All persons riding in school district vehicles will adhere to the following rules.  The driver, sponsor or chaperones are to follow the school bus discipline procedure for student violations of this policy.  Video cameras may be in operation on the school buses.

 1.    Bus riders will be at the designated loading point before the bus arrival time.

 2.    Bus riders will wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before attempting to enter.

 3.    Riders must not extend arms or heads out of the windows at any time.

 4.    Aisles must be kept cleared at all times.

 5.    All bus riders will load and unload through the right front door.  The emergency door is for emergencies only.

 6.    A bus rider will depart from the bus at the designated point unless written permission to get off at a different location is given to the driver.

 7.    A rider may be assigned a seat by the driver.

 8.    Riders who damage seats or other equipment will reimburse the district for the cost of the repair or replacement (that is, vandalism is not allowed).

 9.    Riders are not permitted to leave their seats while the vehicle is in motion.

10.   Waste containers are provided on all buses for bus riders’ use.

11.   Permission to open windows must be obtained from the driver.

12.   Classroom conduct is to be observed by students while riding the bus except for ordinary conversation (students are to talk lowly and softly).

13.   The driver is in charge of the students and the vehicle, and the driver is to be obeyed promptly and cheerfully.  Verbal abuse will not be tolerated.

14.   Students will assist in looking after the safety and comfort of younger students.

15.   A bus rider who must cross the roadway to board or depart from the bus will pass in front of the bus (no closer than 10 feet), look in both directions and proceed to cross the road or highway only on signal from the driver.

16.   Objects of any kind are not to be thrown about the vehicle nor out through the windows.

17.   Shooting paper wads, squirt guns or other material in the vehicle is not permitted.

18.   Students will keep feet off the seats.

19.   Roughhousing in the vehicle is prohibited.

20.   Students will refrain from crowding or pushing.

21.   Students are to “keep their hands to themselves.”

22.   The use or possession of alcohol, tobacco or look-alike substances is prohibited in the vehicle.

23.   The Good Conduct Rule is in effect.

 

The board supports the use of video cameras on school transportation as a means to monitor and maintain a safe environment for students and employees.  The video cameras may be used on buses or other school vehicles used for transportation to and from school, field trips, curricular events and extracurricular events.  The contents of the video recordings may be used as evidence in a student or employee disciplinary proceeding.

Student and Employment Records

The content of the video recordings may be a student or employment record subject to board policy and administrative regulations regarding confidential student and employment records.  If the video recording is considered a student record, only those persons with a legitimate educational purpose may view the video recordings.  In most instances, those individuals with a legitimate educational purpose may be the superintendent, building principal, transportation director, bus driver and special education staffing team.  A video recording recorded during a school-sponsored trip, such as an athletic event, may also be accessible to the sponsor or coach of the activity.  If the content of the video recording becomes the subject of a student or employee disciplinary proceeding, it will be treated like other evidence in the proceeding.

Notice

The school district will annually provide the following notice to students and parents:

The Red Oak Community School District Board of Directors has authorized the use of video cameras on school district buses.  The video cameras will be used to monitor student behavior to maintain order on the school buses to promote and maintain a safe environment.  Students and parents are hereby notified that the content of the video recordings may be used in a student disciplinary proceeding.  The content of the video recordings are confidential student records and will be retained with other student records.  Video recordings will only be retained if necessary for use in a student disciplinary proceeding or other matter as determined necessary by the administration.  Parents may request to view video recordings of their child if the video recordings are used in a disciplinary proceeding involving their child.

The following notice will also be placed on all school transportation equipped with a video camera:

This vehicle is equipped with a video/audio monitoring system.

Review of Video Recordings

The school district may review video recordings randomly.  The video recordings may be recirculated for erasure after 10 school days.

Viewing of video recordings is limited to the individuals having a legitimate educational purpose.  A written log will be kept of those individuals viewing the video recordings stating the time, name of individual viewing, and the date the video recording was viewed.

Video Monitoring System

Video cameras will be rotated randomly on school district transportation.

Determination of how video cameras will be used and which school buses or vehicles will be equipped with video equipment will be made by the superintendent in consultation with the building principals and transportation director.

Student Conduct

Students are prohibited from tampering with the video cameras on the school buses or vehicles.  Students found in violation of this regulation will be disciplined in accordance with the school district discipline policy and Good Conduct Rule and will reimburse the school district for any repairs or replacement necessary as a result of the tampering.

 

The operation of safe, efficient, and economical transportation requires that all passengers observe the associated set of regulations.  In order to avoid any misunderstanding that might develop at a future date, the procedures described below will be followed in the event of a violation of the rules.

First Violation;

1. The driver will discuss the problem with the child.
2. The driver will file a bus conduct report with the transportation manager and principal.
3. The driver will contact the parent.  It is the driver’s responsibility to make the initial parent contact and try to solve the problem.  If that does not work, then the transportation supervisor will take over.

Second Violation:

1. The driver will file a bus conduct report with the transportation manager and the principal.
2. The transportation manager shall call the parent, or make a personal contact, to inform the parent of a second violation.
3. The principal will arrange a meeting with the principal (or designee), transportation manager, driver, and student.
4. Bus riding privileges may be suspended for one day to two weeks.  This decision will be made by the principal, with input from the transportation manager and the driver.

Third Violation:  On the third violation, the student may lose bus riding privileges for three days to one semester; this decision will be made by the principal, with input from the transportation manager and the driver.

Any Further Violations:  Automatic loss of bus-riding privileges for a minimum of one semester.  A student returning after this level of the procedures will again face the loss of bus riding-privileges for a semester for another violation.

When, in the judgment of the bus driver, behavior by a rider is such that it becomes an immediate threat to the safety of other riders, driver and/or the bus itself, the driver will take action to remove the student from the bus without going through the above steps.  In severe cases, when a student must be removed before reaching his/her destination, the driver will stop the bus in a safe place and call for assistance.  The student will remain on the bus until assistance arrives.  Then the student will be removed and transported by the person(s) providing assistance.

In summary, when a threat to bus safety occurs, the students(s) responsible may lose bus riding privileges without going through the “First Violation, Second Violation, Third Violation” process as listed above.

To ride a school bus is a privilege paid for by property taxes, a privilege that should never be lost.  However, if bus safety is jeopardized due to student behavior, the student will lose bus riding privileges.  We trust that we will receive parent/guardian support in our effort to achieve bus safety.