trip inspection, or if the crossing arm has malfunctioned and
has not yet been repaired.
4) If a
crossing arm malfunctions while the school bus is carrying students, the driver
shall note the stop where the malfunction first occurs and may complete the
route if permitted to do so by local board policy.
