- Westonka Public Schools
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- 4000 Personnel
POLICY 4116: DISTRICT OWNED VEHICLES
Revised: April 11, 2022
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish rules and procedures for the safe operation of district-owned vehicles.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
The Westonka School District encourages and promotes safe driving and transportation for all district employees, passengers, and third parties. District owned and leased vehicles must be operated, parked or stored in a manner which provides maximum safety to persons and property at all times. Such vehicles must be used for official business or authorized purposes only.
III. PROCEDURES
- Operation of district vehicles will be permitted only by Westonka Public School employees who:
- Possess a valid driver’s license (CDL as vehicles require);
- Have an acceptable driving record; and
- Are insurable by the district’s insurance carrier.
- Any accidents involving district vehicles that result in property damage or personal injury must be reported immediately to the appropriate police department, and to Facilities Maintenance. The driver involved in any accident while in operation of a district owned vehicle will be responsible for filling out the required reports and forms.
- Operation of a district vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or mood altering drugs or while using tobacco products is prohibited and may be grounds for disciplinary action.
- Operation of a district vehicle while using a wireless communications device to: 1) initiate, compose, send, retrieve, or read an electronic message; 2) engage in a cellular phone call, including initiating a call, talking or listening, and participating in video calling; or 3) access any video, audio or application content stored on the device; when the vehicle is in motion or part of traffic is prohibited in accordance with Minnesota Statute 169.475 unless the device is being used solely in a voice- activated or hands-free mode.
- The School Board directs that district vehicles be kept within the district when parked overnight except in unusual circumstanes. Employees assigned district vehicles shall be directly responsible for their safe operation and reasonable protection.
- Vehicles taken home overnight shall be driven while commuting to and from the workplace or for official business, and shall not be used for personal use. The vehicle may only be driven by authorized school district employees.
- The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures designed to provide for appropriate maintenance of district vehicles as well as to carry out the general intent of this policy.
- All district owned vehicles qualifying for tax exempt license plates shall display school district identification as prescribed by Minnesota Law.
IV. SEAT BELTS
- Employees should adhere to all traffic laws and regulations – including the use of wearing a seat belt/shoulder strap when operating a vehicle. Further, employees and their passengers are required to use a seat belt when traveling in any vehicle while in the course of conducting district business. This requirement applies to business travel in a vehicle owned by the district, a rental vehicle or a vehicle owned by an individual employee, regardless of whether the employee is compensated for the use of the vehicle.
- If an employee is provided a district-owned vehicle that is used in the course of employment and is also available for the employee's personal use, the employee will be required to use a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. This also applies to all passengers who occupy the vehicle at any time and for any purpose, whether district-related or personal.
- Violation of this policy will subject an employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Adopted: March 1, 1999