Administrative Regulation	No. 3541.1

CLOVIS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

BUSINESS AND NONINSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS Student Transportation Management
TRANSPORTATION FOR SCHOOL-RELATED TRIPS/PRIVATE VEHICLES

A. Transportation of Students by Private Vehicle

The Superintendent or designee may authorize the transportation of students by private vehicle to a school sponsored event or activity when the vehicle is driven by an individual who is 21 or older and possesses a valid California driver's license or, if he/she is a nonresident on active military duty in California, possesses a valid license from his/her state of residence. To be approved, a driver shall have a good driving record verified by the District and possess at least the minimum insurance required by law (bodily injury liability and property damage coverage of at least $15,000 per accident).

Any person providing transportation to District students in a private vehicle shall receive a copy of Exhibit No. 3541.1(2) - Instructions for Drivers of Private Vehicles and shall register with the District by completing Exhibit No. 3541.1(1) - Private Vehicle Driver Application. The application need only be submitted once during each school year unless there are changes in the information provided on the application (i.e., vehicle, insurance, driver’s license,traffic convictions or personal information). The Private Vehicle Driver Application is not required for parents/guardians who will only transport their child or students transporting themselves.

The completed Private Vehicle Driver Application (Exhibit No. 3541.1(1)) and supporting documentation (copies of valid driver’s license, proof of insurance card and valid vehicle registration) shall be submitted and remain on file at the appropriate school site/department. Upon receipt of a completed application, the site or department shall forward via email to privatedriver@cusd.com the completed DMV Authorization for Release of Driver Record Information (Exhibit No. 3541.1(4)). This form must include original signatures.

After reviewing DMV records, the Transportation Department will notify appropriate site or department personnel as to whether the application is approved. Typically, results are available within seven days. Once a driver is approved, that driver will remain in the District’s system until such time as he/she is removed by the submitting site or at the request of the driver. There is no need for sites to resubmit the Authorization for Release of Driver Record Information (Exhibit No. 3541.1(4)) to the Transportation Department each school year.

To be considered a verified private driver, an applicant’s current driving record must:

1. Contain a valid driver’s license (no provisional licenses will be accepted).

2. Contain no conviction of driving under the influence of alcoholic beverage within the past three years. (Vehicle Code 23152, 23153, 23550.5)

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Administrative Regulation	No. 3541.1

CLOVIS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

School sites are responsible for maintaining a record of completed Private Vehicle Driver Applications (Exhibit No. 3451.1(1)) received for two years.

If applicable, drivers who are volunteers shall also comply with Board Policy No. 1240 - Volunteer Assistance and Board Policy No. 6153 – School-Sponsored Trips/Field Trips by having on file a completed Volunteer Application Form (Exhibit No. 1240) and a Participation in Voluntary Field Trip - Consent, Assumption of Risk, and Emergency Medical Authorization (Exhibit No. 6153(1)).

All student passengers to be transported by private vehicle shall submit permission slips (Exhibit No. 3541.1(3) - Permission for Student to be Transported by Private Vehicle) signed by the student and his/her parent/guardian. Teachers shall ensure that each private vehicle driver has a copy of this permission slip for each student riding in his/her vehicle.

In instances where both the private drivers and the students to be transported could vary each time, a list of the possible drivers or students shall be attached to the appropriate form (Exhibit No. 3541.1(3) - Permission for Student to be Transported by Private Vehicle).

B. Passenger Safety

All drivers shall wear safety belts in accordance with law. (Vehicle Code 27315, 27360, 27360.5, 27363)

In addition, drivers shall ensure that:

1. The number of passengers, including the driver, shall not exceed the capacity for which the vehicle was designed. Motor trucks may not transport more persons than can safely sit in the passenger compartment. The driver shall ensure that the manufacturer's recommendations for his/her vehicle are followed regarding the seating of children in seats equipped with airbags.

2. The driver or any other person shall not smoke, vape, or have in his/her immediate possession a lighted pipe, cigar, or cigarette containing tobacco or any other plant when there is a minor in the motor vehicle, whether the motor vehicle is in motion or at rest. (Health and Safety Code 118948)

3. A child who is under age 8 years shall be properly secured in a rear seat in an appropriate child passenger restraint system meeting federal safety standards, except under any of the following circumstances: (Vehicle Code 27360, 27363)

a. The child is four feet nine inches or taller, in which case a safety belt may be used.

b. Use of a child passenger restraint system would be impractical by reason of physical unfitness, medical condition, or size and an appropriate special needs child passenger restraint system is not available.

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Administrative Regulation	No. 3541.1

CLOVIS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

c. There is no rear seat, the rear seats are side-facing jump seats or rear-facing sets, the child passenger restraint system cannot be installed properly in the rear seat, all rear seats are already occupied by children under age 8 years, or medical reasons necessitate that the child not ride in the rear seat.

d. The child is otherwise exempted by law.

4. All other children are properly secured in either a child passenger restraint system or safety belt.

5. All other passengers wear seat belts.

C. Forms Referenced in this Administrative Regulation

1. Exhibit No. 3451.1(1) – Private Vehicle Driver Application.

2. Exhibit No. 3451.1(2) – Instructions for Drivers of Private Vehicles.

3. Exhibit No. 3451.1(3) – Permission for Student to be Transported by Private Vehicle.

4. Exhibit No. 3541.1(4) – Authorization for Release of Driver Record Information.

5. Exhibit No. 6153(1) – Participation in Voluntary Field Trip – Consent, Assumption of Risk, and Emergency Medical Authorization.

6. Exhibit No. 1240 – Volunteer Application Form .

D. Supervision on Buses During Field Trips

Field trips are an extension of the educational process and require extensive pre-planning. The principal is to be consulted for approval of field trips prior to making arrangements.

Passengers are to follow the instructions of the bus driver. All school and District policies and administrative regulations apply while students are aboard a bus. On field trips where there is an adult supervisor, the adult supervisor must work under the direction of the bus driver to assure bus safety and assist the driver in maintaining proper student behavior.

Every effort should be made to schedule field trips at times when transportation can be furnished without undue interference with normal transportation requirements for transporting students between home and school.

Where field trip schedules for more than one class are similar, classes are encouraged to share a bus. Overnight and out-of-state trips require Board approval. Saturday field trips may be permitted if they cannot be conducted on a regular school day. The principal or designee is responsible for

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Administrative Regulation	No. 3541.1

CLOVIS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

confirming supervision of students at the departure and arrival points for local field trips (including Sierra Outdoor School). The principal or designee will determine if additional adult supervision is required on the bus for local trips. For out of town and/or overnight travel, adult chaperones shall be provided and shall ride the bus with students. Only authorized chaperones and participating students of the event are permitted transportation on field trips.

E. Insurance

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the District or contractor has sufficient liability insurance for transportation on school-related trips. (Education Code 35330)

Adopted: 03/24/2010 Reviewed: 09/24/2010
Amended: 07/02/2013, 04/23/2021 (AR 8302 renumbered as AR 3541.1)

Doc# 36452-5 (04/2021, 11/2011)

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