MCSS Non-Public School Bus Transportation Handbook -- Online

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Page Updated on: 02/18/04.

School Bus Transportation

The St. Mary's County Non-Public Schools - Parent/Student Handbook for Non-Public School Bus Transportation

HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Click to go to Specific Section)

DEFINITIONS
STUDENTs ROLE on the School Bus
GUIDELINES FOR DISCIPLINE
BUS DRIVERS ROLE IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
SOME OF THE BUS DRIVERS RESPONSIBILITIES
PARENTS ROLE IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
COUNTYS ROLE IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
SCHOOLS ROLE IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION IS A PRIVILEGE!

DEFINITIONS
Transportation of Student Passengers:	A program to afford an equal educational opportunity by way of providing transportation to children who reside more then the established walking distance (as determined by the County) from the school that they are to attend.
Student Passengers:	Any student who meets the eligibility requirements of the County as determined by the County and is transported to or from any school or school-sponsored function or activity.
Bus Stops:	(Excerpted from MSDE COMAR 13A.06.07, Student Transportation.)

STUDENT's ROLE on the School Bus
THIS NOTICE IS TO BE READ BY ALL STUDENTS AND IS TO BE CONSIDERED AS A CAUTION.
It will be posted in the front of the bus. It will serve as notice to all new students and to remind all returning students who ride the Non-Public buses that the following rules and regulation are to be observed at all times while riding the buses.
1.	Students must ride only the bus(es) to which they are assigned. Once a student gets on the bus he/she is not permitted to get off until he/she reaches their destination or transfer point, unless the student presents a note from the parent/guardian to the driver. No student will be permitted to board a bus other than at their designated stop. If a parent/guardian wishes to pick up his/her child after school and the child is on the bus, the parent must identify themselves to the driver and request the child be permitted to be discharged to the parents' care.
2.	If a student gets off at his/her transfer point and does not get on the assigned bus but gets in a private vehicle, the bus driver will call the Transportation office and give the name of the student. the parent/guardian will be advised so the bus driver will not be held responsible.
3.	No one is permitted to transport, have in their possession, or use drugs, firearms or any other dangerous weapons while on the school bus. This will constitute automatic dismissal for the rest of the school year from the bus. Students will also be reported to the police.
4.	No smoking on the bus at any time.
5.	No alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, soft drink bottles or cans permitted on the bus.
6.	No food or drinks may be consumed on the bus.
7.	No radios, tape recorders, walkman, etc., are to be played while on the bus unless equipped with personal earphones. No beepers or cellular phones are to be used on the bus. Only the driver of the bus is permitted to carry and use a cellular phone.
8.	Do not extend any part of the body out of the windows.
9.	No standing. All students must be seated while the bus is in motion. No student is permitted in front of the first row of seats while the bus is in motion. Students may not change seats without driver's permission.
10.	No large bundles, packages or equipment permitted on the buses. No animals permitted on the bus.
11.	Students may converse in a normal manner. Loud, profane or obscene language will not be tolerated.
12.	Studying is permitted, provided no pencils or pens are used.
13.	Students must cooperate in keeping the bus clean. Any malicious damage to a school bus will result in the immediate suspension of transportation privileges for the student or students involved. Transportation privileges will be suspended until the terms for the repair and cost have been settled satisfactorily.
14.	Students must be on time for the bus. the bus will not wait for students.
15.	Not fighting, creating disturbances, or disregarding school bus drivers instruction.
16.	All discipline problems must be reported to the principals' office of the school the student is attending or the Transportation Office before any action is taken. It is imperative that the parents/guardians are notified and given the reason and length of suspension. there may be circumstances when the general rules will not apply. Other appropriate action may be necessary as determined by the Principal of each school.
17.	When any of the rules or regulations are not being observed, the driver will turn in a referral slip to the Principal of the school the student attends and /or the Transportation Office who will make a determination of suspension and inform parent/guardian and driver.
18.	REMEMBER! The driver of the bus is in full charge of the students except in the presence of a teacher. Failure to obey his/her instructions will result in student not being permitted to ride the bus.

GUIDELINES FOR DISCIPLINE
1st Offense	Two (2) Days Suspension
2nd Offense	Five (5) Days Suspension
3rd Offense	Ten (10) Days Suspension
4th Offense	Fifteen (15) Days Suspension

BUS DRIVER'S ROLE IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION

The school bus driver plays a very important and responsible part in every educational system. In most instances, they are the first representative of the school system to meet the students in the morning and the last to see them at night. While the students are on their bus, their safety is in their hands. Bus drivers are responsible for the safety of the passengers and the vehicle, for efficient and economical operation, and for good order and discipline. They should strive to fulfill this responsibility successfully and be respected and appreciated as a person who is doing a difficult and necessary service. The driver is in a position to have a large influence on a student's attitude toward school.

