The River Valley School District Board of Education's primary concern in transporting its students is the safety of the children. The basic rules of student conduct are set forth below:
WE DISCOURAGE ALLOWING GUEST RIDERS on the bus, but they may be permitted, provided that written authorization is given by the Building Principal. The Principals will require parental authorization before granting permission. We reserve the right to refuse a guest rider if bus capacity would be exceeded.
CHANGES IN PICKUP OR DELIVERY POINTS must be authorized in writing by the parent, signed by the school Principal, and presented in advance to the bus driver. This is an absolute must. We reserve the right to refuse changes if a request is deemed to be unreasonable. Also, for safety reasons, elementary students will be picked up at only the appropriate schools for afternoon runs when transporting children home after school.
INCLEMENT WEATHER - Radio stations, WMLI (96.3 FM) Sauk City; WRDB (1400 AM-105 FM) Reedsburg; WRCO (1450 AM - 100.9 FM) Richland Center; WDMP (810 AM - 99.3 FM) Dodgeville; WOLX (94.9 FM) Madison; WTSO (1070 AM - Z104 FM) Madison; WMGN (98 FM) and WTDY (98 FM) Baraboo; and WISC-TV (1003) Madison, will carry information regarding school closings and cancellation or delay of buses due to bad weather or other emergencies.
DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, PLEASE DO NOT CALL LAMERS BUS LINES OR THE SCHOOL, UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY INVOLVING YOUR CHILD AND TRANSPORTATION.
PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS regarding transportation other than inclement weather problems should be directed to Lamers Bus Lines at 588-2222 or the Business Manager for the River Valley School District at 588-2551.
MISCONDUCT reports will be completed by the bus driver, and copies will be sent to the Building Principal, the Business Manager and the parent. All misconduct reports will be made a part of the child's school record. Misconduct may result in suspension of bus riding privileges, depending upon the seriousness of the misbehavior. Continued misconduct may result in permanent removal from the bus.
I. Previous to loading (at home and at school):
A. Be on time at the designated school bus stops. This is mandatory if schedules are to be kept. Note: Children should be at point of pickup when bus arrives or in view of the driver. If not, the bus will not wait for them.
B. Stay off the road at all times while waiting for the bus. Bus riders should conduct themselves in a safe manner while waiting.
C. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before attempting to enter the bus. Line up in an orderly fashion, in single file.
D. Do not move toward the bus at the school loading zone until the buses have been brought to a complete stop. There should be no pushing or shoving. Remember to line up in single file.
II. While on the bus:
A. Keep the hands and the head inside the bus at all times.
B. Assist in keeping the bus safe and sanitary at all times.
C. Remember that loud talking, laughing or unnecessary confusion diverts the driver's attention and may result in a serious accident.
D. Treat bus equipment as you would treat valuable furniture in your own home. Damage to seats, etc., must be paid for by the offender.
E. Never tamper with the bus or any of its equipment.
F. Leave no books, lunches or other articles on the bus. If an item is lost, please notify the Bus Company as soon as possible. Drivers do clean out the buses after every route and turn in lost articles. These lost articles are held for several months and then donated to Goodwill.
G. Keep books, packages, coats, and all other objects out of the aisles.
H. Eating on the bus is at the driver's discretion. This includes candy, popcorn, ice cream, fruit, nuts, sandwiches, etc. Wrappers, bags, etc. should be disposed of in proper receptacles. If abused, the privilege may be removed.
I. Selling of candies, food items, etc. will not be permitted on the bus.
J. Remain in the bus in case of road emergency unless directed to do otherwise by the bus driver.
K. Do not throw anything out of the bus window.
L. Always remain in your seats while the bus is in motion.
M. Be courteous to fellow pupils, the bus driver, the driver's assistant and to passersby.
N. Keep absolutely quiet when approaching a railroad crossing stop, while the bus is stopped, and until the bus is safely across the tracks.
O. Profane or indecent language will not be tolerated.
P. The driver is responsible for controlling the bus riders. The students must obey the driver and the driver assistants promptly and cheerfully.
Q. Inform the driver, if possible, when a rider will be absent.
R. No live animals of any kind are allowed on the bus.
S. Walkmans, I-Pods, cell phones, and other electronic devices will be permitted if sound is controlled.
T. If a musical instrument is to be brought on the bus, it must be small enough for the student to hold in his/her lap or to stand on end on the floor between their seat and the seat in front of them (no tubas or drums).
U. No skateboards are allowed on the bus.
V. Carrying of weapons of any type shall not be permitted at any time on buses.
III. After leaving the bus:
A. When it is necessary to cross the road to get on or off the bus, cross at least ten feet in front of the bus, but only after receiving the signal to do so from the driver. Also, the child should check to be sure that no traffic is approaching.
B. Help look after the safety and comfort of small children.
C. Be alert to the danger signal from the driver, which is a steady blast on the horn. Such a signal will be used only when the child could be in possible danger after starting to cross the road. When hearing the horn, the child should return to the spot where they were waiting for the driver’s signal.
