A. Generally
The Board considers the transportation of students a privilege to be enjoyed by eligible students and believes the safety of students to be of paramount importance. Students who ride school buses are expected to follow all bus rules and regulations.
B. Bus Rules/Regulations
The following rules and regulations apply to all students riding school buses. These rules and regulations were established to assist the bus operators in assuring that students are afforded the safest ride to and from school. The bus operator is responsible for the enforcement of the rules and regulations. A copy of the rules/regulations shall be posted in each bus.
2. Students may not transport animals on the bus.
3. Inside the bus, students shall:
- sit in assigned seats;
- be held responsible for only vandalism that occurs to the seat in which they ride. (If damage is found, report it promptly to the bus operator.)
- change seats only with bus operator's permission, and when bus is not in motion;
- get on and off bus only when it is completely stopped;
- cooperate with any aide or monitor on bus;
- cooperate with the bus operator to keep the bus clean. Eating and drinking on the bus are prohibited, except when medically necessary;
- observe classroom conduct, except for ordinary conversation, to enable the bus operator to give attention to safe driving;
- avoid unnecessary conversation with bus operator;
- keep head and hands inside bus windows at all times;
- report any open exit or released latch to the bus operator immediately;
- provide enrollment information to the bus operator as requested.
- willfully disobey a school employee;
- use profane or abusive language directed at a school employee or student;
- possess or use tobacco;
- possess a dangerous weapon;
- possess, use, distribute, or sell a controlled substance;
- commit assault and/or battery of a school employee;
- create a fire hazard;
- interfere with the safe operation of the bus;
- vandalize the bus;
- assault (fight) with another student;
- ride in step well or forward of front row of seats;
- stand while bus is in motion, at any time a seat is available;
- throw or pass any object of any nature on, into, or from the bus;
- open emergency exits, except during emergencies, unless directed by the bus operator;
- commit any other violations of school rules and regulations as described in Board Policy 11-27.
- If misconduct continues, contact the student's parent(s) or guardian(s) by phone or in person to explain the misconduct and to request assistance. The parent(s) or guardian(s) is/are expected to assume major responsibility to counsel the student as to acceptable behavior while riding the bus.
- If misconduct continues, complete a disciplinary referral form and submit it to the principal for assistance;
- If the student in any manner interferes with an orderly process (example: standing up and/or changing seats while the bus is in motion);
- If the student threatens, abuses, or otherwise intimidates or attempts to intimidate a school employee or student;
- If the student willfully disobeys a school employee;
- If the student uses abusive or profane language directed at a school employee or student;
The bus operator shall be responsible for notifying the parent by phone, or in person, of the exclusion prior to the effective date of the exclusion.
If a student has been transported on the bus in the A.M., he/she may not be excluded from P.M. transportation unless the principal and/or bus operator have/has been in contact with the student's parent(s) or guardian(s) and other transportation arrangements have been made.
3. The bus operator shall exclude a student and contact the Transportation Director/Supervisor and request that a student be suspended from the bus for any of the following reasons:
- If the student possesses or uses tobacco;
- If the student assaults another student (fighting);
- If the student creates a fire hazard;
- If the student possesses, uses, distributes, or sells a controlled substance as detailed in Board Policy 11-34;
- If the student throws or passes any object of any nature into or from the bus;
- If the student interferes with the safe operation of the bus;
- If the student vandalizes the bus;
- If the student committed assault and/or battery of a school employee as defined in Board Policy 11-31.
The Transportation Director/Supervisor shall suspend .the student if he/she is guilty of any of the incidents listed above in accordance with Board Policy 11-17.
4. The Transportation Director/Supervisor shall also recommend to the Superintendent that the student be expelled in accordance with Board Policy 11-18:
- If the student sold a controlled substance;
- If the student committed assault and/or battery of a school employee.
At the commencement of each school year, all students and their parents shall be provided a copy of the policy by the bus operator. Students who begin riding a bus during the course of a school year and their parents shall also be provided a copy. School administrators shall use school/community communication vehicles to ensure proper and public announcement and notification of the contents of this policy, including newsletters, assemblies, and student information packets.
LEGAL REFERENCE: West Virginia Code 18A-5-1;
West Virginia Code 18A-5-1a;
West Virginia School Transportation Regulations
ADOPTED: August 9, 1995