In perhaps no other area of education does a school system accept more responsibility for student life and welfare than during the mass movement of students in school buses on the public highways, streets and roads. Therefore, as a member of the "Safety Team", it is essential not only to provide adequate equipment, but to strive constantly to improve operational safety and efficiency. The "Safety Team" consists of every individual who is in any way involved with the student transportation program in this County, especially the bus driver.

Certainly it cannot be denied that student passengers are affected by their ride to and from school. Their experiences on the bus--good and bad-- become a part of their education. Following are some bus driver's responsibilities.

SOME OF THE BUS DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

Explain the rules to all students.
Enforce the rules with all students.
Set a good example.
Treat all students fairly, firmly, and in a friendly manner.
Correct students individually; when at all possible.
Stop the bus if necessary, to restore order.
Never use ridicule for correcting students.
Do not pick on little things.
Try to greet each student by name.
Do not vent personal feelings on students.

PARENTS' ROLE IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION

Riding a school bus is a privilege. This privilege may be temporarily denied or permanently revoked for disobeying rules stated in Student's Role or if misconduct of a student jeopardizes the safe operation of the school bus or overall safety of the students riding any bus.
Parents are responsible for the safety of their children from the time the children leave home in the morning until they board the school bus and at the end of the day from the time the school bus departs the unloading area until the children reach home. Once the child enters the school bus, the responsibility lies with the bus driver and the Transportation Office.
Parents should be aware of their liability for damage caused by their children to the property of others, including the school bus. As children walk to and from the bus stop or school, while they wait at the school bus stops, and when they walk home from a school bus stop at the end of each school day, they must show consideration and respect for the property of those citizens whose homes and places of business are found along their routes.
Parents are responsible for ensuring their children leave home early enough to arrive at the designated school bus stop ten (10) minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the bus.
Parents, together with their children, should develop a route to and from school bus stops or school which minimizes the exposure of children to vehicular traffic. Shortcuts through isolated fields and woods or across steams can be dangerous. Entering abandoned houses or deserted buildings by children on their way to or from school should be actively discouraged. The route should be direct and uninterrupted.
Parents should walk with younger children to and from the school bus stop, using this opportunity to teach the children proper pedestrian practices. I parents cannot accompany their children, arrangements should be made for older children (brother, sister, or neighbor) to escort the younger children to and from school bus stops or school.
Parents should develop in their children an awareness of the molestation problem. Do not permit your children to accept candy, soft drinks, money, toys or rides from strangers or to associate with anyone that they do not know. Teach your children that if this problem is encountered on the way to or from school, or at any other time, you, the bus driver, or the teacher must be told as soon as possible. This should be a matter for the Police.
Weather should determine how children are to be dressed. Encourage your children to wear the type of clothing that will not only keep them warm and allow them to see where they are going, but also will permit them to be seen. If children cannot be seen by drivers of vehicles, they are in danger. For example, white clothing is difficult to see in snow, but will make on clearly visible at night. Children should leave a few minutes earlier than their normal starting time in bad weather to reach the school bus stop or school safely and on time.
In inclement weather, media announcements regarding the closing or delayed opening of schools begin at approximately 6:00 A.M. During severe weather condictuions, pertinent information concerning the transportation program will be announced on the radio and television Please do no call the local Transportation Office for this information.
The application of common sense is the best method for determining the role of the parents regarding the safety of their children traveling to and from school, either as passengers on a school bus or as pedestrians.

COUNTY'S ROLE IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION

In 1941, the County, the the St. Mary's County Code, enacted Public Law, Chapter 116-1 entitled "Bus Transportation". This law was established to ensure all children who attend schools in St. Mary's County shall be entitled to transportation.

The County's Transportation Office is responsible for Non-Public student transportation and bus routing to improve efficiency of services, develop and maintain safety standards including bus driver training programs, conducting bus inspections, communicate effectively with school principals, parents, students, bus drivers, law enforcement officers and the local and national weather service. In addition, the Transportation Office is responsible to contract for school bus transportation with qualified contractors for Non-Public School Bus Transportation in St. Mary's County.

SCHOOL'S ROLE IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION

The local school administrators and County have concern for all of the items listed in this booklet, but parents have the legal responsibility for their children as they travel to and from school as pedestrians or as they travel to and from a school bus stop.
The responsibility of the school administrators and County begins when the children step on the school bus. This responsibility ceases at the end of the school day when the school bus departs the unloading area at the students' normal discharge point.
Questions regarding walking to and from school should be discussed with the school principal first. If it is necessary to contact the County Transportation Office, please call (301) 475-4496.