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The transportation of all school children in South Kingstown shall be performed in accordance with state laws pertaining thereto and shall be under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools who shall make such rules and regulations as to insure that the health, welfare and safety of all pupils are adequately maintained. The school committee has established all points within a onemile radius as a reasonable walking distance to either school buildings and/or established bus stops.

Walking distance. The school committee has established all points within a onehalf mile radius as a reasonable walking distance for elementary students. This distance shall be applied as the walking distance to school buildings and/or established bus stops.

Use of private cars: All private cars to be used for any school activity transportation whatsoever shall be properly insured. A copy of the vehicle’s insurance certificate and the employee’s drivers license shall be provided in advance, with each mileage reimbursement request, and annually if a reimbursement has not been submitted within the last year. In any case where a job description includes the transportation of students the district shall reimburse the employee for a commercial activity rider up to a limit established by the superintendent reflective of typical cost for a driver with a good driving record. Such rider shall be required. In any case where a job description includes the transportation of students or drive district vehicles shall have their driving record reviewed periodically. Such employees may be reassigned to duties that do not require driving should their record provide cause.

Within reason and when feasible, administrators supervising the student activity for which private cars will be used shall request documentation that such cars are properly registered and inspected and that the prospective drivers of such cars are properly licensed to drive. Students shall not be permitted to drive other students to or from school activities where transportation is an inherent aspect of that activity.

A. The school committee of any town shall provide suitable transportation to and from school for pupils attending public schools of elementary and high school grades who reside as far from any public school as to make their regular attendance at school impracticable and for any pupil whose regular attendance would otherwise be impracticable on account of physical disability or infirmity. (Public Laws 1937, Ch. 2506; General Laws 1956, Title 16, Ch. 21, Section 1).

B. The school committee of any town shall provide for pupils attending private schools of elementary and high school grades, except such schools as are operated for profit, the same rights and privileges as transportation to and from schools, as are provided for pupils attending public schools. (Public Laws 1937, Ch. 2506; General Laws 1956, Title 16, Ch. 21, Sec. 2)

(1) "the matter of suitable transportation is a mandatory legal requirement and must be furnished wherever necessary in the same manner as school maintenance, books, supplies, instruction, etc ...."

(2) "By suitable transportation is meant either the furnishing of a suitable conveyance or the furnishing of sufficient funds to allow transportation for the pupil through means of suitable conveyance."

(3) "Such suitable transportation must be furnished for two groups of pupils – first, those pupils who reside so far from any public school as to make their attendance impracticable, and second, those whose regular attendance would be impracticable, in the absence of such transportation, on account of physical disability or infirmity."

(4) “Who reside so far from any public school' is to be interpreted as beyond a reasonable walking distance to be determined by the school committee after giving consideration to age of children, local conditions and hazards involved."

(5) "Cities and towns providing a high school must supply suitable transportation to those pupils whose regular attendance at said high school would be impracticable because of lack of such transportation..."

(7) "The School Committee of each city and town shall provide for the transportation to and from school either within the school district or in another school district of the state for any child who is handicapped in accordance with regulations of the State Board of Education." (P.L. 1952, Ch. 2905, Sec. 4; P.L. 1954, Ch. 3368, Sec. 1; Gen. Laws 1956, Title 16, Ch. 24, Sec. 11.)

(8) Transportation for retarded children. "Transportation shall be provided for all pupils attending such special classes (class for retarded children) or suitable day schools." (P.L. 1952, Ch. 2905, Sec. 3, 1955, Ch. 3464, Sec. 1; Gen. Laws 1956, Title 16, Ch. 24, Sec. 11).