Bus Riding Guidelines
1st-8th Grade Guidelines
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities & Acknowledgements
Parent/guardian acknowledges:
- They are responsible for the safety and well-being of their children before they board the bus in the morning and after they leave the bus in the afternoon.
- 1st-8th Grade Riders: School buses will not have staff members riding in the mornings or after school. The responsibility of the driver ends at the time the student is dropped off at their respective bus stop. Once the child exits the bus, the parent/guardian is responsible for the student’s commute from the bus stop to their home. Parents/guardians must ensure that their child has a plan for getting to their home once they exit the school bus at their stop.
- If a student misses the bus, they are responsible to transport them to and/or from school.
- If their child is involved in extracurricular activities, serving detention, or staying after school for any other reason, it is their responsibility to arrange for their transportation from school.
- The District is not responsible for any damages or injuries incurred if my child misses the bus or chooses to walk or get to or from school by other means.
- Agree to pay all associated Bus Fees and understand that their child will not be assigned to a bus stop or be allowed to ride the bus until bus fees have been paid.
- They have reviewed the Bus Riding Behavior Expectations and Safety Information with their child and agree to abide by them.
Bus Behavior Expectations and Safety
Safe behavior on school buses is expected of all students. Bus safety rules and regulations are discussed in each advisory or homeroom and bus evacuation drills are conducted for all students at the beginning of each school year.
Bus privileges are dependent upon compliance with rules established for safe operation of the buses. Students must conduct themselves in a manner that ensures safe transportation for themselves, other passengers, and the driver.
Good behavior and conduct are expected while boarding, riding, and departing the bus and include, but are not limited to:
- Students are to board and depart the bus at their assigned stop only. NOTE: Bus drivers are not allowed to stop at individual students' homes; only at designated bus stops.
- Students are not permitted to ride another student's bus.
- Student walkers are not permitted to ride the bus, with the exception of activity buses.
- Students should be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time.
- At the end of the school day, students are to go quickly to their bus's designated area and wait in an orderly fashion for the bus to arrive. For students in 6th through 8th grade, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are on the bus before it leaves the school.
- While waiting for the bus, students are not to stand or play on the street. After exiting the bus, students who must cross the street must do so in front of the bus and only when the stop arm is out and the flashers are operating.
- Students must follow the directions of the bus driver and supervisor.
- Students are to remain seated with seatbelts fastened throughout the entire bus ride.
- Windows are not to be lowered below the safety mark. Students' heads, hands, arms, feet, and all objects must be kept inside the bus. Students must not tamper with the windows.
- Loud conversation, profane language, throwing objects, and discourteous actions toward the bus driver, supervisor, or other passengers is not allowed.
- Glass containers, live animals, and large objects may not be carried on the bus.
- Students must not litter or deface the bus. Trash receptacles are provided on all buses.
- Please refer to “Prohibited Student Conduct” in Appendix B of the Student/Parent Handbook for a comprehensive list of prohibited student behaviors.
The bus driver is in charge of the bus and their directions must be followed. The driver is not a disciplinarian: they have only one task – to drive the bus safely. Each bus driver has been instructed to report instances of misbehavior to the bus supervisor or Principal. In extreme cases, the bus driver will return a student or the entire busload of students to school for corrective action by the Principal.
If a student does not follow the rules, the Principal may revoke or suspend a student's bus privileges. In addition to bus consequences, students may be subject to regular school disciplinary action. Families will always be informed before a student's bus privileges are revoked or suspended. Parents/guardians have the right to request a meeting with the Principal to review the circumstances that warranted the removal of bus riding privileges (Board Policy 7:220 Bus Conduct, Board Policy 4:110 Transportation).
School buses may be equipped with video cameras. Video cameras may be used on school buses as necessary to monitor conduct and maintain a safe environment for students and employees.
Kindergarten Guidelines
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities & Acknowledgements
Parent/guardian acknowledges:
- They are responsible for the safety and well-being of their children before they board the bus in the morning and after they leave the bus in the afternoon.
- Meyer Kindergarten Riders:
- Pick up: No kindergarten student is allowed to wait alone at a bus stop for pick up. A parent/guardian or authorized contact person must accompany the student and wait with them until they are safely on the bus.
- Drop off: Kindergarten students will not be released from the bus if a designated adult is not at the bus stop to receive them. These children will be returned to Meyer School at the end of the route and parents will be called to pick them up.
- Meyer Kindergarten Riders:
- If a student misses the bus, they are responsible to transport them to and/or from school.
- If their child is involved in extracurricular activities, serving detention, or staying after school for any other reason, it is their responsibility to arrange for their transportation from school.
- The District is not responsible for any damages or injuries incurred if my child misses the bus or chooses to walk or get to or from school by other means.
- Agree to pay all associated Bus Fees and understand that their child will not be assigned to a bus stop or be allowed to ride the bus until bus fees have been paid.
- They have reviewed the Bus Riding Behavior Expectations and Safety Information with their child and agree to abide by them.
Bus Behavior Expectations and Safety
Safe behavior on school buses is expected of all students. Bus safety rules and regulations are discussed in each advisory or homeroom and bus evacuation drills are conducted for all students at the beginning of each school year.
Bus privileges are dependent upon compliance with rules established for safe operation of the buses. Students must conduct themselves in a manner that ensures safe transportation for themselves, other passengers, and the driver.
Good behavior and conduct are expected while boarding, riding, and departing the bus and include, but are not limited to:
- Students are to board and depart the bus at their assigned stop only. NOTE: Bus drivers are not allowed to stop at individual students' homes; only at designated bus stops.
- Students are not permitted to ride another student's bus.
- Student walkers are not permitted to ride the bus, with the exception of activity buses.
- Students should be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time.
- At the end of the school day, students are to go quickly to their bus's designated area and wait in an orderly fashion for the bus to arrive. For students in 6th through 8th grade, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are on the bus before it leaves the school.
- While waiting for the bus, students are not to stand or play on the street. After exiting the bus, students who must cross the street must do so in front of the bus and only when the stop arm is out and the flashers are operating.
- Students must follow the directions of the bus driver and supervisor.
- Students are to remain seated with seatbelts fastened throughout the entire bus ride.
- Windows are not to be lowered below the safety mark. Students' heads, hands, arms, feet, and all objects must be kept inside the bus. Students must not tamper with the windows.
- Loud conversation, profane language, throwing objects, and discourteous actions toward the bus driver, supervisor, or other passengers is not allowed.
- Glass containers, live animals, and large objects may not be carried on the bus.
- Students must not litter or deface the bus. Trash receptacles are provided on all buses.
- Please refer to “Prohibited Student Conduct” in Appendix B of the Student/Parent Handbook for a comprehensive list of prohibited student behaviors.
The bus driver is in charge of the bus and their directions must be followed. The driver is not a disciplinarian: they have only one task – to drive the bus safely. Each bus driver has been instructed to report instances of misbehavior to the bus supervisor or Principal. In extreme cases, the bus driver will return a student or the entire busload of students to school for corrective action by the Principal.
If a student does not follow the rules, the Principal may revoke or suspend a student's bus privileges. In addition to bus consequences, students may be subject to regular school disciplinary action. Families will always be informed before a student's bus privileges are revoked or suspended. Parents/guardians have the right to request a meeting with the Principal to review the circumstances that warranted the removal of bus riding privileges (Board Policy 7:220 Bus Conduct, Board Policy 4:110 Transportation).
School buses may be equipped with video cameras. Video cameras may be used on school buses as necessary to monitor conduct and maintain a safe environment for students and employees.