D. Riders are not permitted to leave the bus at other than regular stops unless proper authorization has been given in advance by parent and school officials.
E. It is recommended that students not go to the mail box to sort or gather mail until the bus has left its stop, as the driver cannot move the bus until the students have safely cleared the drop-off point.
F. If there is no parent/responsible person present at the bus stop to greet the kindergartner (or younger student), the student will not be allowed to exit the bus.
The bus driver will then notify the bus company that he/she is keeping the student on the bus and will continue on with the bus route. In the meantime, the bus company will try to contact the parent by phone. If the parent cannot be contacted by phone, the emergency contact person listed for the student will be contacted by phone. Arrangements will be made during this phone conversation as to where the parent/emergency contact person can safely receive the student. The meeting point might be:
- the school; OR
- the bus company (located on Hwy. 23 in Spring Green); OR
- another location determined during the phone conversation.
IV. Co-curricular activity trips:
A. The above rules and regulations will apply to any trip made under school sponsorship.
B. Pupils shall respect the wishes of competent chaperones appointed by the school officials to accompany the bus riders.
C. Students making a co-curricular or special activity trip must return on the same bus, unless written authorization has been presented to the supervising employee in advance by the parent or guardian of the student to go with a student's parent.
D. Windows shall remain closed at the discretion of the bus driver.
E. Walkmans, I-Pods, cell phones, and other electronic devices are permitted if sound is controlled.
F. Continued violation of any of the above rules will be reported to the Principal of the school the student attends.
V. Discipline procedures:
A. To handle the few cases of misconduct as outlined in School Board Policies, "Bus Rider Rules and Regulations," the following procedures will be followed:
1. Bus drivers fill out misconduct reports after first administering the use of the River Valley School District “Time to Teach” Program in an effort to modify the behavior of a student. The report will be turned in to the school office within 48 hours of the offense. Each misconduct report will be investigated by both the bus company and the school administration.
2. The following actions will follow the issuance of a misconduct report:
a. FIRST OFFENSE –Lamers Bus Lines will inform the parent or guardian and school official deemed necessary to correct the situation.
b. SECOND OFFENSE - The School Principal will inform the parent or guardian of the offense, and the student will be denied transportation for a maximum of three (3) days.
c. THIRD OFFENSE - The School Principal will inform the parent or guardian of the offense, and the student will be denied transportation for three (3) days. Parent and student will be required to meet with the District Administrator to be informed of possible Board action on future misconduct reports.
d. FOURTH OFFENSE - The School Principal will inform the parent or guardian of the offense and recommend to the District Administrator that the offense be referred to the School Board for a hearing, as provided in the School Board Policies for a thirty (30) day suspension of riding privileges.
e. FIFTH OFFENSE - The School Principal will inform the parent or guardian of the offense and recommend to the District Administrator that the offense be referred to the School Board for a hearing, as provided in the School Board policies for suspension from the bus for the remainder of the year.
Note: The second and third offense procedures may be waived depending on the seriousness of the incident.
B. Parents or guardians and students are hereby advised to be aware that in any of the above actions, they have the right of due process.
C. A school administrator or bus driver has the authority to assign riders to designated seats.
D. Video cameras may be activated on buses and viewed by administration, bus management, and/or police authorities for gathering facts and evidence.
BUS EVACUATION DRILL
The River Valley School District requires annual evacuation drills. The following information is being provided for your cooperation:
STUDENT:
You are about to go through a bus evacuation drill. With your cooperation, it can go smoothly. It is very important that students stay calm and quiet. It is very important to LISTEN to the driver's instructions.
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT WHICH MIGHT BE USED:
1. First Aid Kit
2. Triangle Flares
3. Two-Way Radio
4. Fire Extinguisher
Bus evacuation is needed when one of the following conditions exist:
1. Fire or danger of fire exists
2. Bus in an unsafe position
3. Passengers in danger of drowning
4. Danger of approaching tornado
RECOMMENDED EVACUATION PROCEDURES:
1. Front Door Evacuation - Students in the left front seat exit first followed by those in the right front seat. Continue alternating from the front to the rear of the bus until all students are off.
2. Rear Emergency Door Evacuation - Two students should exit first to help the rest of the students. Students in the left rear seat exit first followed by those in the right rear seat. Continue alternating until all students are off the school bus.
3. If it is possible, use both doors for evacuation. In extreme situations, windows can be used.
Immediately after leaving the bus, re-group in a safe area away from the bus. Do not allow students to cross the road or reenter the bus. Always account for all students.
APPROVED: August 8, 1991
REVISED: October 28, 1997
APPROVED: November 13, 1997
REVISED: March 14, 2002
APPROVED: April 11, 2002
REVISED: November 9, 2006
APPROVED: December 14, 2006
REVISED: July 10, 2008
APPROVED: August 14, 2008
09/04/2008 pw