SMETHPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Smethport, Pennsylvania 16749 810 TRANSPORTATION PURPOSE Transportation for students shall be provided in accordance with law and the following guidelines. The Board shall contract for school bus services at regularly scheduled hours for the transportation of students to and from school and for athletic trips and field trips. Student transportation shall be provided to those school students who live beyond the area subscribed by the Board of School Directors as the distance for walking to their school. Students in the Smethport Area School District are encouraged to utilize district transportation. Within the limits of this policy, the Board will also provide transportation for students when the walking conditions to the school are found to be hazardous by the Department of Transportation. The Board intends to provide safe, legal and responsible transportation for school pupils. Therefore, the administration of the District shall establish regulations to ensure the safe, legal and responsible conveyance of school pupils to and from school. RESPONSIBILITIES The District Superintendent shall be responsible for the general supervision and administration of school transportation services. The Superintendent shall have the authority to supervise these services either directly or indirectly through delegation to other members of the administrative staff. The Superintendent is authorized to establish such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement Board Policy. The Superintendent or his designee shall: 1. Maintain such records and make such reports regarding school transportation as are required by the State Board of Education 2. Prepare contracts with the carriers to provide transportation for our students. Such contracts to include bus routes, duties, and the laws and regulations under which the buses are operated 3. Prepare a list of all drivers who qualify under the law and regulations and submit such a list to the Board for approval School Principal Responsibilities 1. The principal shall cooperate with the driver in every way possible in resolving disciplinary problems 2. The principal shall process disciplinary cases reported to him/her promptly in accordance with established policies, rules, and regulation of the District 3. The principal shall be responsible for the orderly loading and unloading of children at his/her school
Page 2 Bus Contractor Responsibilities The Contractor will ensure that: 1. No student shall ride the bus more than one hour 2. No student shall arrive at his assigned school later than twenty minutes after the beginning of the school day 3. No student shall be picked up at his assigned school later than twenty minutes after the scheduled student dismissal 4. Contracted school buses and other vehicles used in transporting students shall comply with all the specifications of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 4-500 series of the State Board of Education Regulations and 3202-3209 inclusive of Pennsylvania Public School Code 5. All vehicles must be properly insured and copies must be on file in the Board Secretary's office 6. The contractor will be responsible for providing transportation for field trips, athletic events, late buses, and other programs and events at a mutually agreed upon fee Bus Driver Responsibilities In addition to the following, the contractor is responsible for adhering to the following State Board of Education regulations, 4-300 and 4-320. 1. All regular and substitute drivers must be approved by the Smethport Area School District Board of Education 2. All drivers must hold a currently valid school bus operator's license 3. All drivers shall have and maintain a satisfactory driving record under the laws of this Commonwealth 4. A driver shall obtain medical approval for the use of drugs under prescription whenever such use might possibly affect his reaction in driving the bus 5. A driver shall, at all times while operating his bus, adhere and obey all traffic and driving laws of this Commonwealth, or any local laws or ordinances, or any special rules or regulations prescribed by the Smethport Area School District Board of Education 6. When a breakdown occurs, a driver shall immediately contact the contractor and the superintendent of schools as soon as possible. All safety precautions shall first be taken before a driver leaves his bus to make any such contact 7. A driver may assign each or any pupil a definite seat in his bus if he deems it necessary 8. A driver shall maintain order and discipline on the bus
Page 3 Bus Driver Responsibilities cont. 9. A disciplinary problem shall be reported by the driver to the principal on the day the problem arises or as soon as possible thereafter on the approved forms 10. A driver shall first determine that all traffic to the front and rear of his bus has stopped before discharging any pupil. He shall direct them across the front of the bus when they live to the left of the highway. Any deviation of this practice shall require approval of the superintendent of schools 11. A driver shall report in writing to the bus contractor and superintendent the following: A. any accident in which his bus is involved B. any possible hazard encountered C. any cause for failure to operate as scheduled D. any recommendation concerning road conditions, routes, or schedules 12. A driver shall conduct all required emergency drills 13. A driver shall abstain from the use of intoxicating beverages, profanity or indecent