Safety is a department priority; therefore, proper conduct on school buses by all transported students is required. Transportation is a privilege granted to students contingent upon the exhibition of proper behavior, therefore, the WDCSD has established transportation student behavior guidelines which apply to all students. Each student and their parent/guardian is responsible for the behavior of the student before, after & while on school provided transportation.
A student’s privilege to ride the school bus or in school provided transportation may be suspended or revoked. Revocation of a student’s bus riding privilege is not considered an exclusion, expulsion, or suspension from school. The district does not provide alternative transportation for a student that has lost his/her riding privilege. Decisions regarding special education students will take into account their IEP needs/requirements.
Parents are also responsible for their child’s behavior while they are at their designated bus stop. These riding rules apply there as well as in line up at school.
These bus rules have been established for all students to follow to insure a safe ride for all.
1. Respect the bus driver, other students, property and themselves.
2. Obey the bus driver’s instructions/directions the first time given.
3. Keep hands and feet off other people and their property.
4. Sit while the bus is in motion.
5. Speak only to those around them in conversational (inside) voices using respectful words.
6. Communicate any problems or conflicts with the bus driver.
To ensure the safety of all students, the following guidelines have been established to respond to students that interfere with the safety of others on WDCSD provided transportation.
LEVEL 1
o Failure to follow driver’s directions
Standing, not facing forward, while bus is moving
o Boarding/exiting at other than assigned stop
o Excessive noise or misbehavior
o Horseplay (ie. Playing corners, throwing snow, chanting loudly)
o Food or drink on bus outside of driver & state standards
o Other forms of misbehavior that, in the view of the bus driver, create a safety concern.
Consequences:
Driver will contact parent & transportation supervisor to alert them of continued issue on bus before a written warning is issued.
First Offense: Written warning and up to 3 day bus suspension
Second Offense: Written warning and up to 5 day bus suspension
Third Offense: Considered Level 2
LEVEL 2
o Threatening comments
o Disrespecting others
o Possession or use of anything that may be considered a weapon
o Running beside a moving bus
o Distracting the driver
o Use of obscene or profane actions / language
o Extending any body parts out of the window while bus is moving
o Throwing or shooting objects
o Vandalism of school or student property
o Inappropriate use of electronic devices
Consequences:
Driver will contact parent & transportation supervisor to alert them of continued issue on bus
First Offense: Written warning and up to five (5) day bus suspension
Second Offense: Written warning and up to thirty (30) day bus suspension
Third Offense: Considered Level 3
LEVEL 3
o Possession of tobacco (including e-cigs), alcohol or illegal drugs
o Possession of a weapon (including look a likes & toys), ammunition, or fire
o Assault, violence toward bus driver or student(s)
o Confirmed case of bullying
o Flagrant disregard for safety
Consequences:
Driver will contact parent & transportation supervisor to alert them of continued issue on bus
First Offense: Minimum thirty (30) day bus suspension up to suspension of bus riding privilege for the remainder of the school year and referral to school office for additional disciplinary action.
This information serves as notice to parents that safety is of the highest priority of WDCSD Transportation Department. These steps are in place to respond to behaviors that create a hazard to safe transportation.
Parents are urged to review this information with their children, establish their own expectations for safe behavior while on school provided transportation, and ensure that students are aware of the WDCSD expectations for student behavior as stated above.
(5/23/2017).