1.

Bus Drivers will maintain their posted schedule as accurately as possible.   Students should be at their bus stop ten (10) minutes prior to scheduled pick up time.   Drivers will not wait for tardy students.  If you child misses the bus you must transport him/her to school. Unexpected traffic, road detours, road closures and weather may impact the arrival times at bus stops.

2.

It is the parent’s responsibility to get their child to a bus stop.

3.

A bus can not stop at each house that it travels by.  Due to the extensive number of children WPS provides transportation for and time constraints, this is not possible.  All stops are designed and approved as safe stops and fall well within the school committee policy guidelines.

4.

It is the normal practice that all students are assigned to only one bus in the a.m. and p.m. whenever possible.  Students must get on and off their designated bus everyday, unless their route has been designed differently.

5.

Only authorized bus riders shall be permitted to ride a school bus to and from school.  Permission must be obtained from the building principal and/or the transportation coordinator before a rider may ride a different bus.  Requests for a bus change must be submitted in writing and will be considered only in case of unforeseen child care or family emergency situations.

6.

7.

All students are to use their assigned bus stops only.  Do not ask the bus driver to stop at places other than the designated stop.  Any concerns or requests must be directed to the Transportation Coordinator, not to the driver.

8.

Your child must be at their stop when the bus arrives.   It is unsafe to “chase” the bus or try and catch the bus at another stop. If your child misses the bus, it is the parent’s responsibility to take your child to school.

9.

Kindergarten students - All Kindergarten students must be met at the bus stop.  If someone is not at the bus stop to meet the student, the child will be returned to school.  If someone other than the designated person is going to meet your child, please notify the child’s school office so that the transportation office and bus driver can be notified.  If someone other than the designated person is at the bus stop for your child and the bus driver does not know who this person is and was not notified of this change, the child will be kept on the bus and returned to school.  If your child is returned to school you will be notified by telephone to come to pick up your child.  If there is no answer at home, those people on your emergency contact list will be called.  It is vitally important that you keep your emergency contact list names and telephone numbers current.  It is equally important that you keep your home telephone and address current on all school records.

10.

Both students and parents should wait on the side of the road 3 giant steps from the roadway in a safe area.   Standing or playing in the middle of the street creates a hazard for pedestrians, traffic and oncoming school buses.  Always wait until the bus is completely stopped before walking toward the bus.

11.

Parents or students should not move toward the bus at the loading zone until the bus has come to a complete stop and the door has opened.

12.

Students should be reminded to respect the homeowner’s property at the bus stop.

13.

Large projects and large instruments - Students bringing large projects or large instruments to and from school that can not be properly secured by the student while on the bus, need to be transported both ways by their parents.

14.

Skateboards or “Heelys” are not permitted on the bus at any time.

15.

Parents are reminded not to crowd the bus stop with personal vehicles. This poses a danger by obstructing traffic and blocking drivers’ views.

16.

Park all cars legally - 25 feet back from the intersection. Do not park in the wrong direction.  

17.

Do not pull any vehicle directly behind a bus and release your child to run alongside the bus.

18.

Do not block the area that the bus makes its designated bus stop. Do not block the driveways of the property owners at the stop. Do not block walkways or mailboxes. 

1.

Students should remain seated at all times.

2.

Students should cooperate with the bus driver by following their directions at all times.

3.

Students should keep their head, hands and feet to themselves and inside the bus at all times.

4.

There is NO Eating and/or Drinking on the bus at any time.

5.

Students should talk quietly while riding on the bus. 

6.

When the driver's hand is up, no talking.

7.

If the school principal institutes seating assignments, the students are expected to follow the seating assignments.

8.

Students, who must cross the road to board or depart from the bus, should only cross in front of the bus only on the signal of the bus driver.

9.

Students are expected to line up in single file to pass in or out of the bus.  Crowding and pushing is not permitted.

10.

All backpacks are to be worn on and off the bus.  While riding, backpacks are to be taken off and kept on your lap and should remain closed.

11.

Students are expected to respect homeowner’s property at the bus stop and traveling to the bus stop.

12.

Aisles are to be kept free from backpacks, books, lunch boxes, etc. (musical instruments must fit and be placed under a seat, or held during the bus trip).

13.

Students are expected to be courteous – bullying, name calling, inappropriate or profane language is unacceptable behavior.

14.

* Tampering with safety or emergency bus equipment, or exit is unacceptable behavior.

15.

* Throwing any object on the bus, at the bus or out of the bus is unacceptable behavior.

16.

* Physical conflict - aggressive and/or physical conduct - hitting, punching, fighting, etc. are unacceptable behaviors.

17.

* Destruction of bus property is unacceptable behavior.

*

THE UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK MAY RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE BUS SUSPENSION.

1.

The first formal referral for misconduct on the school bus shall result in a bus conduct report being sent home.  Further disciplinary action may be taken if warranted at this time.

2.

If a second formal referral for misconduct is generated, the child may receive loss of recess time, after school detention time, in-school suspension time, or a suspension from the bus.  The length of this suspension time will be determined by the school principal or his/her designee’s and will range from one to five days depending upon the nature and severity of the offense.

3.

The third offence may result in a longer suspension.

4.

If a child continues to present disciplinary problems on the school bus, school administrators may consider revoking transportation via the school bus for a determined period of time as recommended by the building principal/designee and or as designated in the school handbook.

5.

If in the opinion of the Building Principal or his/her designee a child's conduct seriously jeopardizes the health and safety of the school bus driver and pupils on the bus the Building Principal or his/her designee may immediately suspend the said child from the bus.

Note

When a child is suspended from the school bus, they will not be permitted to ride the regular bus or the after school bus.  It will be the responsibility of the parents to transport the child to and from school safely.