language, and smoking while driving the bus 14. A driver shall maintain the scheduled route, within the realm of safety, giving due regard and allowance for weather and road conditions 15. A driver shall wait for any pupil who is observed to be making an effort to catch the bus 16. A driver shall take on and discharge pupils only at designated stops. With the exception of weather conditions, this rule shall not vary unless approval is first obtained from the Superintendent of Schools. Weather conditions may require a driver to use his discretion with regard to this rule Bus Pupils Responsibilities Maintaining good order on school buses requires the cooperation of pupils, parents, teachers, principals, and bus drivers. Any misconduct shall be reported to the school principal by the driver of the bus. School bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. Any pupil may be suspended from school bus privileges by the principal for inappropriate behavior and according to the district guidelines. The following regulations have been set forth in an effort to cooperate with the school bus drivers and secure the safety of our children: 1. Previous to Loading A. Be on time at the designated school bus stop 2. Stand on the side of the highway or sidewalk and in no way interfere with traffic. Bus riders must conduct themselves in a safe manner while waiting 3. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before attempting to enter the bus. Enter in an orderly manner 4. Be careful in approaching bus stops
Page 4 Bus Pupils Responsibilities cont. 5. Respect the property rights of people who reside at or near the bus stop On the Bus: 1. Remain seated when the bus is in motion 2. Keep heads, hands, arms, other objects inside the bus 3. Cursing, swearing, profane language is not permitted 4. Loud or boisterous singing, yelling, and general noise-making are prohibited 5. Tobacco use in any form or lighting matches is not permitted on the bus 6. There is to be no spitting or throwing of trash, either within the bus or from the bus 7. There is to be no tempering with the bus or its equipment 8. No weapons, firearms, explosives, or anything of a dangerous or objectionable nature shall be transported while students are riding the bus. Prior approval from the driver must be obtained to transport animals to school for class related activities 9. No pupil is to use the emergency door except under the direction of the driver or in the event of an emergency 10. Pupils are responsible for removing all their belongings from the bus when dismounting 11. There is to be no eating or drinking on the bus 12. Nothing is to be placed in the aisle to interfere with its intended use 13. Students may not bring water pistols, water balloons, or any spraying devices on the bus 14. Students noting any damage to the bus should report this to the driver 15. Any pupil desiring to ride an unassigned bus, board or dismount at any place other than the usual place or not returning home by bus must have such a request in writing from his parents approved by the principal 16. Students may not engage in fighting, pushing or shoving or generally bothering other students while on the bus 17. Any other forms of behavior that are unacceptable will not be allowed 18. Students must obey the bus driver
Page 5 Bus Pupils Responsibilities On the Bus cont. After Leaving the Bus: 1. When necessary, cross the road at least ten feet in front of the bus, but only after looking to be sure that no traffic is approaching from either direction 2. Help look after the safety and comfort of smaller children 3. Be alert to a danger signal from the driver 4. After leaving the bus go directly to the school in the morning or home in the evening Violations of any of the above will be dealt with by the Principal. Students who receive three written disciplinary incident reports will have their bus riding privileges suspended. The length of the suspension will be appropriate for the act or behavior exhibited. Severe behavior problems such as fighting may result in the suspension of bus riding privileges with the first occurrence. If a student is suspended from the transportation system, it is the responsibility of the student's parents to provide transportation for the student to and from school. OTHER REGULATIONS / PROCEDURES REGARDING PUPIL TRANSPORTATION 1. A copy of each bus incident report, with action taken, must be A. given or sent to parent B. given to driver initiating report C. maintained by the school D. given to the Director of Transportation 2. No pupil shall be denied bus service as a means of returning home once he/she is in school unless the school provides him/her with transportation or unless the parent agrees to accept this responsibility. 3. In no case may the denial of bus riding privileges take effect until after the parents have been informed of such denial. 4. Student bus assignments are determined by a student s pick-up location in the morning and their drop off location in the afternoon. Students are permitted only one pick-up location and one drop off location. Students are not permitted to ride a different bus than the one assigned. The Smethport Area School District does not accept daily changes to a student s transportation and will only drop a student off at the student s regularly scheduled location. 5. Parents transporting their children to school in the morning must use the side parking lot when the main parking lot is closed to all vehicles except busses. Revised: 04/11/12 Reviewed: 02/10/92 Approved: 05/14/90