Wicomico County Public Schools Approval Status Index Code Title: Student Transportation Procedure SFS-TRA-PR-002 First Adopted: 03/14/17 Legal Review: 10/03/24 03/07/17 Approved Revisions: 10/08/24 03/14/17 Effective: 10/09/24 03/15/17 Page 3 of 6 WICOMICO COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS P.O. BOX 1538 2424 NORTHGATE DRIVE., SUITE 3, SALISBURY, MD 21802-1538 SFS-TRA-PR-002 V. Route Extension 76 A. Students are eligible for transportation when existing routes for buses are extended. Extensions 77 of existing routes may be made when the distance from an existing route and the student’s home 78 is greater than the minimum distance of 1 mile. Distances in all disputed cases shall be 79 measured from the end of the student’s lane to the nearest existing bus route by the most direct 80 traveled route. This traveled route may be road or walkways. 81 B. Exceptions to the distance a student must live from the school or an established route may be 82 made for students with disabilities receiving specialized transportation in their IEP/504 plan as 83 an accommodation. Students are not eligible for transportation provided by WCPS when 84 extensions to existing routes necessitate one or more of the following: 85 1. Use of a privately-owned roadway; 86 2. Use of a roadway, regardless of ownership, which does not have a surface as good as a tar 87 and chip surface; 88 3. Compromising safety standards; 89 4. Crossing a railroad track at grade level; 90 5. Traversing a bridge with a load limit of 21,000 pounds or less; 91 6. Use of a road that is not tow-lane accessible or contains soft shoulders; 92 C. A new bus stop will not be designated within one-quarter mile of an existing stop. Existing 93 stops within one-quarter mile of each other will be eliminated when feasible and when the 94 safety of students is not compromised (COMAR 13A.06.07). Stops may also be eliminated or 95 routes altered pending budgetary constraints. 96 97 VI. Student Assignment to Bus Stops and Buses 98 The Department of Transportation Services will designate bus stops and bus assignments within the 99 guidelines listed below. 100 A. Requests by parents or guardians for a change in the bus stop or bus assignment must be 101 submitted in writing to the Director of Transportation Services for review. Approval may be 102 granted if: 103 1. A compelling reason is presented which will benefit the child; 104 2. Adequate seats are available on the requested vehicle as determined by the Department of 105 Transportation Services; 106 3. The student is picked up and/or discharged daily at the newly assigned stop. 107 B. A request for a temporary change in bus stop shall be in writing and must be submitted to the 108 school-based administrative office/principal’s office for approval. The request will then be 109 forwarded to the respective bus driver. The following conditions must be met: 110 1. A valid reason is accepted by the principal; 111 2. Adequate seats are available on the requested vehicle; 112 3. The student is picked up and/or discharged at a regularly assigned stop. 113 114 65
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