Board to advance driver‑responsibility policy required by insurer

Madison Metropolitan School District staff presented a new driver responsibilities (fleet) policy at a Feb. 9 second read, saying the district previously lacked a formal board policy governing vehicle use. Vanessa Cruz, assistant director of transportation and logistics, said the policy will standardize expectations, require driver license verification and background checks and make employees personally responsible for traffic and parking violations incurred while operating district vehicles.

Staff said the policy was requested by the district’s insurer (Liberty Mutual) and is intended to reduce crash frequency and claims costs while improving safety for students and the public. The redline updates discussed at the second reading addressed misuse and abuse of district vehicles and clarified the driver‑responsibility acknowledgment and verification steps. Board members raised no outstanding objections and staff said the policy will be brought to the regular board meeting for a final vote.