§ 285.5 — Contracts for transportation

Iowa § 285.5

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title VII: EDUCATION, HISTORY, AND CULTURE
• Ch. 285: STATE AID FOR TRANSPORTATION

Text

1. a. Contracts for school bus service with private parties shall be in writing and be for
the transportation of children who attend public school and children who attend nonpublic
school. Such contracts shall define the route, the length of time, service contracted for, the
compensation, and the vehicle to be used. The contract shall prescribe the duties of the
contractoranddriverofthevehiclesandshallprovidethateverypersoninchargeofavehicle
conveyingchildrentoandfromschoolshallbeatalltimessubjecttoanyrulessaidboardshall
adopt for the protection of the children, or to govern the conduct of the persons in charge of
said conveyance. Contracts may be made for a period not to exceed three years.
b. The contract shall provide that the contractor will sell the equipment to the board
should the contractor desire to terminate the contract, provided the board should desire to
purchase said equipment, the price of the equipment to be determined by an appraisal board
composed of one person appointed by the school board, one appointed by the owner of the
equipment, and a third selected by these two.
2. The contractor shall operate the vehicle or provide a driver who must be approved by
the board. The contractor and driver shall be subject to all laws and prescribed standards for
school bus drivers. Failure to comply shall constitute grounds for dismissal of the driver or
cancellation of the contract if the board so desires.
3. All vehicles of transportation provided by contractor shall be inspected, approved and
certified before being put into operation.
4. All contracts may be terminated by either party on a ninety-day notice.
5. Thedirectorofthedepartmentofeducationshallprepareauniformcontractcontaining
provisions not in conflict with this chapter which shall be used by all schools in contracting
for transportation service.
6. All contractors shall carry liability insurance in amounts and kind as provided in the
official contract.
7. All contracts for transportation service and for drivers of school-owned and operated
buses shall be made with someone outside the board except where no other transportation
service is available, a board member may transport the member’s own children.
8. Private buses other than common carriers not used exclusively in transportation of
pupils while under contract to a school district shall meet all requirements for school-owned
buses, as to construction and operation.
9. Allbusdriversforschool-ownedequipmentshallbeundercontractwiththeboard. The
directorofthedepartmentofeducationshallprepareauniformcontractcontainingprovision
not in conflict with this chapter which shall be used by all school boards in contracting with
drivers of school-owned vehicles.

Legislative History

[SS15, §2794-a; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4182, 4183; C46, §276.30, 276.31; C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §285.5]