A. Safety Infractions
1. Student riders must stay seated. Do not get up from your seat until the bus has come to a complete stop and the brake has been set. Moving from seat to seat is not allowed.
2. Student riders must act in a safe manner.
• To prevent choking, do not eat or drink on the bus.
• Do not block the aisle; items brought on the bus must be held in the student’s lap.
• Load and unload at the correct location and in a safe manner.
• Keep all portions of their body inside the bus.
• Do not tamper with school bus safety equipment or emergency exits.
• Do not cause the driver to be distracted while the bus is moving. Do not shine any bright light or a reflection of the sun at the driver.
3. Student riders should conduct themselves in a manner that respects the rights of others.
• No excessive noise (talk quietly); be courteous to students, driver and/or attendant; no profanity, vulgar language or gestures.
• No writing on or destruction of property.
• No threatening or sexual harassment of others.
• Obey the driver’s instructions immediately; no arguing with driver.
4. Student riders should not harm anyone.
• Do not throw anything within the bus or out of the window of the bus.
• No wrestling, spitting, fighting, pushing and/or shoving.
• Do not display or use any sharp or pointed object.
• Do not ignite any flame while on the bus.
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B. Bus Safety Interaction
School bus drivers are provided with training on methods of student management with the intent to improve safety and rider comfort. Drivers are expected to discuss and inform students of the expectations of safe riders. Each safety infraction has an effect on the overall safety of all riders on the bus since such disruptive conduct causes the driver’s attention to be taken away from the tasks of driving the bus.
• Drivers are expected to make on-the-spot corrections and utilize various student management techniques, such as reassigning student seating, coaching, counseling, and/or training individuals or groups of students.
• Drivers are encouraged to contact the parent/guardian to help effect the proper change in student behavior.
• However, the student must act appropriately and safely. Failure to do so will result in reports made to the administrator to assist in attaining the appropriate behavioral change.
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C. Consequences of Student Rider Safety Infractions
Student Code of Conduct and bus safety infractions will be reported for the appropriate corrective action. The results of the investigation will be related to the student and parent/guardian.
• Failure to correct the unsafe behavior will result in a warning being written and the parent/guardian notified of the unsafe behavior for Intermediate and Middle School bus riders. However, if the behavior is a determined to be deliberate in an attempt to distract the driver, the student may receive a Code of Conduct report or referral that could result in the suspension of transportation privileges.
• Failure to correct the unsafe behavior for Elementary and High School bus riders will result in a referral being written that could result in the suspension of transportation privileges
• Elementary and High School referrals are handled by the campus administrator(s).
• The Office of Transportation will handle the 1st referral for Intermediate and Middle School bus riders. The 2nd and 3rd referral will be handled by the student’s campus administrator(s).
• Generally, consequences will follow the guidelines below:
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Pre-K to 4th Grade |
5th to 8th Grade |
9th to 12th Grade |
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Options for Consequences |
Options for Consequences |
Options for Consequences |
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The Office of Transportation will recommend a consequence for the Elementary students; however, the Campus Administrator makes the final decision. |
Drivers will issue warnings for un-safe behavior. (No more than 2 written warnings are allowed.) Transportation will contact the parent or guardian when a warning has been issued. The warning process may be by-passed if the behavior warrants such action. All Code of Conduct issues will be sent to the Campus Administrator for action.
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The Office of Transportation will recommend a consequence for the High School students; however, the Campus Administrator makes the final decision. |
First Referral
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Consequences vary for each infraction. Campus Administrator(s) speak with students about the incident before making their final decision on a consequence. If there are any discrepancies with what was written on the referral, they call Transportation. Transportation checks out the discrepancy and relates the information to the Administrator so that the student receives the proper consequence. In the case of Code of Conduct violations, the video tape is made available to the Administrator(s).
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The Office of Transportation will give the consequence and notify the parent/guardian. Consequences vary for each infraction, but everything will be considered pertaining to the student involved. At the time of the phone call please make us aware of anything else that needs to be considered that we may be unaware of. This information will help in ensuring that the student receives the proper consequence for their unsafe behavior.
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Consequences vary for each infraction. Campus Administrator will speak with students about the incident before making their final decision on a consequence. If there are any discrepancies with what was written on the referral, they call Transportation. Transportation checks out the discrepancy and relates the information to the Administrator so that the student receives the proper consequence. In the case of Code of Conduct violations, the video tape is made available to the Administrator(s).
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Second Referral
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Campus Administrator
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Third Referral
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Off the bus for the remainder of the school year.
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Off the bus for the remainder of the school year.
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Fourth Referral
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Not applicable
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Not applicable |
Fifth Referral
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Off the bus for the remainder of the school year.
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* Campus Administrator will select the most effective consequences.
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D. Notes concerning consequences
1. Student misconduct may warrant immediate suspension of bus riding privileges for a period of up to 3 days while the event is investigated. The Transportation Director or campus administrator may invoke an immediate suspension of bus riding privileges at any time due to a severe situation. A reasonable effort will be made to notify the parent/guardian prior to any such temporary suspension.
2. Behavior that is reported by the bus driver will also be reviewed for appropriate Student Code of Conduct investigation and action.
3. Misconduct, which results in damage to school bus property, will require restitution by the student or parent/guardian. The student may be suspended from riding until arrangements for restitution are completed. Other Student Code of Conduct consequences may also be imposed.
4. If a bus riding suspension is assigned to a student and that student acts in a manner resulting in another Bus Safety Report prior to the beginning of the suspension, the automatic consequence assigned will be the suspension extended by the maximum number of days noted for the next level of infraction.
5. Transportation managers are available to assist campus administrators in resolving issues with the student/parent/guardian. If an issue is an unresolvable at the campus level, appeals will be reviewed at the Transportation Office. Normally consequences will remain in effect unless there is new information which significantly alters the original report made by the driver, or shows conclusively that the student was erroneously identified.
6. Normally school and bus riding suspensions will apply concurrently. Therefore, acts of physical violence will normally result in 3 days of suspension, even if this is the first or second infraction.
A special note to Parents and Guardians:
Thank you for helping us to provide your student with a safe, comfortable and pleasant ride to or from their campus. Parental support for proper student behavior is an important aspect of this process and is deeply appreciated by our drivers and staff.
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