District 203 wants to put the brakes on rideshares during school hours

With the rising popularity of teen rideshare services, Naperville Unit District 203 wants to put some guardrails in place for students.

School board members on Monday got a first look at a proposed policy that would prohibit the use of rideshares during school hours for students under the age of 18. The proposed policy, believed to be a first in the area, would allow the use of rideshares during emergency situations if a parent or guardian has signed a waiver.

School board members are expected to vote on the policy during their meeting on June 1.

“It’s been on the increase,” Allison Boutet, assistant superintendent for middle schools, said of student usage of rideshare services. “It’s just becoming more prevalent during the school day.”

She said she typically receives one to two calls a month regarding a middle school student using a rideshare. Schools typically receive notification from the parent, but the rideshare driver does not have to come into the school to sign out the student.

Boutet said she is not aware of elementary students using rideshares during the school day, and tracking rideshare usage at the high school level is difficult with open campuses.

While rideshares may be an option for before or after school activities, the proposed policy warns that the district does not monitor, nor is it liable for, rideshares to or from those activities and that students using such services do so at their own risk.

The introduction of teen rideshare services could be one reason for the increased usage of such services, Boutet said.

Uber, for example, offers a teen service where parents can track their student’s ride and get notifications when they leave and arrive at their destination.

Parents can designate a family member or friend to pick up a student if needed, Boutet said, adding that those individuals still have to come into the school to sign a student out.

“We would encourage families to still come and pick up their child if they have an appointment versus having a rideshare service come to the school,” Boutet said.

She noted the policy leaves an avenue open for parents who can’t leave work, may not have transportation or a designated individual available to come pick up their students. But each of those instances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, Boutet told board members.