Field Trip Handbook - Akron Public Schools

ORTHO BUS USE & CAPACITY FOR FIELD TRIPS
The use of ortho buses for field trips is increasing. Our fleet of ortho buses totals 12. This is all we have to accommodate the entire
district. Below you will find the Transportation Services Department policy regarding the use of these buses and what our limitations
are.
Please share with your staff and emphasize that extra communication is needed when it comes to the special needs of our students
when using ortho buses for field trips. If you have an entire class going on a field trip and have students needing an ortho bus, the
ortho bus is an additional request. Any child’s specific needs must be communicated to us so we can arrive at your school prepared.
Two important examples are if the wheelchair is oversized or if the child is under 4 years old or under 40 pounds (regardless of age) a
car seat is needed. Our intention is NOT to prevent anyone from riding the bus, however, the bus will not move until safety
requirements are met.
Communication can be accomplished by including the information on the bus request. Additional requirements, questions or concerns
can be communicated with a phone call to the Transportation Office, 330-761-1390 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday thru
Friday. We welcome your calls and communication to help us better serve our students.
Capacity
Listed below are our orthopedic buses with their wheelchair and seated passenger capacity. Everyone on the bus must have a seat,
including the teacher, by state law. When there are 3 to a seat, this is for elementary students only. Most seats will only hold 2 adults.
Bus 413 7 WC and 8 seats/24 seated passengers (8 @ 3)
Bus 414 7 WC and 8 seats/24 seated passengers (8 @ 3)
Bus 415 7 WC and 7 seats/21 seated passengers (7 @ 3)
Bus 416 7 WC and 4 seats/12 seated passengers (4 @ 3)
Bus 417 7 WC and 4 seats/12 seated passengers (4 @ 3)
Bus 418 7 WC and 4 seats/12 seated passengers (4 @ 3)
Bus 419 7 WC and 4 seats/10 seated passengers (2 @ 2, 2 @ 3)
Bus 422 5 WC and 4 seats/8 seated passengers
Bus 423 5 WC and 4 seats/8 seated passengers
Bus 424 5 WC and 5 seats/10 seated passengers
Bus 520 5 WC and 6 seats/18 seated passengers
Bus 521 5 WC and 6 seats/18 seated passengers
Bus Use for Field Trips
Every ortho bus takes students to and from school each morning and afternoon. An ortho bus cannot be guaranteed to be available for
a field trip before 9:00 a.m. They will arrive as soon as possible. This office will assign buses on the number of wheelchairs and
seated passengers you put on your bus request. Additional teaching staff may have to take their own car to the field trip site if there is
not a seat on the bus. There should be a minimum of one teacher on the bus with students as bus monitors do not go on field trips.
Priority of bus assignment will be given to the earliest phone reservation made as soon as you know your trip date and passenger
needs.
For field trips where ortho students accompany a regular class, ortho buses must be scheduled in addition to regular buses at the same
time you reserve a bus and submit your bus request.
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