The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is overhauling six transportation policies that haven't been updated in years, bringing the district into compliance with new state laws while preparing for a costly transition to electric buses by 2035.
The school board discussed the policy updates during its Oct. 23, 2025 meeting, addressing regulations that date back as far as 2009. The changes reflect new legal requirements, including exemptions for low-income students from transportation fees and stricter drug testing protocols for bus drivers.
"Many of these policies have not been updated in a while," Transportation Director Steven Carrillo told the board. "Changes in law and practices" necessitated the comprehensive review, he said.
The most significant financial challenge facing the district involves a new state mandate requiring 75% of school bus fleets to be electric by 2035. The district already owns one electric bus that cost approximately $500,000, partially offset by a $100,000 grant. With about 25 buses in its current fleet, the transition could cost millions.
The policy updates address several key areas:
Transportation Fees: New state law AB 181 from 2022 now exempts students classified as unduplicated, those who are English learners, eligible for free or reduced-price meals, or experiencing homelessness, from paying transportation fees. The updated policy also allows the superintendent to waive fees for any group of district students.
Driver Requirements: The district is formalizing drug and alcohol testing procedures that were already in practice, creating a new administrative regulation that outlines pre-employment, post-accident, random, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty and follow-up testing protocols. The regulation clarifies that marijuana remains illegal under federal law for commercial drivers, regardless of state legalization.
Route Planning: Updated regulations now require transportation plans consistent with students' Section 504 disability accommodation plans and establish minimum distances for district-provided transportation to determine reimbursement eligibility.
Safety Protocols: New requirements mandate that accident reports be retained for 12 months and forwarded to the California Highway Patrol within five business days if the CHP didn't initially investigate the incident.
The district faces unique geographic challenges in implementing the electric vehicle mandate. Previous school boards received information suggesting electric buses might not work effectively due to the area's topography, including weight restrictions in canyon areas like Malibu Canyon and Kanan Road.
However, district officials said advances in electric school bus technology — including longer battery life and extended travel range — may address earlier concerns. Staff members are preparing questions for the upcoming Request for Proposal process to ensure any new electric buses can handle the district's challenging terrain.
Board member Stacy Rouse, representing Malibu, praised the transportation department's work with her community, particularly during the previous year when road closures created logistical complications.
"I keep hearing randomly from people that they are so appreciative," Rouse said. "Malibu is so long, and a lot of parents depend on that for their kids, and it has been really tricky."
The transportation policy discussion included historical context, with Carrillo sharing vintage photographs of the district's bus operations dating to 1959. One image showed the district's bus yard at what is now Tongva Park, while another featured the first bus driver's retirement in November 1964.
The policy updates also incorporate expanded learning opportunities into the district's transportation philosophy and add requirements for vehicles used to provide student transportation for compensation, along with updated qualification requirements for drivers.
All six transportation policies will return to the school board for formal approval at the Nov. 6 meeting. Once approved, the district's online policy manual will be updated and the management team will be notified of the changes.
The comprehensive review represents part of a broader district effort to update its policy manual, with officials estimating that approximately 400 policies district-wide need revision or updating.