NONINSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS
District Vehicle Idling
RISE Charter School contracts with Kimberly School District for all transportation services. As part of this agreement, RISE Charter School adopts and follows Kimberly School District’s transportation policies to ensure consistent safety standards, operational practices, and compliance with environmental expectations. Accordingly, the following policy on district vehicle idling is implemented at RISE Charter School exactly as written by Kimberly School District.
The Board is committed to transporting students on school buses in a safe manner. Further, the Board recognizes that accumulated emissions from school buses can be harmful to students, bus drivers, and others in the area of idling buses. Unnecessary bus or district vehicle idling emits pollutants, wastes fuel and wastes financial resources. Reducing idling with reduce student transportation costs and improve air quality.
The Board directs bus drivers to give consideration to engine idling during extended wait times.
District Vehicle Idling Times
1. Any bus that is equipped with an auxiliary heater shall use the heater to provide preheated water in the cooling system for starting cold engines as well as providing heat to the passenger compartment during cold weather without running the engine.
2. When school buses arrive at loading and unloading areas to drop off or pick up passengers, the school bus driver should turn off the bus as soon as possible to eliminate idling time and reduce harmful emissions.
3. The school bus should not be restarted until it is ready to depart.
4. School buses should not idle (on or off school grounds) for longer than 5 minutes unless except during passenger stops and pre-trips inspections. Allowing engines to idle for more than three minutes may cause the District to lose funding for purchasing fuel. Consideration should given to varying climate conditions.
5. All district vehicles should follow the above guidelines as applicable.
Policy History:
Adopted on: March 18, 2024
Revised on: December 15, 2025
Reviewed on: