Jerome Joint School District No. 261

NONINSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS 8195

District Vehicle Idling

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 the idling buses. Unnecessary bus or District vehicle idling emits pollutants, wastes fuel, and wastes financial resources. Reduced idling will 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 pre-heated 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 of school grounds, for longer than five minutes except during passenger stops and pre-trip inspections. Allowing engines to idle for more than three minutes may cause the District to lose funding for purchasing fuel. Consideration should be given to varying climate conditions. 

5. All District vehicles should follow the above guidelines as applicable.

Policy History:

Adopted on: 04/28/2026