MINOR (Level I) OFFENSES When dealing with minor rule infractions, all bus drivers will follow and document the steps taken in the 3-step process before submitting a referral for local school administrative action.
PREVENTION a. Mandatory seat assignment Permanent assignments should be made during the first week of transportation. b. Reading of school bus rules c. Verbal reminder Remind the student of the bus rule(s) not being followed.
2. INTERVENTION a. Speak individually with student Remind student of expectations based on bus rules. b. REASSIGN BUS SEAT Separate students involved in inappropriate behavior. c. COMMUNICATION WITH PARENT/GUARDIAN Bus manager attempts to notify parent by phone or with a written notice of the student’s inappropriate behavior and requests assistance in retaining safe transportation for everyone.
3. CONSEQUENCE o JCSS Bus Discipline Form submitted to school administrator
MAJOR (Level II & III) OFFENSES These are violations for which the consequence is either major or severe. These will apply steps 1 and 2.
JCSS SCHOOL BUS RULES
1) Students will follow directions of the driver.
2) Students should be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus arrives, waiting in a safe place, clear of traffic and 12 feet from where the bus stops.
3) Students will wait in an orderly line and avoid playing.
4) Students will cross the roadway in front of the bus after the bus has stopped, they have looked at the driver for a hand signal, and they have looked in both directions for traffic; left, right, left.
5) Students will signal the driver with a waving motion if something is dropped and wait for the driver to give a signal before picking up object.
6) Students will go directly to assigned seat when entering the bus. Keep the aisles and exits clear.
7) Students will remain properly seated, back against the back of the seat, bottom against the bottom of the seat, and keep hands to themselves.
8) Students will not eat, drink, chew gum, or bring tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or any controlled substances on the bus.
9) Students will not carry animals, glass objects, nuisance items, hazardous materials, or weapons onto the bus. Students may carry only objects that can be held in their laps.
10) Students will refrain from using loud voices, profanity, and/or obscene gestures, and respect the rights and safety of others.
11) Students will not extend head, arms, or objects out of the bus windows.
12) Students will be totally silent at railroad crossings.
13) Students will stay seated until time to get off the bus. The open door is the signal to get up from the bus seat.
14) Students must provide a written note, signed by a parent/guardian to the school and a school official will provide a bus pass giving permission to ride a different bus or to get on or off at a different bus stop location. In the event of an emergency, a bus pass will be issued by a school official only.
15) Students will keep their bus clean and in good, safe condition.
16) Students shall be prohibited from using any electronic devices during the loading and unloading of a school bus, including but not limited to cell phones, pagers, radios, tape or compact disc players; or any other electronic device in a manner that might interfere with the school bus communication equipment or the school bus driver’s operation of the school bus. The bus driver may allow the wearing of headphones with an audio system on a case-by-case basis if it is in accord with the local school rules but not while loading and unloading.
17) Students shall be prohibited from using mirrors, lasers, flash cameras, or any other lights or reflective devices in a manner that might interfere with the school bus driver’s operation of the school bus.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES (For additional information, contact your Transportation)
All students transported on JCSS school buses are required to receive instruction in emergency evacuation procedures. Bus drivers will read aloud to students the emergency evacuation procedures on the first day of school and will conduct monthly simulated evacuation drills to reinforce the safety of students being transported. Students are to be evacuated from the bus only when they are in more danger on the bus than they would be outside the bus. Parents, teachers, and school administrators are urged to help instill in students the importance of participating in the simulated bus evacuation drills and taking the drills seriously. A minimum of one physical drill will be performed annually.
Guidelines that students are required to follow during an emergency evacuation:
1. Students should leave all personal items on the bus.
2. Students should unload one seat at a time.
3. If possible, students are to exit through the front and rear doors simultaneously.
4. Students seated in front of the red line will exit through the front door. All students should follow helper # 1, who will open the front door and lead students at a 45-degree angle away from the door side of the bus.
5. Students seated behind the red line will exit from the rear emergency door. Helper #2 will open the emergency door, exit and hold the door open. 6. Helpers #3 and #4 wi11 exit the bus; hold one arm upward making a fist for the other students to hold on to for balance as they bend their knees and jump to the ground from the rear exit. (This procedure is for middle and high school students only.)
7. All elementary school students should sit down, hold helpers' fist, and scoot down to the ground. Students in other grade levels may choose to sit down to exit the rear of the bus.
8. If students cannot exit through the rear door, everyone should exit via the front door of the bus.
9. If students cannot exit through the front bus door, everyone should exit through the rear door. After evacuating the bus, students should move 100 feet away and stay together until permission is given by a police officer or a person from JCSS to leave the area.
Additional Emergency Exits include: -Roof hatch -Side push out windows -Windshields and other windows encased black rubber gaskets
STUDENT BUS STOP ASSIGNMENT
Students are automatically assigned to the bus stop closest to the home address. Students that do not use their assigned stop will be given a letter to the parent that will inform the parent that their child is using a stop other than the assigned stop. Students should arrive at their bus stop 5 minutes prior to the bus arrival and wait 12 feet from the stop. Any student not at bus stop three days in a row will not be picked up until a call is made to the Transportation office.
ALTERNATE BUS STOP REGISTRATION
Parents are required to register students for alternate transportation when the student is to be transported daily by a JCSS bus to a location other than the home address bus stop. The most common reason for alternate transportation is childcare, either to a day care center or to the home of a private provider where alternate transportation is required all 5 days of the week. To schedule transportation for students who need to be picked up and/or delivered to an alternate location, schools must receive a written note from the parent/guardian.