STUDENT, PARENT, & TEACHER
TRANSPORTATION HANDBOOK

BRIDGEPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT #75
Bridgeport, Washington

HOME OF THE MUSTANGS & FILLIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this handbook is to give everyone involved a better understanding of school bus transportation and to reflect the desire of the Bridgeport School District to keep parents, students, and staff aware of current policies and procedures. Our school transportation system is a cooperative venture between Bridgeport School District, parents, students, community members, and law enforcement agencies. Pupil transportation has become an essential part of today's educational system providing educational opportunity inside and outside of the school district boundary.

The safety of your student depends a great deal on the knowledge, judgment, and skill of the bus driver. This is an assignment and responsibility our Transportation Department enthusiastically embraces. We welcome your partnership and support to enhance our Transportation program. Thank you for this opportunity to communicate with you! Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dan Dahl
Transportation Director

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

We are committed to providing the safest and most reliable means of transportation for each student within our charge.

VISION STATEMENT

We will make this a place where our employees are proud to work.

We will seek continuous improvement and encourage innovation.

We will promote a safe and secure work environment.

We will embrace technology as it becomes available.

We will be good stewards of the public's tax dollars.

YOUR SCHOOL BUS DRIVER

The driver of a school bus must exhibit many extraordinary characteristics. As drivers, they must acknowledge that the students and their parents have allotted a great deal of trust in them. Drivers must also realize they are responsible for a priceless cargo. Each driver willingly accepts the overwhelming responsibility for the safety of your students.

The requirements of a professional school bus driver are diversified and comprehensive. There are few people outside the profession who recognize or appreciate the qualifications required of the professional school bus driver. The professional school bus driver has to be a defensive driver. In order to accomplish this, they need to have a good mental attitude. The driver must be respectful, not only to traffic situations, but also take into consideration the personal behavior of each and every student sitting behind them. They must continuously set a good example for the sake of the student, by their manners, language, dress and actions. In relationships with you as parents, the driver must keep an open line of communication to assure you their main goal is the safe delivery of your children to and from school.

Bus Stops

Bridgeport School District has established specific policies for school bus drivers making stops to load and unload students. The location and length of bus routes, along with bus stops, is determined by designated officials. Drivers do not deviate from these approved routes, nor do they pickup or discharge students at stops other than their assigned stops.

School bus stops are located with maximum safety for the student. Equally important is the safety of other motorists, pedestrians and students on the bus. The driver must constantly be on the alert that the bus is visible at all times. When, in the opinion of the bus driver, a designated stop is no longer safe, it is their responsibility to request approval to relocate that stop. Normal in route loading and unloading should be achieved by the bus stopping in the traffic lane to give students full protection of the stop paddle and red flashing light.

MESSAGE TO PARENTS

Parents, please help your children be safe on their way to and from school. Please remind them of their responsibilities and these SAFETY TIPS.

BE ON TIME ~ ARRIVE 5 MINUTES EARLY. Go directly to the bus stop. Remember that being late can be dangerous; when you're in a hurry you might forget to look both ways or wait for a signal, etc.

STAY OUT OF THE ROAD at the stop and wait in an orderly manner at least 10 feet from the edge of the roadway.

WALK FACING TRAFFIC when walking along the road.

CROSS WITH CARE. If you must cross, wait until the bus is stopped, red lights are flashing, and the driver signals to you, then look both ways. Always cross 6-10 feet in FRONT where the driver can see you, NEVER BEHIND THE BUS! Stay away from the area behind the bus and areas close to the sides and front of the bus where the driver CANNOT SEE YOU!

THE BUS STOP is an extension of the bus and all bus rules will apply.

THE BUS is an extension of school and all school rules apply as well as the rules outlined in this handbook.

DRESS APPROPRIATELY for the weather and for times of poor visibility, such as fog, rain and darkness. Remember buses occasionally run late and aren't always as warm as your house or car, so wear warm clothes.

FOR SAFETY OF STUDENTS, once the buses begin to depart the school in the afternoon, late students will not be allowed to board unless the driver is notified by the school office.

PARENTS, DO NOT “CHASE” BUSES to the next stop if your child misses the bus at your stop. Children running alongside the bus constitute a grave safety violation.

  We Care About Your Children!

