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Board directs wording changes to bus safety policy; staff to certify training and tidy infractions language
Summary
During a study session, the Prior Lake‑Savage Area Schools board reviewed Policy 709 (student transportation safety), agreed to clarify 'principal' language to 'principal or assigned designee' and asked administration to ensure required bus safety training and annual certifications are performed.
The Prior Lake‑Savage Area Schools board reviewed proposed edits to Policy 709 on student transportation safety at a study session, focusing on consistency of terms, required training and how the policy handles infractions.
Board members asked administrators to change language that currently directs a bus driver to "meet with the building principal" after certain infractions so it instead refers to "the principal or assigned designee" or to "building administration." Directors said assistant principals or deans frequently handle behavior issues and that adding "assigned designee" would reflect practice and make the policy consistent with other district policies.
Members also raised a wording question about a list of serious infractions that currently groups firearms and "nuisance devices" on the same line. Several directors recommended separating those items into distinct bullets to avoid conflating a firearm with a lower‑level device such as a personal electronic device.
Staff identified that bus safety training for students is statutorily required for grades K–10 and said the district runs drills and coordinates training with its bus company. The policy text names a school transportation safety director who must certify annually to the board that bus drivers meet statutory training competencies; staff confirmed they will ensure that certification occurs going forward and will verify public access to the student transportation safety curriculum.
The policy also includes statutory language allowing the district to establish an ad hoc pupil transportation safety committee. Board discussion noted the district already routes serious incidents to existing building‑level BCRTs (Building Crisis Response Teams) and a district crisis review team (DCRT); staff recommended retaining the statute‑based language and expanding any committee purpose later if the board chooses to form one.
Board members asked staff to apply proposed edits consistently across minor and serious infraction sections; administration said it would make the agreed changes before the next reading of the policy.
