Hours & Transportation

Many of our students travel to and from school by yellow bus. Consequently, bus safety is an area of concern. WHether students travel by school bus or use the public transit system, there are certain general rules that should be followed. Parents/guardians can assist the school and yellow bus drivers in attempting to ensure that students travel safely by stressing the following:

• The driver is in full charge of the bus. Students must obey the driver promptly.
• Students must be on time. The bus will not wait for those who are not on time.
• Students should occupy the space designated for them by the bus driver (sit where they are told to sit).
• Students should avoid any unnecessary conversations with the bus driver.
• Safety requires that students do not lean from the windows or extend their hands from the windows.
• When the bus is in motion, students must not change seats. Students should remain seated at all times.
• Courtesy and respect should be shown to fellow passengers, persons along the route, and the bus driver.
• Parents, if your child is having an issue on the bus, please contact the school and/or the bus company. PLEASE DO NOT CONFRONT THE BUS DRIVER.

The following serious safety infractions will cause a student to be IMMEDIATELY removed from the bus. Consequences may range from students receiving a 3 day suspension to removal from the bus for the remainder of the year:

• Threatening behavior/fighting
• Possession of weapons/objects used as weapons 
• Jumping or leaning out of, or throwing things from the window or emergency exit
• Tampering with bus equipment

The school bus company has the following bus conduct policy. Parents/guardians should read this policy and discuss it with their children. The intent of this policy is to ensure that students who are transported by bus travel safely to and from school.

STEP 1 - Students who misbehave will receive a bus conduct report. A copy of the report will be sent to the parent/guardian by mail and the student will receive a copy to take home. The initial report serves as a warning that a problem exists. Parents/guardians will then have an opportunity to discuss the situation with their child(ren). Parents/guardians may request a bus meeting with the superintendent and the bus driver or supervisor from the bus company.

STEP 2 - Students who continue to misbehave will receive a second misconduct report informing their parent/guardian that the problems are continuing. A copy of the report will be sent to the parent/guardian by mail and the student will receive a copy of the report to take home. If another bus incident happens, their bus privileges will be suspended for three days (see step 3). Parents/guardians may request a bus meeting with the superintendent and the bus driver or supervisor from the bus company.

STEP 3 - Students who receive a third misconduct report will have their bus privileges suspended for three days. Parents/guardians may request a bus meeting with the superintendent and the bus driver or supervisor from the bus company. Alternative transportation arrangements will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

STEP 4 - Students who receive a fourth misconduct report will have bus privileges suspended for one week. Parents/guardians will be contacted for a mandatory meeting because the next incident will result in bus privileges being suspended for the remainder of the current quarter. This mandatory meeting will be attended by the parents/guardians, the superintendent and the bus driver or supervisor from the bus company. Alternative transportation arrangements will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

NOTE: Home instruction is not available for students who have been suspended from the bus. Parents/guardians must provide transportation back and forth to school. Missing school due to being suspended from the bus is an unexcused absence and counts toward truancy.

Alternative Transportation

If the need arises for a student to use an alternative form of transportation for any reason, a note must be written by a parent/guardian indicating this change. For example, if a student who is a car rider is going to be a walker for the day, a written note must be sent in or else the child will not be allowed to walk. If the need arises for a bus rider to use an alternative form of transportation for any reason, a note must be written by the parent/guardian indicating the change and alternative form of transportation. If a written note has not been received by the classroom/homeroom teacher and the school office, the child will be placed on the bus. These notes must be given to the homeroom teacher upon arrival at school.