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Show ODT School Bus Regulations May Change Local System Although no official action ha been taken on the matter by the local school board, regulations for the operation of school buses set uo by the office of defense transportation transpor-tation will undoubtedly have con-siderable con-siderable effect on the Iron County school transportation system. Specific recommendations contained con-tained in a plan which will be used as 'a basis by which new vehicles will be allocated to school districts, have been set up by the ODT, and all school district mu.it comply. Several of these recommendations have no effect on the local system, some of them because they are already al-ready being complied with, such aa the distances required before transportation trans-portation Is provided, and the staggering stag-gering of hours to permit the greatest great-est ixvssible use of the buses and to avoid duplication of bus runs; and others because there is very little need for the use of the buse3 for anyone besides school children, such as Industry workers. One particular recommendation that may effect the local district mast is that of reducing the use of the buses for anything but trans-ixu'tation trans-ixu'tation of children to and from school. In the past an attempt has been made in Iron County to give the transportation students the same social privileges as those who live In town, and regular ,bus trips have been made to carry outside students to school functions, such as dances, ball games, etc., and It may become necessary to discon tinue this practice. Use of the buses to carry students to athletic contests con-tests with other schools, will definitely defi-nitely be stopped. The six specific recommendations made by the ODT are as follows: 1. Transportation should not be provided pupils who have less than two miles to walk. Exceptions may be made for physically handicapped handicap-ped children, children who would be subjected to extreme danger or physical hardships due to unusual conditions, and pupils who would be required to leave home at an unduly dark hour and return after dark. 2. Transportation should not be provided pupils who live in areas served by public carrier routes. 3. Use of school buses should be limited to carrying pupils to and from school or projects which are a necessary part of the school program. pro-gram. This would eliminate use of buses for trips to athletic contests and other such activities. 4. Hours for opening and closing of schools should be staggered in a given area so that buses can serve two or more schools on one trip. Thus a bus might carry pupils for an elementary school and also for a high school which would not be readied until later. 5. Permission should be granted for students to stand In busesprovided busespro-vided safety is not endangered. 6. Stops should be reduced to a minimum. |