BUS RULES AND REGULATIONS (STUDENTS) Board of Education Policy No. 7340 1996 The Depew Union Free School District furnishes transportation to those students who disability or distance from the school make the service essential. Riding these buses is a privilege and may be withdrawn if the student does not comply with the rules and regulations set forth in this District. riding school buses are expected to conform to the rules of conduct in order to permit!be bus driver to transport his/her passengers safely. The Board of Education, the Superintendent and/or his/her designee have the authority to suspend the transportation privileges of children who are disorderly and insubordinate on buses. In these cases, the parentsllegal guardians of the children involved become responsible for seeing that their children get to and from school safely. Bus drivers shall be held responsible for reasonable and acceptable behavior of students while riding the school bus. The Board directs the administration to establish rules and regulations for student conduct on buses, including applicable due process rights to be afforded students suspended from transportation privileges. These rules and regulations shall be promulgated to all concerned; including the non-public schools to which students are transported. 8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Section 156 20 United States Code Annotated (U.S.c.A.) Sections 1400-1485, Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Adopted: 6/6/96 Trans. Hdbk. Rev. 1/05 37
REGULATION 10f4 SUBJECT: STUDENT BUS RULES AND REGULATIONS Waiting for the Bus 1) Be on time for the bus but do not arrive at the stop earlier than 10 minutes before the time at which the bus usually arrives. 2) Do not allow younger children who are not yet attending school to accompany you to the bus stop. 3) Observe all safety precautions while waiting for the bus: a. Do not play in the roads b. If possible, avoid crossing streets c. Whenever you must cross a street, look both ways and cross only if you are sure that no. moving vehicles are approachingfromeitherdirection. d. Do not push, pull, or chase any other students. e. Avoid trespassing on private property and being noisy. 4) As your bus approaches, line up at least six feet off the highway and do not approach the bus until it has stopped and the driver has opened the door. Again, avoid pushing others in the line. Loading the Bus 1) Get on your bus quickly and be seated at once (unless seats are not available). 2) If seats are not available, proceed toward the rear of the bus, remain standing in the middle aisle, and grasp a seat bar finnly before the bus begins to move. 3) Listen carefully and obey any directions issued by the driver. Riding the Bus 1) Do not eat food on the bus. 2) Do not throw anything on the bus. 3) Avoid extending your anns or any other part of your body out of the windows. 4) Do not change seats while the bus is moving. 5) Avoid shouting and other excessive noise that may distract the driver and lead to a serious./ accident. Trans. Hdbk. Rev. 1/05 38
REGULATION 30f4 I SUBJECT: STUDENT BUS RULES AND REGULATIONS (Cont'd.) Unloading the Bus I) Do not leave your seat until the bus has come to a complete stop and the driver has opened the door.. 2) Again, obey any directions issued by the driver. 3) Leave the bus quickly but in a courteous manner without pushing other students. 4) If you must cross a street as you leave the school bus, be sure to walk in front of the bus (never in back) at a distance of at least 10ft. away from the bus. If you get too close to the front of the bus, the driver will not be able to see you, and a serious accident could occur. 5) Again, be sure to observe all safety precautions as you travel from your bus stop to your home. 6) Violation of the bus rules may result in loss of bus privileges. Supervision and Discipline All students must behave appropriately as passengers of a school bus. Clearly understood and wellenforced rules are necessary for the successful management of students who ride school buses. Misbehaviorproblemson the buses will be handledin the followingmanner:. First -The bus driver should make an attempt to correct any discipline problems by asking the student to behave and, if necessary, to assign seats to certain students. Second - After two or three verbal warnings have been given to the student by the driver on discipline problems, the "Discipline Checklist" must be completed and sent to the school principal. At this point, the principal may notifythe parents of the complaint.ifhe/she deems it necessary. The action which has been taken by the principal will be noted on the checklist, a copy of which will be sent to the bus driver. Another copy will be retained by the school principal. Third - After the next offense, the "Chronic or Severe Bus Discipline Report" must be completed and sent to the school principal. Upon receiving this report, the principal contacts the parents by telephone and letter, and the principal may ultimately suspend the student from riding the bus. If the'student is in danger of being suspended from bus transportation, the principal will followthe guidelines set forth in Regulation #7340R.I -- Suspension From Bus Transportation. -' Trans. Hdbk. Rev. 1/05 40
