Pupils of legal school age, which shall include kindergarten pupils, and in actual attendance in the Ocean Springs School District who live a distance of one (1) mile or more by the nearest traveled road from the school to which they are assigned shall be entitled to transportation within the meaning of this chapter. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to bar any child from such transportation where he or she lives less than one (1) mile and is on the regular route of travel of a school bus and space is available in such bus for such transportation. No state funds shall be paid for the transportation of children living within one (1) mile of the school, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, and such children shall not be included in transportation reports. In the development of route plans, economy shall be a prime consideration. There shall be no duplication of routes except in circumstances where it is totally unavoidable. The State Department of Education shall have authority to investigate school bus routing when there is reason to believe the provisions of this statute are being violated. The State Board of Education shall have authority to withhold transportation funds when school districts fail to correct unnecessary route duplication. Provided further, that all school districts are hereby authorized to lease or contract with any public or private individual, partnership, corporation, association, agency or other organization for the implementation of transportation of pupils as provided for in this section.
The School Board may provide transportation to such crippled and physically handicapped children as may be designated by such Board, when the failure to do so would result in undue hardship, even though the children are not otherwise entitled to transportation under the provisions of this chapter. School Board policy provides that transportation shall be provided for all pupils in grades K-5 who reside one-half (1/2) mile or more from the school to which they are assigned, and for all pupils in grades 6-12 who reside one (1) mile or more from the school to which they are assigned.
Where space is available, students attending junior colleges shall be allowed transportation on established routes in district-owned buses. However, no additional funds shall be allocated or expended for such purposes, and such persons shall not be included in transportation reports.
' 37-41-3 (1993)
In addition to public school students or pupils authorized to be transported to the public schools by virtue of Section 37-41-3, the local school board, with the concurrence of the board of supervisors, in their discretion and with local tax funds or other local contributions or support exclusively and without state appropriations, may provide transportation for students or pupils to the public schools whenever the within described boards or officers find that extraordinary circumstances and conditions are prevalent in said school district in regard to such matters as the public health and safety, school facilities, location of the school site, unusual economic growth and population expansion, newly expanded municipal corporation limits, the general welfare, and any other emergency facts and conditions which may be deemed by said authorities to be in the best interest of the political subdivision. ' 37-41-5 (1987)
LEGAL REF.: MS CODE as cited
ADOPTED: 01/17/2006