Transportation

We are pleased to be transporting your child to and from school this year. We are very proud of the safety record of our school buses and the professionalism of our transportation team. Please help us ensure your child’s safety by following these simple but important procedures: 

• Provide your child with a backpack or book bag. Loose papers or other items are dangerous as children get off the bus. 
• Check your child’s clothing for the presence of long drawstrings or other dangling items. Long drawstrings or other dangling items could get snagged in the bus door as the child gets off the bus and should be removed from clothing. 
• Make sure your child arrives at the designated bus stop five minutes early each day. Children who are late for the bus may panic and chase it, or run into the road. 
• Insist that your child wait for the bus safely in an orderly fashion, back from the
roadway. Behavior problems at the bus stop can create hazardous conditions. 
• When the bus arrives, your child should wait for the bus driver’s signal before
boarding. Children should board in single file. 
• Teach your child to sit quietly on the ride to and from school. Behavior problems could distract the bus driver and result in an accident. It is important that our drivers are able to concentrate on driving the route safely.

If anything makes your child feel unsafe at the bus stop or on the bus ride, please contact us at the transportation department, rather than trying to discuss it at the bus stop. 
Please review the Student Bus Conduct included in the mailing with each child to aid in enforcing  the expectations that will keep their ride safe. 

Student bus assignments will be mailed prior to the start of school. If there is any concern, change or questions please contact the Transportation Office. 

All students will be assigned to their home address at the start of each year. At dismissal your child will be sent to this location. If you would like to request that your child be sent to another location you will need to fill out the appropriate bus pass also included in this mailing. Please send or drop off Permanent bus passes to the Elementary Office prior to September 1. This will allow us time to process the request and make the appropriate arrangements.  

It is preferred that Daily bus passes be sent in with your child so that they are received early to be processed. Changes made by telephone are discouraged although we realize at times are necessary. All telephone changes should be placed before 1:00PM to help assure that all the necessary offices, teachers, staff and members of the transportation team are notified prior to dismissal to affect the change aiding in your child's wellbeing. 
We are deeply committed to the safety of your child as well as all children in our community. 

buses

Student Bus Conduct

The following guidelines shall govern student conduct on school buses: 

1. In general, school buses are extensions of the classroom, and standards of students conduct similar to those that apply in the classroom shall apply to conduct on school buses. 

2. The bus driver is in charge of the bus. The driver’s and/or bus attendant’s instructions are to be obeyed promptly by all passengers. Upon boarding the bus, students will select a seat and remain seated for the duration of the trip. Drivers may assign seats when they feel it is necessary. 

3. No students shall board a bus with an object which cannot be held on his or her lap or between his or her knees. Students shall not bring objects which are a potentially dangerous or distracting to other students or the driver. Prohibited objects include, but are not limited to, the following;

a. Glass objects 

b. Weapons 

c. Explosive devices 

d. Live animals 

e. Oversized musical instruments 

f. Oversized athletic equipment with the exception of lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, baseball and softball bats. 

g. In-line or roller skates, scooters and skateboards 

h. Decorative items suspended from backpack or article of clothing that are more than three inches in length. 

i. Balloons 

4. Students are required to report to their assigned bus and scheduled route unless the student has received prior authorization from a building administrator. All changes shall be submitted in writing by the student’s parent/guardian to the respective administrative office prior to 1:00 PM. 5. Students should walk directly and safely to their assigned bus stop and are to be there at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up. The bus is not required to wait. They should be dressed appropriately for the weather. Bright colors improve their visibility, especially in bad weather or during months with reduced daylight hours. 

6. Students should wait quietly at the stop and stay 15 feet away from the side of the road. When the bus is in sight, they should get in a single line, still 15 feet from the road. 

7. Once the bus has stopped and the bus driver signals them to load, they should proceed to cross or load directly in an orderly manner, walking not running, using the handrail. 

8. Student’s actions that have the effect of distracting the driver or otherwise interfering with the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle in a safe manner are prohibited. Such actions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Extending or throwing objects within or out of the bus 

b. Harassing or fighting with other passengers 

c. Extending head, hands, arms or legs out of the bus windows 

d. Operating or otherwise tampering with emergency exits* 

e. Eating, drinking, smoking, and using drugs or alcohol. 

f. Creating excessive noise, including verbal abuse of fellow passengers and the use of profanity. 

g. Causing damage to the vehicle (students responsible for damages will be billed for repair costs)* 

h. Tampering with the vehicle’s operating or safety controls*

 i. Obstructing the driver’s vision or impairing the driver’s ability to hear

 j. Threatening, verbally abusing, attacking or swearing at the driver or bus attendant 

*New York State Department of Transportation requires all school buses to be presented for a DOT safety inspection every 6 months. Each bus goes through an extensive, thorough inspection to assure that it meets all DOT standards before it is permitted to transport students. 

Destruction and abuse of the bus interior and safety equipment (seats, emergency door stickers, seat belts, emergency window handle etc.) not only cost the District to repair but compromises the safety of the bus at the time and puts the bus out of service per DOT regulations.