BUS CONDUCT

Policy #6605 and Procedure #6605

The superintendent or designee will establish written rules of conduct for students riding school buses. Such rules will include as a minimum, the requirements of WAC 392-145-021 and will be reviewed annually by the superintendent or designee and revised if necessary. If the rules are substantially revised, they shall be submitted to the board for approval. 

At the beginning of each school year, a copy of the rules of conduct for students riding buses will be provided to each student who is scheduled to ride a school bus. The bus driver will review the rules with the students at or near the beginning of each school year. A copy of the rules is available on the Ephrata School District website and upon request in the Transportation Office.

Any misconduct by a student, which in the opinion of the bus driver or transportation director, is detrimental to the safe operation of the bus will be enough cause for the principal to suspend the transportation privilege. 

Rules of conduct for students riding buses: 

1. Students will obey the driver and any aide assigned to the bus by the district. The driver is in full charge of the bus and passengers and will be obeyed. If an aide is assigned to the bus by the district, they shall be responsible for the safe operation of the bus. When transporting classes or teams, the teacher or coach shall be primarily responsible for the behavior of the students. Students shall obey both the driver and the teacher, coach, or other staff member.
2. Students shall be at their designated bus stop five minutes before their scheduled pick up time.
3. Students will ride only on their assigned bus unless written permission to do otherwise has been received by school officials. 
4. Students will not be permitted to leave the bus except at their regular stop unless written permission to do otherwise is received by school officials. 
5. Students assigned to seats will use only that seat unless permission to change is authorized by the driver. 
6. Students will observe rules of classroom conduct while riding on buses. Noise will be kept down to avoid distracting the driver. Students will refrain from the use of obscene language or gestures. 
7. Students will not smoke or ignite lighters or matches on buses. 
8. Students will not eat on buses, except when specifically authorized and supervised by an accompanying teacher, coach, or other staff member. Buses shall be kept clean. 
9. Students will not open bus windows without the driver's permission. 
10. Students will not extend any part of their body out of bus windows at any time. 
11. Students will not carry or have in their possession items that can cause injury to passengers on the bus. Such items include, but are not limited to, sticks, breakable containers, weapons or firearms, straps or pins protruding from clothing, large, bulky items which cannot be held or placed between legs, etc. Books and personal belongings shall be kept out of aisles. 
12. Students will not have animals on buses, except one that is aiding a disabled student. 
13. Students will not sit in the driver's seat or to the immediate right or left of the driver. 
14. Students will refrain from talking to the driver unless necessary. 
15. Students will always go directly to a seat once inside the bus and remain seated unless the driver instructs otherwise. 
16. Students will get on / off the bus in an orderly manner and will obey the instructions of the driver or school safety persons on duty. There will be no pushing and shoving when boarding or leaving the bus. Once off the bus, students will adhere to rules for pedestrians. 
17. Students will never cross the roadway behind a bus unless they use pedestrian crosswalks or traffic lights. 
18. Students will stand away from the roadway curb when any bus is approaching or leaving a stop. 
19. Students going to and from their bus stops where there are no sidewalks will walk on the left-hand side of the roadway facing oncoming traffic. Students will go directly to their home after leaving the bus. 
20. Students will use lap belts on buses when available. 
21. Students will follow emergency exit drill procedures as prescribed by the driver. 
22. Students will not tamper with emergency doors or equipment. 
23. Students will remain quietly seated, not exhibit disruptive behavior and turn off all noise- making devices at highway rail grade crossings. 
24. Parents of students identified as causing damage to buses will be charged with the cost of the incurred damage. Students causing the damage may be suspended from transportation. 
25. Student misconduct will constitute sufficient reason for suspending transportation privileges. 

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES FOR BUS INCIDENTS

Principals are responsible for correcting students whose abusive behavior results in a bus- incident report or violates the rules above. The principal shall provide supervision during bus arrival and departure times and receive reports (written and oral) from the drivers. The principal will ensure that students comply with the specified regulations. Principals must maintain open lines of communication among school officials, bus drivers and the transportation department. 

When waiting for a bus, or going to and from a bus stop, students must not abuse or cause damage to private or public property; they must not use obscene language or gestures; they must not engage in criminal activity. Failure to adhere to these standards may result in formal complaints by citizens which may be forwarded to principals for possible corrective action. 

Students provided with transportation are responsible for complying with the district's rules of conduct for students riding buses. Failure to adhere to these rules, or abusive behavior towards the public, driver, fellow passengers or the vehicle constitutes justification for initiating corrective action against a student. 

Abusive behavior on the part of a student riding a bus may result in a written report when, in the opinion of the driver or transportation director, there has been an infraction of the rules applicable to student conduct. The written report is the primary means by which a driver or transportation director communicates a student's conduct to the school and transportation department. This report, in most cases, reflects an infraction of rules which is repeated by the student after having received previous oral warnings from the driver or transportation director. In order for drivers and transportation directors to effectively maintain control on their buses, it is expected that action be exercised by principals when receiving such a report. 

When a student's conduct constitutes an infraction of the rules, the driver will complete a report on the student describing the incident or damage that occurred. The driver will then submit the report to the transportation office for review. After review, the report will be sent to the school principal. 

The principal, upon receiving the report, will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and act according to the procedures set forth in the district’s policies pertaining to corrective action and punishment. When investigating the incident, the primary concern must be with respect to the safe transport of students. Corrective action, if necessary, should be consistent throughout the district as follows: 

• Warning: When a student’s misconduct is of a minor nature which does not jeopardize the safety or welfare of other students or the operation of the bus. 
   
• Suspension: When a student’s misconduct is deemed to jeopardize the safety of bus passengers and operation, or when repeated warning notices fail to correct abusive behavior, or when a student incurs damage to the bus. 
   
• Expulsion: When a student's misconduct is of such nature that the safety of the bus operation and / or of the occupants was willfully and seriously threatened (i.e., student assaulting the driver). 

The action taken by the principal will be annotated on the report and forwarded to the student's parent for signature. The transportation department will be notified. 

Drivers will be advised to file assault and battery charges against students who physically assault them. Under no circumstances will the driver retaliate in kind and physically assault the student as this conduct may subject them to legal action. 

The student or parent of a student who has been suspended from receiving transportation entitlements may appeal the principal's decision by submitting a written statement to the superintendent. The superintendent will render a decision after evaluating the issues and facts involved. If the decision is based on issues unrelated to those described in the district's rules of conduct for students riding buses, the decision will require board concurrence before implementation.