Student Bus Conduct

Safety is of paramount concern in providing student transportation services. A safe and orderly environment is critical whenever transporting students. Providing safe transportation requires the cooperation of students, parents, and Iredell-Statesville Schools staff. Each bus has clear and easy to understand rules that are communicated to students at the beginning of the year as well as throughout the year. Parents are encouraged to discuss these bus rules with their children at home as well. All bus drivers have been trained in the five basic rules of behavior management:

1. All adults need to work together

2. Students must be taught to behave safely and appropriately on the bus

3. Drivers need to be treated with respect and given support (Parents must understand that bus drivers are difficult to obtain, and the quickest way to lose one is to show a lack of support in regard to discipline problems.)

4. Positive interactions have tremendous power to shape behavior

5. When misbehavior occurs, drivers will intervene consistently and immediately

Parents are strongly encouraged to review the following bus rules with

their children:

· A student shall be subject to all school rules while riding on the school bus,

activity bus, or other vehicle when being transported to and from school, athletic

events, contests, or field trips. Harassment or bullying is prohibited on school

grounds as well as on the school bus or activity bus. Such behavior can

jeopardize the student's privilege to ride a bus.

· The driver of the school bus, subject to the direction of the school administrator,

has the authority over and responsibility for, the safe operation of the bus and

maintenance of good order and conduct. The student is to obey the directions of

the driver.

· It is state law that the bus driver is required to assign seating for students while

they are riding on a school bus. Students must remain in their assigned seats at

all times.

· A student involved in any violation of bus rules or failure to cooperate will be

promptly reported by the bus driver to the school administrator.

· No students shall interfere in any way with the safe operation of school buses.

Behavior that distracts the driver from his/her function of operating the bus will

not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to all electronic devices (e.g. cell

phones, iPods, MP3 players, etc.). School officials may confiscate devices

that interfere with the safe operation of the bus. Parents / Students assume

the responsibility for lost or stolen devices.

· Vandalism of the bus is prohibited. Students / Parents will be required to

reimburse the school system for all damages to buses.

· The emergency door shall not be opened while the bus is moving or stopped

except in cases of emergency.

· Throwing items out of the windows of the bus or having arms or other items out

the window of the bus is prohibited. Students / Parents may be liable for

damages caused by objects thrown from buses.

· Loud and boisterous talking will not be permitted.

· Food / Drinks shall not be taken onto any bus with the exception of authorized

(lunch) containers.

· A student shall only ride the bus(es) to which he/she has been assigned and

shall not be discharged at any stop other than his/her regular stop unless a

school administrator has verified and communicated with the bus driver. No

student who boards the bus at his/her home shall leave the bus until he/she

arrives at their assigned school.

· No student shall stand or move from seat to seat while the bus is in motion.

· Students should be at their assigned bus stop 10 minutes prior to the arrival of

the bus.

· Students are subject to all school rules/policies at the bus stop.

· Only authorized personnel and students assigned are allowed on school/activity

buses. Unauthorized persons may be charged with trespassing (NC General

Statue 14-132.2).

Serious misbehavior on the school bus will result in suspension for a period of

· Students are under the authority of the bus driver and must follow his/her

direction at all times

· Delaying the bus schedule

· Fighting, smoking, refusing to obey instructions of school authorities

· Tampering with the bus

· Unauthorized boarding of a school / activity bus

· Unauthorized leaving of the bus when enroute from home to school or vice-versa

· Refusal to meet bus at designated stop

· Refusal to get off the bus at the designated stop

· Distracting the driver’s attention while bus is in operation (ex: throwing trash,

paper, hands or arms out the window)

· Any behavior which may endanger lives or property

· No running, touching, or chasing after the bus

· Opening the emergency door without authorization

· Excessive noise or unauthorized movement

· Getting picked up or dropped off at an unassigned bus stop

· Profanity/vulgarity directed or indirected

· Toys are NOT permitted on buses

· CD/Cassette players are NOT permitted on buses (The school is NOT

responsible for lost or stolen items)

· Loss or damage to personal property (items not supposed to be on the

bus) is not the responsibility of the school

**This list is not all inclusive**

Riding school buses is a privilege, not a right.

The severity of the offense will be taken into consideration when determining

consequences. Students may be reassigned a seat or loose their privilege to ride

the bus based on their behavior. The following are possible discipline actions:

· Conference with the parent/legal guardian, or legal custodian

· Reassign the student a seat on the bus

· Assign the student ISS, OSS, or Monticello Alternative school at the

discretion of the school administrator

· Student will not be allowed to ride the bus for a certain period of time. The

time a student is removed from the bus could range from one day to the

remainder of the school year based on the severity of the offense. The

removal (suspension) of a student is at the discretion of the school

administrator. The length of a bus suspension will increase with each

offense.

1st offense- 3 to 5 day bus suspension

2nd offense- 4 to 6 day bus suspension

3rd offense- 7 to 10 day bus suspension

4th offense- Possible suspension for the remainder of the school year

Fighting- 1st offense- 3 days OSS

Certain infractions may require school administrators to report the incident to law

enforcement.

The Principal and/or Transportation Coordinator may impose a more lengthy suspension

up to and including OSS if the misbehavior is considered severe regardless of how many

times a student has been in trouble.

Every effort will be made to work with parents so that problems will not continue. Parents

must understand that bus drivers are difficult to obtain, and the quickest way to lose one

is to show a lack of support in regard to discipline problems. With safety as our first

priority, we will take swift and certain action to insure good bus conduct.

Since we share buses with the elementary schools, it is absolutely necessary that students be at their assigned stops on time.

Students are assigned to specific buses and stops, therefore, students WILL NOT be permitted to ride any other bus except their assigned bus. Notes for students to ride home with friends on a bus different from their assigned bus WILL NOT be accepted.