7130  R&P STUDENT SAFETY AND CONDUCT WHILE ON STUDENT TRANSPORTATION  7130 R&P

A.      Expectations of students:

1.       Students are expected to:

·   Cooperate with the principal, teacher, and bus driver.

·   Ride only their assigned bus and board and disembark at their assigned stops.

·   Follow the rules and regulations of riding a public school bus, in accordance with the Parent Contract.

·   Enter the bus in an orderly and quiet manner.

·   Sit in assigned seats without being reminded.

·   Remain seated and facing front at all times.

·   Keep hands, arms, heads and other objects inside the bus at all times.

·   Sit with feet on the floor and book bag and hands in lap.

·   Abide by the requests of the driver and follow all school and county rules and regulations.

·   Not consume food or drinks.

·   Be respectful to the driver and other students at all times.

2.       A “Parent Contract” form is available to school administrators for use in ensuring that student conduct expectations are communicated clearly between parents and administrators.  The form is attached to this R&P and is available on the Transportation Department web site.

B.      Responsibilities of school administrators:

1.       The principal or designee shall ensure that all passengers assigned to a school bus for transportation are informed through classroom instruction (in elementary grades), supervision, and otherwise, of the responsibility of the individual passenger for conduct and safety. 

2.       The principal shall inform parents of each bus passenger as to the responsibilities of bus passengers.   

C.      Expectations of bus drivers:

1.       Bus drivers will obey all applicable traffic laws, and:

·   Not use cell phones or texting while vehicles are in motion.

·   Follow the no-idling policy.

·   Conduct pre-trip inspections of bus.

·   Inspect bus at end of each run to ensure that no students are left on the bus, and to utilize the “little bus” sign to indicate completion of the inspection.

2.       Bus drivers are expected to:

·   Pick up students at the same time each morning.

·   Wait to be directed by school personnel before dismissing students from the bus upon arriving at school.

·   Arrive at schools at the scheduled time each afternoon.

·   Wait for a signal from school personnel before leaving the campus.

·   Ensure that students are orderly and seated before leaving campus.

·   Use WCPSS Bus Discipline Report to write up inappropriate student behavior.

·   Be professional in actions with students, parents and school administrators.

D.      Inclement weather:

1.       In the event of a severe weather or winter storm warning, the Superintendent and Transportation Department staff will survey conditions, consult with Wake County Emergency Management, law enforcement, municipal transportation officials, as well as media weather reports.

2.       If the Superintendent determines that the daily school schedule must be changed due to inclement weather, the following actions may be taken:

·   Maintain normal hours.

·   Cancel school before school day begins.

·   Close schools early.`

·   Delay school opening.

·   Shelter students at school until weather improves.

·   Note: once the school day has begun, a decision to dismiss early must consider the time available to notify parents and to recall bus drivers.

3.       If the Superintendent decides to change the school schedule due to inclement weather, principals and the media will be informed of the decision as soon as possible.

E.      Lost child:

1.       If a student has not arrived home within a reasonable period after the expected time, the parent or guardian should contact the transportation District Operations Manager.

·   District Operations managers’ contact information is on the Transportation Department web site under “Whom to Call”.

·   If after 5:30 PM, parents should contact the central dispatcher at 856-8066 or 856-8050.

·   If the parent or guardian contacts the principal or designee, the District Operations Manager should be notified immediately, or if after 5:30 PM, the central dispatcher.

·   The Transportation Operations Manager, after contacting the bus driver and the school administrators, will notify the appropriate police authorities if a search for the child is warranted.

2.       In the event that a student were to be found on the bus after the student’s stop or school, or at the end of the run, then the child will be returned to the school or the district office.

·   The driver will immediately notify the District Operations Manager.

·   The District Operations Manager will notify the school principal and the parents as soon as possible, and make arrangements for the child to return to home or to school.

6. Accident reporting:
1. The driver must immediately report any accident to the transportation supervisor.
2. The transportation supervisor will contact the principal or a school administrator.
3. Principals will establish a communication means to notify parents of an accident involving their child.
4. The principal will follow up with an accident notification letter to parents of students who rode a school bus involved in an accident.

WCPSS Families:

In an effort to keep students safe on buses (includes contract vehicles) and to operate our buses as efficiently as possible, we want to make sure parents and students understand the current policy regarding school buses as outlined in the Student/Parent Handbook.   Students are expected to be considerate of the safety and well-being of themselves and fellow students at bus stops and on buses.  Please obey the following:

• Show respect and obey the driver at all times.  Do not distract the driver while he/she is driving. 
• At the bus stop, stay out of the street and be respectful of the property around the bus stop.  (Arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes before the bus arrives so that the bus does not have to wait.)
• Always walk when getting on and off the bus; no pushing or crowding.
• Talk quietly without yelling or using bad language.
• Stay in assigned seat and keep body parts and objects out of the aisles and in bus at all times.
• Keep the bus clean and pick up any dropped trash.
• Do not damage the bus or tamper with equipment or emergency door.
• Keep your hands to yourself.  No fighting or horseplay.
• Keep food and drinks in book bag.  Do no eat or drink on the bus.
• Ride only the bus to which you are assigned.  Get on/off the bus only at your assigned stop.
• Parents, please supervise students at bus stops as appropriate based on age.
• Parents, address bus issues through your school office or WCPSS Transportation Department.  (Parents may not board buses or discuss issues with the drivers during the route.)

Bus seats are assigned to use the buses to capacity while maintaining a comfortable ride for students.  Therefore, students may only ride their assigned bus and may only board and exit buses at their assigned stop.  Parents are expected to arrange private transportation if their children need to go somewhere else other than home after school.  While we recognize that this may be an inconvenience and that there has been inconsistency in applying this long-standing policy, it is in your child’s best interest that we work together for safe transportation to and from school. 

Changes to a bus route or location of a bus stop should be addressed using the Transportation Service Request Form, which can be obtained from your child’s school or on the transportation website, http://www.wcpss.net/transportation/forms.html.   The Transportation Department will review requests and follow-up with parents.

If your child does not follow the above expectations, disciplinary action may be taken, up to and including removal from the bus.  Even if your child will only ride the bus for field trips, please sign and return this form to your school.  Upon request, a copy will be returned to you.  Thank you for your support and cooperation!

Principal’s Name (or Assistant Principal – whoever handles bus issues)

Title

We have discussed the information above, and we agree to treat bus riding as a privilege and not a right. 

__________________________________             ____________________________________

Student’s Name (please print)                             Bus Route

__________________________________             ____________________________________

Student’s Signature                                            School & Homeroom Teacher

__________________________________             ____________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Signature                               Date