1. In Grades 9-12 who live more than 2.5 miles from school.
2. In grades K-8 who live more than 2.0 miles from school.
3. Who live ‘remote’ from their school as defined by N.J. law,
4. Who are educationally handicapped and/or classified and whose IEPs (Individual Educational Plans) require transportation.
5. Who participate in Board of Education approved extracurricular activities or field trips.
6. Whose route to the school is deemed hazardous by the Board of Education.
7. Who may be eligible for other reasons established by law.

1. Population density;
2. Traffic
3. Average vehicle velocity;
4. Existence or absence of sufficient sidewalk space;
5. Roads and highways that are winding or have blind curves;
6. Roads or highways with steep inclines and declines;
7. Drop-offs that are close proximity to a sidewalk;
8. Bridges or overpasses that must be crossed to reach the school;
9. Train tracks or trestles that must be crossed to reach the school;
10. Busy roads and highways that must be crossed to reach the school.

1. The applicant shall submit the claim in writing to the transportation supervisor with a statement of reasons supporting the claim.
2. The transportation supervisor shall review and investigate the applicant’s claim and, together with the Superintendent and the Business Administrator/Board Secretary, shall evaluate the applicants claim in light of the Board of Education’s criteria for hazardous conditions (See previous pages). The transportation supervisor shall notify the applicant in writing of the decision reached by the school officials.
3. An applicant who disagrees with the decision rendered in accordance with paragraph “b” above, may appeal, in writing, to the appropriate Board of Education committee.
4. Upon receipt of the written request, the appropriate Board of Education committee will review the decision made by the transportation supervisor and the Business Administrator/Board Secretary. If not already undertaken, the Board of Education committee will ask the local Police Traffic Safety officials for their opinion. After this thorough investigation the appropriate Board of Education committee will make its decision. If the parent/guardian wishes to appeal, he/she may appeal to the entire Board of Education.
5. The Board of Education will review the decision and the Business Administrator/Board Secretary will communicate the Board of Education’s decision to the applicant in writing.
6. No change will be made in the pupil’s transportation pending the Board of Education’s final decision of the applicant’s claim. Temporary transportation will not be allowed.

1. Buses are to travel on main roads wherever possible, using side roads as connections only for circuiting or for safety.
2. Travel through business areas involving heavy traffic, traffic lights, etc., is to be avoided wherever possible.
3. Buses are not to go into dead-end streets.
4. Routes over hazardous roads, bad hills, etc., are to be avoided.
5. Turning around on, or backing into, any public roadway is not permitted.
6. Buses are not to enter cul-de-sacs to pick up children unless the designated stops outside the cul-de-sacs have been deemed hazardous as evaluated by and in consultation with the local police traffic safety official.
7. Distance requirements will be determined by measuring the shortest route along public roadways or walkways from the entrance of the pupil’s residence nearest such public roadway or walkway to the nearest public entrance of the assigned school.
8. Bus stops will be determined using state guidelines for distance and safety. In determining whether or not an unsafe condition exists for a bus stop, the following factors shall be taken into consideration:

1. Heavily traveled roadway,
2. Steep grade,
3. Curve,
4. Sight distance of 300 feet or less for approaching vehicles.

1. The transportation supervisor shall be responsible for assigning those pupils eligible for transportation to a school bus route.
2. Pupils are not permitted to change their routes or have guest riders.
3. Elementary school pupils should not be dropped off at school without supervision earlier than 15 minutes prior to opening time.
4. No passengers except public school pupils, non-public school pupils or school personnel assigned to ride on scheduled routes will be permitted to board or to ride on buses designated to transport pupils to and from school, with the exception of the parent volunteers during the first week of school.
5. The Superintendent or his/her designee may permit a pupil to be transported to and or from a site other than the place of residence when the welfare of the pupil is involved, provided that:

1. Seating is available on the bus.
2. An additional stop is not necessary.
3. A new route does not need to be established.
4. The schedule is followed each week for an extended period of time, usually an entire year, as if the transportation were being provided from or to the pupil’s home.
5. Parents/guardians submit a request in writing to the principal.
6. Parents/guardians requiring baby sitting services may request alternate pick-up or drop-off assignments, the transportation supervisor may consider such written requests, providing the provisions outlined above exist.

1. Buses
   1. The contractor must provide buses which meet all state, local and contract specifications, including required inspections.
   2. All buses must be maintained in top mechanical condition at all times.
   3. Contractors must observe good maintenance procedures and keep the interior and exterior of the buses clean.
2. Drivers
   1. Contractors must supply competent, fully licensed school bus drivers who are in good health and not older than 70 years of age. Additional qualified substitute drivers must be available as required.
   2. Contractors must replace any driver for just cause upon written request of the transportation supervisor.
   3. Contractors must train drivers to operate buses safely and efficiently, aid in procurement of special licenses and supervise the satisfactory operation of all routes.
   4. Bus drivers are to remain with their riders at all times; at no time are students to be left unattended.
   5. Bus drivers are to become familiar with their routes, (i.e., make practice runs), before the beginning of the school term.

1. Parents/guardians of nonpublic school pupils are required to make an application for transportation on or before May 1 preceding the school year for which transportation is being requested. Applications shall be submitted directly to the nonpublic school, which shall be required to forward all applications to the Morris School District by May 15. In the event an application is submitted after May 1, a statement must be attached setting forth the reason for the delay.) The information required shall include, but not be limited too: the student’s name, address, school and grade assignment and the parent/guardian’s contact numbers (including home and work phone, fax and e-mail numbers). Parents/guardians shall be notified by the Morris School District’s transportation office no later than August 1 regarding the acceptance or rejection of their application.
2. The nonpublic, (nonprofit) or Charter School shall be willing to adjust hours of operation and other applicable modes of operation so as to permit the provision of transportation at the lowest possible cost to the Morris School District.
3. The transportation to be provided shall be as established annually by the Morris School District and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as are determined appropriate at the sole discretion of the Board of Education of the Morris School District. These conditions shall be consistent with applicable law.
4. When the per pupil costs to contract transportation services exceeds the reimbursement cost allowed by the State of New Jersey, the Morris School District shall not provide transportation. In these cases, parents/guardians may be entitled to aid-in-lieu of transportation to be reimbursed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1A.

1. An application form for aid filed on or before May 1.
2. Nonpublic school certification of enrollment/attendance for each semester for which payment is requested and,
3. Request for payment form filed for each semester of enrolment/attendance.