• DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION EXPECTATIONS

     

    Discipline on District Transportation

     

    Students are expected to assist district staff in ensuring that buses and other district vehicles remain in good condition and that transportation is provided safely.  When riding in district vehicles, including buses, students are held to behavioral standards established in the Student Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct.

     

    Misconduct will be punished in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct; the privilege to ride in a district vehicle, including a school bus, may be suspended or revoked. 

     

    Student Transportation Expectations

     

    The following procedures shall be followed by students who are being transported by a district vehicle.

     

    Students waiting for pick-up by a district vehicle are expected to:

     

    Be at the pick-up location at least five minutes before scheduled pick-up time (weather permitting);

    Stand on the sidewalk or away from the roadway while waiting for pick-up;

    Not approach the district vehicle until the vehicle comes to a complete stop;

    Load the vehicle quickly, after the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

    When loading a school bus, students are expected to use the handrail and steps.

    In the event that a student will be dropped off at an alternate preapproved location, the student will be given a slip that must be presented to the driver immediately upon loading the district vehicle. 

    Students are expected to immediately go to their assigned seat and be seated.

    If a district vehicle is equipped with seatbelts, students shall wear the seatbelt. [see Texas Education Code TEC 34.013]

     

    Students exiting a district vehicle are expected to:

     

    Stay seated until the district vehicle comes to a complete stop;

    Wait patiently on the driver to provide exiting procedures;

    Immediately move away from the vehicle after exiting.

    When exiting a school bus, students are expected to use the handrail and take one step at a time off the bus.

    All district buses shall be exited via the front door only.  Use of the back door of the bus is reserved for emergencies or at the discretion of a district employee, and must only be used under the supervision of a district employee.

    Never approach a district vehicle to retrieve any article that is dropped, or rolls near or under the district vehicle.  In the event that this occurs, students must safely ask the driver for help. 

     

    Students who must cross a county or state road, city street, or state highway are expected to:

     

    Move 10-12 feet in front of the right bumper, and make eye contact with the driver (the driver will let the student know when it is safe to cross the roadway);

    Look in both directions and walk directly across the road;

    Always cross the road in front of the district vehicle.

     

    The district will make every effort to ensure students exiting a vehicle will not need to cross a roadway.  Please note that this process creates longer routes which could result in students arriving home later.  The district vehicle may need to pass the pre-arranged pick-up/drop-off location on the opposite side of the roadway, then come back to pick-up/drop-off in order to ensure student safety.

     

    In the event of an accident or emergency situation, students are expected to: 

     

    Listen to the driver and/or emergency personnel, and follow directions;

    Stay with the group after exiting the vehicle.

    The following procedures shall be followed for unloading a bus in an emergency situation:

    The students nearest the door will open the door and hold it open for the other students;

    The student in the seat closest to the door will exit first;

    Exit the bus single file as quickly and quietly as possible;

    Listen to the driver and/or emergency personnel, and follow directions once off the bus.

     

    Note: the release of students from an accident scene is governed by law enforcement and district administration.

     

    Transportation to School: Students Left Behind

     

    Students who are not at their pick-up location on time and are not picked up by their respective district vehicle are expected to immediately return to their home.  Parents/Guardians are encouraged to have a plan with their child(ren) on what to do if their child(ren) misses pick-up by the district vehicle.  The district will not make these arrangements for you.

     

    Transportation from School: Students Left Behind

     

    Depending on the situation, a student who is not at their pick-up location on time and as a result is not picked up by their respective district vehicle, must follow the sequence listed below:

     

    The student and/or district employee must make the campus office aware of the situation.

    The district vehicle will be contacted by the campus office.

    In this event, the parent/guardian of the student will be contacted to come pick-up their student.

    If the parent/guardian refuses or is unavailable to come pick-up the student, the district’s School Resource Officer (SRO) will be contacted.

    The School Resource Officer (SRO) may transport the student home, if needed.

    If the district vehicle is within a two mile radius from the campus, the driver will immediately return to the campus and pick-up the student, then return to the route.

    If the district vehicle is outside of a two mile radius from the campus, the driver will continue the route and will not return to the campus to pick-up the student.

     

    Source: Blue Ridge ISD 2022-2023 Student Handbook