Iowa legislators are considering a bill that would let school districts use pick-up trucks to transport students to extra-curricular activities, but only if the students are in the truck cab and using a seat belt. Senator Waylon Brown, a Republican from St. Ansgar, says current state regulations forbid the practice — as Sheldon school officials discovered after they bought a pick-up for the activities of a Future Farmers of America chapter.
Brown says there may be other requirements included, but the intent of the bill is NOT to let schools use pick-ups on bus routes to and from school.
Iowa Departent of Education director Ryan Wise says the safety of students is the top priority for any school transportation policy, but he hasn’t reviewed this proposal about pick-ups and cannot comment on it.
