It is the policy of the Board of Education to provide transportation for those students whose distance from their school makes this service necessary. The State Code requires the Board to provide, at public expense, adequate means of transportation, including transportation across county lines for students whose transfer from one district to another is agreed to by both county boards as reflected in the minutes of their respective meetings, for all children of school age who live more than two (2) miles distance from school by the nearest available road. Such laws and rules, stemming therefrom, shall govern any question not covered by this policy.

School buses shall be purchased and maintained by the Board for the transportation of resident students between their home areas and the schools of the County to which they are assigned or to their nonpublic schools. The Superintendent may substitute smaller buses for reasons of economy or efficiency of operation.

Exceptions to the foregoing limits may be made in the case of a temporarily or permanently-disabled child who has been so certified by a physician and in the case of adverse safety conditions.

Transportation of eligible vocational or special education children between their home areas and schools outside the County shall be arranged through the use of Board-owned vehicles, through cooperation with other counties, through commercial carriers, and/or by other means in the most efficient and economical manner.

The Board shall approve the bus routes annually. The Superintendent is authorized to make any necessary changes in the approved route and shall inform the Board at the next regular meeting. Bus routes shall be established so that an authorized bus stop is available within reasonable walking distance of the home of every transported resident student.

The Board authorizes the installation and use of video recording devices in the school buses to assist the drivers in providing for the safety and well-being of the students while on a bus and the "Student Code of Conduct" shall be applicable to all students while being transported by bus.

Students meeting the Federal definition of "homeless" will be transported from their temporary place of residence to their school of assignment, at the request of the parent, guardian or unaccompanied minor, to the same extent as all other students of the County and consistent with this Policy. If the homeless child or youth continues his/her education in the school of origin but begins living in an area served by another county, the county of origin and the county in which the homeless child is living shall agree upon the method to apportion the responsibility and costs for providing the child with transportation to and from the school of origin. If the counties cannot agree upon a method, the responsibility and costs for transportation are to be shared equally. In no event will a homeless student be denied enrollment based on issues related to student transportation.

The Superintendent shall be responsible for developing and implementing appropriate administrative guidelines for this policy.

W.VA. Board of Education Policy 4373
W.VA. Board of Education Policy 4336
W.VA. Code 18-5-13, 18-5-16, 18A-5-1
42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.