Transportation
The District shall provide free transportation for any student in the District (1) who resides at a distance of one and one-half miles or more from his or her assigned school, unless the School Board has certified to the Ill. State Board of Education that adequate public transportation is available, or (2) if adequate public transportation is not available, within one and one-half miles from his or her assigned school where walking to or from school or to or from a pick-up point or bus stop would constitute a serious safety hazard due to (a) vehicular traffic or rail crossing or (b) a course or pattern of criminal activity, and defined in the Ill. Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act, 740 ILCS 147/3.. A student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) may file a petition with the School Board requesting transportation due to the existence of a serious safety hazard. Free transportation services and vehicle adaptation is provided for a special education student if included in the students’ individualized educational programs. Non-public school students shall be transported in accordance with State law. Homeless students shall be transported in accordance with Section 45/1-15 of the Education for Homeless Children Act. Foster care students shall be transported in accordance with Section 6312(c) (5) (B) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Bus schedules and routes shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee and shall be altered only with the Superintendent or designee’s approval and direction.  In fixing the routes, the pick-up and discharge points should be as safe and convenient for students as possible.

No school employee may transport students in school or private vehicles unless authorized by the administration. 

Every vehicle regularly used for the transportation of students must pass safety inspections in accordance with State law and Ill. Dept of Transportation regulations. The strobe light on a school bus may be illuminated only when the bus is actually being used as a school bus and (1) is stopping or stopped for loading or discharging students on a highway outside an urban area, or (2) is bearing one or more students. The Superintendent shall implement procedures in accordance with State law for accepting comment calls about school bus driving. 

All contracts for charter bus services must contain the clause prescribed by State law regarding criminal background checks for bus drivers. 

Students who are ineligible for transportation under District or State of Illinois guidelines, and who reside one (1) mile or more from their school of attendance may receive transportation service provided:

A. There is space available on existing routes established for the transportation of eligible students to District 41 schools receiving busing services.

B. The cost of said transportation is assumed by parent(s) or guardian(s) of the student(s) for which application is made. Fee to be based on annual Net Average Cost Per Pupil and paid in accordance with District procedures.

C. Application for space available consideration is submitted within specified time periods and is otherwise consistent with District procedural guidelines and established criteria.

D. Ridership by those students whose application for space available transportation is approved will be governed by District procedural guidelines.

Students who move into the District within the school year and who reside one (1) mile or more from the school to which they are assigned, may apply for space available transportation providing bus capacities, as defined by procedural guidelines, have not been reached.

Students who move into the district within the school year and who reside a distance of one and one-half (1.5) miles or more from the school to which they are assigned, or within designated hazardous walking areas, shall be given priority consideration for space upon established routes.

Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Vehicle Inspection

The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement a pre-trip and post-trip inspection procedure to ensure that the school bus driver (1) tests the two-way radio or cellular radio telecommunication device and ensures that it is functioning properly before the bus is operated, and (2) walks to the rear of the bus before leaving the bus at the end of a route, work shift, or work day, to check the bus for children or other passengers in the bus.

LEGAL REF.: 20 U.S.C. §6312(c)(5)(B), Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 42 U.S.C. §11431 et seq. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 

105 ILCS 5/10-22.22 and 5/29-1 et seq.

105 ILCS 45/1-15and 1-17

625 ILCS 5/1-182, 5/11-1414.1, and 5/13-109.

23 Ill.Admin.Code §§1.510 and 226.750; Part 120.

92 Ill.Admin.Code Part 440.

CROSS REF.: 4:170 (Safety), 5:100 (Staff Development Programs), 5:120 Ethics and Conduct), 5:280 (Duties and Qualifications), 6:140 (Education of Homeless Children), 6:170 (Title I Programs), 7:220 (Bus Conduct)

ADMIN. PROC.: 4:110-AP2 (Bus Driver Communication Devices; Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Inspection; Bus Driving Comments), 4:110-AP3 (School Bus Safety Rules), 6:140-AP (Education of Homeless Children)

Reviewed: February 28, 2005, April 23, 2012, March 24, 2014, December 08, 2014, November 21, 2016, May 7, 2018, April 23, 2020, January 2022

Adopted: March 21, 2005

Revisions Adopted: December 19, 2005, February 11, 2008, February 01, 2010; May 14, 2012,

April 14, 2014, January 12, 2015, December 5, 2016, May 21, 2018, 

May 11, 2020