REGULATION.l lof2 SUBJECT: SUSPENSION FROM BUS TRANSPORTATION The School District provides transportationto students in grades kindergarten through twelve within the guidelines established in Board of Education Policy. Every student eligible for transportation is entitled to be safely transported to and from school o~ a daily basis. At the same time, each student is expected to abide by the rules and regulations for appropriate school bus conduct. In accordance with the responsibility of the Board of Education to maintain order and disciplineand to assure student safety, the following regulations regarding suspension of students being transported by the District shall be followed. Bus Drivers Bus drivers have the responsibility to maintain reasonable behavior of students while riding school buses. However, school bus drivers may not suspend students from bus transportation. If a student engages in disorderly or insubordinate conduct while on a school bus, the driver shall refer the student to the child's school principal for appropriate action using a form (Form #7340F) developed for this purpose. Disciplinary Action Upon receipt of a transportation disciplinary referral, the principal will promptly notify the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) by forwarding a copy of the referral form. Before a student can be disciplined for acts of misconduct committed while on a school bus, there must be a reasonable degree of certainty that the student was the perpetrator of, or was otherwise involved in, such conduct. The principal will base his/her determination upon interviews with the student and any eyewitnesses involved, including other students, teachers, bus drivers, and/or transportation officials. The principal may impose an appropriate disciplinary measure proportionate to the offense, includingbut not limited to:. 1) Verbal and/or written warning of the potential for suspension of transportation privileges if the student misbehaves on the bus again; 2) Detention; 3) In-school suspension; 4) Short or long term suspension from transportation privileges, in accordance with due process procedures as outlined below..j Trans. Hdbk. Rev. 1/05 42
i REGULATION 40f4 SUBJECT: STUDENT BUS RULES AND REGULATIONS (Cont'd.) Fourth -On the next offense, another "Chronic or Severe Bus Discipline Report" will be completed and sent to the principal. After this report is received, the student again may be suspended from riding the bus in accordance with Regulation #7340R.l -- Suspension From Bus Transportation. The action taken by the principal will be noted on this report, a copy of which will be sent to the driver and a copy will be kept by the principal. Suspensions from bus riding privileges may be short term (5 days or less) or long tenn (beyond 5 days). NOTE: Refer also to Regulation #7340R.I -- Suspension From Bus Transportation..J Trans. Hdbk. Rev. 1105 41
( REGULATION 20f4 SUBJECT: STUDENT BUS RULES AND.REGULATIONS (Cont'd.) 6) Help keep the bus clean and sanitary. 7) Be courteous to other students. 8) Listen carefully and obey any directions issued by the driver. 9) Upon boarding the bus in the morning, remain on the bus until arrival at school. 10) will be allowed to disembark from the bus in the afternoon prior to arriving at the authorized bus stop only upon written authorization of the Superintendent of Schools or hislher designee. 11) transported in a school bus are under the authority of and directly responsible to the driver of the bus.. 12) Continued disorderly conduct or persistent refusal to submit to the authority of the driver is sufficient reason for a student to be denied transportation on a school bus. 13) The driver of any school bus is responsible for the orderly conduct of the students transported. 14) No school bus can stop to load or discharge students except at stops regularly designated by the school committee. 15) No students can engage in unnecessary conversation with the driver while the bus is.inmotion. 16) Smoking in a school bus in prohibited. 17) No intoxicating liquor can be transported at any time in a school bus. 18) No animals can be transported in a school bus. 19) No loaded weapons of any sort, except sideanns carried by authorized police officers, can be transported on a school bus. 20) No persons should be allowed to occupy a position in a school bus that interferes with the vision of the driver to the front, to either side of him/her, or through the mirror to the rear, or with the operation of the bus. 21) Nothing can be thrown within the bus or out the windows. ) 22) who are to leave the bus last can use seats in the rear of the bus. Trans. Hdbk. Rev. 1/05 39