Buses — Conduct on School Buses and Consequences for Misbehavior**

**Notice required by policy.

Riding the school bus is a privilege, not a right. The school district’s general student behavior rules are in effect for all students on school buses, including nonpublic and charter school students. The school district will not provide transportation for students whose transportation privileges have been revoked.

The school district is committed to transporting students in a safe and orderly manner. To accomplish this, student riders are expected to follow school district rules for waiting at a school bus stop and rules for riding on a school bus.

While waiting for the bus or after being dropped off at a school bus stop, all students must comply with the following rules:

• Get to the bus stop five minutes before your scheduled pick-up time. The school bus driver will not wait for late students.
• Respect the property of others while waiting at the bus stop.
• Keep your arms, legs, and belongings to yourself.
• Use appropriate language.
• Stay away from the street, road, or highway when waiting for the bus.
• Wait until the bus stops before approaching the bus.
• After getting off the bus, move away from the bus.
• If you must cross the street, always cross in front of the bus where the driver can see you. Wait for the driver to signal to you before crossing the street.
• No fighting, harassment, intimidation, or horseplay.
• No use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

While riding a school bus, all riders must comply with the following rules:

• Follow the driver’s directions at all times.
• Pupils should go immediately to a seat and sit down properly with feet out of the aisle and not change seats while the bus is in motion.
• Remain seated facing forward while the bus is in motion.
• Talk quietly and use appropriate language.
• Keep all parts of your body inside the bus.
• Keep arms, legs, and belongings to yourself and out of the aisle.
• No fighting, harassment, intimidation, or horseplay.
• Do not throw any object.
• No eating, drinking, or use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
• Students may eat candy or chew gum if the bus driver permits, but this privilege may be revoked at any time.
• Do not bring any weapons or dangerous objects on the school bus.
• Do not damage the school bus.
• Students should not board the bus until the driver or other school employee is present, unless special permission has been obtained.
• The bus runs on a schedule and the driver has been asked not to wait for late-comers.  On activity bus trips, the teacher in charge will determine the bus departure time. Bus seating may be changed or assigned at any time at the discretion of the bus driver or by the teacher (on an activity trip).
• Students who go on an activity trip must return by the same transportation. This requirement may be waived if a parent makes a direct request to the principal/administrative assistant or coach.  Even if a request is granted, no student will be left behind if the agreed upon adult is not present to meet the advisor and take charge of the student.
• No pets will be allowed in the bus at any time.  Please do not allow unrestrained pets to wander as the bus picks up and drops of your child.  We are not responsible for any harm to an unrestrained pet.

Consequences for school bus/bus stop misconduct will be imposed by the school district under adopted administrative discipline procedures. All school bus/bus stop misconduct will be reported to the school district’s transportation safety director. Serious misconduct may be reported to local law enforcement.