State statutes require that school districts provide transportation for all public school students who reside more than two miles from the nearest public school they may attend. The state pays a substantial share of the cost of transportation for those students residing over the two-mile limit. For financial reasons, the District does not provide free bus transportation for students residing within the two-mile limit unless such transportation is required by state statute.

This policy does not preclude municipalities from paying the cost of transportation for their students residing within the two-mile limit. Parents may contract with the District for the transportation of their students living within the two-mile limit provided that they meet the criteria established by the District.

Private School Student

The District shall provide private school transportation as required by state statute. Private school students must attend a K-12 school located two or more miles from their residence and reside in the school's designated attendance area. Private schools must be located in the Wausau School District or not more than five miles beyond the boundaries of the Wausau School District measured along one usually traveled route.

Special Education Student

All children with disabilities shall be transported in compliance with state statute.

There are occasions when a bus driver who provides special transportation services for special education, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students finds that parents or baby-sitters are not at home to meet their students. The Wausau School District does require that they be home before the bus driver can release them.

The following procedures will be implemented when a parent or babysitter is not at home to meet special education, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students:

1. The bus driver will call First Student on their radio and inform them that no one is home and continue on their route with the student.

2. First Student will call the appropriate school and the school will try to contact the parent/guardian. The school will immediately inform First Student of
     their results with the parent/guardian contact.

3. The bus driver will complete the route and check back by radio with First Student to determine if the parent/guardian has been located.

4. If the parent/guardian has been located, the bus driver will deliver the student to the appropriate address. If the parent/guardian has not been located,
     First Student will call Social Services (847-5700 or 847-0200 - after hour emergency number) with the following information:

a. Name and birthdate of child,

b. Full names of the parent/guardian,

c. Child’s home address and telephone number,

d. Address and telephone number where a parent or other persons authorized to accept child can be reached, including emergency situations
    (work number, neighbor number, relative number, etc.)

5. Social Services will meet the bus at the residence or call the Police Department and an officer will wait with the child until a parent/guardian arrives.

6. Once Social Services or the Police Department arrives at the residence, the student is no longer the responsibility of the Wausau School District or
     First Student.

A first offense requires that a written letter of notice and report will be sent from the bus company to the parent(s), school principal and the special education teacher.

A second offense requires a conference with the bus company, student, parent(s), principal, and special education teacher.  Possible in-school detention could be considered.

A third offense requires a meeting between the bus company, student, principal, and special education teacher with a maximum three-day suspension of bus riding privileges.  (Notice/Misconduct Report to be sent to parents.)

A fourth offense requires a conference with the bus company, student, principal, special education teacher, and parent(s) to review the student's IEP relative to the appropriate behavior and possible change in program placement.

Any of the above steps may be by-passed depending on the severity of the offense.

The bus contractor will have on each bus a current student roster listing students alphabetically by full name and address, and their appropriate drop-off location. The roster will also list each stop, by order of debarkation, with the name of each student assigned to each individual drop-off location.

Each substitute or new driver will review the roster before beginning their route. If there is a question about the stop, the driver will call the First Student dispatcher to verify the information contained on the rosters. The driver will remain at the stop with the child(ren) held on the bus until given further instructions.

The dispatcher will check the master student listing to verify that the stop is correct. If a question still exists, the parents of the child(ren) will be contacted.

It shall be the policy of the Wausau School District that the maximum walking distances to a school bus stop outside the Wausau City limits are:

4K/Kindergarten  -  1/4 Mile

Elementary and Middle School  -  1/2 Mile

High School  -  3/4 Mile

Exceptions to this policy are made on an individual basis in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.