Bus Safety Information

Children should get to their bus stop five minutes before the bus is due.

Children should not wait inside their house. This creates a dangerous situation when there is a substitute driver.
At the bus stop, avoid horseplay and stay away from the street, and out of the Danger Zone, until the bus is stopped and the driver signals that it is safe to board.

Use the handrail when boarding the bus, then quickly sit down and buckle the seat belt.

Children should wear backpacks on both shoulders, so that hands are free. Do not wear loosely fitting or baggy clothing and be sure that nothing hangs from jackets or backpacks (such as drawstrings, key chains, long straps, etc.)

If anything gets caught in the bus door or on the handrail, it could be dangerous.

When the driver indicates that it is safe to leave the bus, after exiting move away from the bus out of the Danger Zone. Never attempt to return to the bus after exiting, or to pick up a dropped item, unless instructed by the driver.

Again, please be aware that the bus driver must have eye contact with a parent or adult caregiver before dropping off a kindergartener.

Before exiting the bus, tell the driver that you will be crossing the street. Walk along the curb heading forward until you are more than 10 feet past the front of the bus and can see the bus driver’s face. Make eye contact with the bus driver and wait for the driver’s signal before crossing.

Upon receiving the driver’s signal, proceed to cross, checking both ways for traffic. If clear, cross quickly. If the road is not clear or the bus driver sounds the horn to indicate danger, return to the curb and wait for the driver’s instructions.

Keep all parts of the body (head, hands, feet, etc.) inside the bus. Do not eat, drink or smoke on the bus. Follow the bus driver’s instructions. Be courteous to the driver and fellow passengers. Do not yell, use foul language or throw objects. Keep the aisles clear at all times. Stay seated until the bus comes to a complete stop at its final destination.

The School District has adopted disciplinary procedures to support the enforcement of the District’s bus safety rules. Please make sure that your children understand that misbehavior on the school bus presents a serious safety hazard.

Bus drivers have been instructed to enforce the safety rules and to report any student who does not cooperate. The building principal will follow up on these reports, and parents will receive a copy.

A student who causes a serious problem, or who has been reported on three occasions during the school year, will lose the privilege of riding the bus for a period to be determined by the building principal and the bus company.

Good bus riding habits ensure a safe and happy bus environment.