While the law requires the school district to furnish transportation, it does not relieve parents/guardians of students from the responsibility of supervision until such times as the student boards the bus in the morning and after the student leaves the bus at the end of the school day. In view of the fact that a bus is an extension of the classroom, the Board will require students to conduct themselves on the bus in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior. Students who become a serious disciplinary problem on the school bus may have their riding privileges suspended. In such cases, the parents of the student involved will be responsible for transporting their child to and from school safely.

These expectations are intended to maintain and improve safety conditions for each child who rides one of our school buses. Compliance is required by state, federal and local transportation regulations. Please review these expectations with your child. Speak with your child’s driver or call the school if you have questions or concerns. We appreciate your assistance.Students being transported are under the authority of the bus driver. 

• Students are permitted to bring one backpack and one lunch container. 

• All items brought on the bus must be inside the backpack and left inside the backpack while on the bus. 

• Whenever necessary, projects required for school or instruments may be brought on the bus with the driver’s permission. The Transportation Supervisor will advise drivers whenever the need arises. No animals can be transported on the bus. 

• Items attached to a backpack must be stowed or tied down and may not dangle from the backpack (keys, key chains, decorations, etc.). Facial lacerations and eye injury have occurred when dangling items accidentally lash the face of a seated child. 

• The aisles must be kept clear. Please keep hands, feet and book bags out of the aisle unless exiting the bus. Aisles must be clear in case of the need to evacuate. 

• Once a student is seated, he/she shall stay seated until the bus stops. Students may not switch seats while the bus is moving and may only do so at the discretion of the driver when the bus is stopped. 

• Each student should be ready to leave the bus when it reaches his/her stop. One child who is behind schedule can cause all students to be late.

• Eating, drinking and yelling/shouting are prohibited. Profane language is prohibited. A driver needs to SEE and HEAR. 

• Students must keep their hands and feet to themselves and off of others and their belongings. 

• Students who refuse to obey rules forfeit their privilege to ride the bus. 

• PreK-1 children will only be permitted to exit the bus if an adult is present to meet them. If no adult is present, the child will be returned to school and a staff member will attempt to reach the child’s parents.

In an effort to ensure safety on our buses, video cameras may be used to monitor student behavior on school vehicles transporting students to and from school or extracurricular activities. Students found violating bus conduct rules will be subject to disciplinary action. 

If the District provides transportation for student athletes participating in interscholastic competition and students attending District sponsored educational field trips, students will not be authorized to use any other means of transportation when participating in these events, unless the principal or his/her designee authorizes such alternate transportation. The principal shall require written application prior to approval. As an exception to this policy a coach/teacher may release a student to the parent/guardian for transportation from an interscholastic event or school sponsored activity upon the receipt of a written request from the parent/guardian. 

Eating on the bus is usually discouraged. However, on long trips eating on the bus may be allowed by the driver and/or chaperone. Trash cans will be provided and students are expected to use them. Glass containers are forbidden on school buses.