BUS TRANSPORTATION

Bus transportation will be provided to primary student residences more than 1.5 miles from school and for those students who live on the designated hazardous routes.  Bus riders may ride the bus to a non-primary residential location if the stop is more than 1.5 miles from school, the bus has room, and the location is a pre-designated stop or on a bus route for students whose primary residence is in a rural area.

Bus stops are designated by the bus company and approved by the school board for most stops.  Rural area (as designated by the Bus Company and school board) bus stops are arranged on an annual basis.

BUS CONDUCT

Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right.  For safe transportation to and from school, appropriate behavior is necessary.  Students are expected to follow these guidelines:

1. Be on time at the designated school bus stop.

2. Stay off the road at all times while waiting for the bus.

3. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before boarding.

4. Be careful while approaching the place where the bus stops.

5. Do not move toward the bus at the loading zone until the bus has come to a stop.

6. Assist in keeping the bus safe and sanitary at all times.

7. Treat the equipment as you would your furniture at home.

8. Bus vandalism will not be tolerated and will be turned over to the proper authorities.

9. Check each day so you do not leave personal belongings.

10. Keep items out of the aisle.

11. Help look after the safety and comfort of smaller children.

12. Be courteous to students and drivers.

13. Be absolutely quiet when approaching a railroad crossing.

14. After leaving the bus, help look after the safety and comfort of smaller children

15. Be alert to a danger signal from the driver.

16. Do not ask to stop at places other than the regular bus stop.  Drivers cannot do this without permission from school officials.

17. Remember to control loud talking and laughter on the bus.

    
    

Inappropriate behavior will be addressed through the Bus Misconduct Notices issued by the bus driver.  Duplicate copies will be sent to the building principal for disciplinary consequences. 

Grounds for Bus Misconduct Notices include, but are not limited to:

1. Prohibited student conduct as defined in this handbook.

2. Willful injury or threat of injury to a bus driver or another rider.

3. Willful and/or repeated defacement of the bus.

4. Use of profanity.

5. Disobedience of the bus driver’s directives.

6. Failure to keep hands and head inside the bus at all times.

7. Excessive loud talking and laughing.

8. Any destruction to the bus.

9. Throwing anything out of the window.

10. Leaving the seat while the bus is in motion.

11. In case of a road emergency, failure to follow instructions given by the driver.

12. Such other behavior the administration deems to threaten the safe operation of the bus and/or its occupants.

Students are subject to a suspension or expulsion from the bus for serious or repeated misconduct.  The length of the bus suspension will be determined at the building level by the principal/assistant principal on a case-by-case basis.  Students may be suspended from riding the school bus for up to 10 consecutive school days for violating school rules or for engaging in other gross obedience or misconduct.  The School Board may suspend the student from riding the school bus for a period in excess of 10 days for safety reasons.  The district’s regular suspension procedures shall be used to suspend a student’s privilege to ride a school bus.  The administration also has the right to impose consequences besides bus suspension or expulsion as listed in the Discipline Procedures.  Parents will be informed of any and all inappropriate student behavior on a bus.  Parents are encouraged to discuss bus safety and appropriate behavior with their children before the beginning of the school year and regularly during the year.

A parent may request a suspension review meeting to review the appropriateness of the bus suspension.  The suspension review meeting will be conducted by the Board or a hearing officer appointed by the Board.  If a hearing officer is appointed, he shall prepare a written summary of the evidence presented and present it to the Board.  The Board shall review the hearing officer’s report and take such action as it finds appropriate.  This request would need to be in written form and sent to the District office.

A student who is suspended from riding the school bus and who does not have alternate transportation to school, shall be allowed the opportunity to make up all missed work for equivalent academic credit. (The suspended student will have 1 day for each day of bus suspension to complete the makeup work). It is the responsibility of the student’s parent/legal guardian to notify the District that the student does not have alternative transportation to school.

Notice Of Change In Bus Transportation

Students will not be allowed to change their end of day transportation by either changing buses or riding the bus.  Parents should make arrangements out of school when there is a change of transportation unless the change is permanent in nature.  The administration has the right to deny bus transportation changes or restrict bus usage.

Video & Audio Monitoring Systems On Buses

A video and/or audio monitoring system may be in use on school buses and a video monitoring system may be in use in public areas of the school building. These systems have been put in place to protect students, staff, visitors, and school property. If a discipline problem is captured on audiotape or videotape, these recordings may be used as the basis for imposing student discipline. If criminal actions are recorded, a copy of the tape may be provided to law enforcement personnel only. Any student caught defacing, damaging, or destroying video surveillance cameras will have to make restitution, and may be suspended, expelled, and/or recommended to an Alternative School, and/or may be charged with criminal damage to school property.