TEACHERS & ADMINISTRATORS

In order for our buses (“classrooms on wheels”) to be a safe environment for our children, the drivers ask for your help.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOME CERTAIN ITEMS with students or ask them to bring them on the bus. These include:

• Glass
• Inflated balloons
• Toothpicks or sharp, pointy items
• Sticks
• Baseball bats
• Swords of any kind
• Animals or critters of any kind (except small stuffed ones)
• Kites
• Fishing poles
• Projects or items too large to fit on lap. (Bus aisles need to be free at all times.)
• Laser lights
• Skateboards/scooters/skate shoes/heelys
• Fireworks
• Large radios (boom boxes)
• Heavy, sharp, bulky, or other articles that may be hazardous in the event of an accident or emergency stop, including some kinds of musical instruments.

Some PROJECTS are messy (for example glitter & plants in dirt). Please provide sealed bags for students to bring these items on the bus.

Please keep watch on CLASSROOM SUPPLIES being taken home; paper clips and rubber bands often become weapons on the bus.

Students are not to EAT or DRINK on the buses, so any treats given them in class must be finished before bell time.

LOADING takes time in the afternoon and the buses need to pull out of the school lot on time. Please dismiss students on time so they will be able to load comfortably and avoid missing their bus or delaying others.

Please identify yourself to the driver before boarding the bus.

Thank You !

FIELD TRIPS/ACTIVITIES

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COACH/TEACHER/CHAPERONE

Field trips and extracurricular activities provide a source of enhancement to daily school curriculum. Success of these programs depends on transportation and adequate chaperonage.

The following rules apply to SCHOOL VANS as well as buses.

• Please provide 1 ADULT SUPERVISOR per 30 STUDENTS.
• Please ensure PERMISSION has been obtained for all students PRIOR to boarding.
• Be prepared to participate in an EMERGENCY EXIT DRILL once each season. The DRIVER'S primary responsibility on field trips is driving the bus. YOU are responsible for maintaining safe & appropriate student behavior to assure the driver is not distracted. “ The bus driver shall have final authority and responsibility.” (WAC 392-145-015)
• At the start of each field trip or extracurricular trip, the school bus driver shall review with all passengers, the location and use of the emergency exits and emergency equipment, and any district emergency procedures. (WAC 392-145-080 (6).
• Please seat ADULT SUPERVISORS throughout the bus (front, back & middle).

Please emphasize these RULES with your students:

1. Stay seated. Don't change seats while bus is moving.
2. The AISLE is to be kept free at all times (including legs and feet).
3. Keep NOISE to a minimum. (No yelling, loud noise or loud singing.) Quiet behavior is especially important to avoid distracting the driver.
4. EATING & DRINKING is allowed with PRIOR PERMISSION ONLY (no glass bottles). If the eating and drinking gets out of hand, the privilege will be taken away from the given sport or activity for the remainder of the season.
5. ALL TRASH goes into trash container. Bus must be CLEANED at the end of the trip to the driver's satisfaction.
6. NO CLEATS can be worn on bus. NO SHOES ALLOWED ON SEATS. Stow equipment safely.
7. WINDOWS may be lowered to the marked point. All parts of body must stay inside the bus. Nothing is to be put in or out of window.
8. NO LARGE RADIOS OR BREAKABLE CONTAINERS will be allowed on the bus. Small iPods, MP3 players, CD players, etc. WITH HEADSETS are acceptable.
9. When the bus stops at a RAILROAD CROSSING, there will be ABSOLUTELY NO NOISE OR TALKING until the bus clears the tracks.
10. Unless permission is granted by the COACH or CHAPERONES, students must return on the bus to the school where they boarded. Permission is only granted to return with parents or guardians upon receipt of WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION or PERSONAL CONTACT with the parent or guardian.

The coach or chaperone is required to keep track of their students.

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT.

TRANSPORTING ARTICLES IN THE PASSENGER AREA OF ANY SCHOOL BUS

Buses are designed for transporting students to and from school safely. Safety of students while on buses is a major concern of the district.

Heavy, sharp, bulky, and/or other articles which may be hazardous in the event of an accident or an emergency stop shall not be transported in the passenger area of any school bus. Specific attention is directed to items such as skis, ski poles, vaulting poles, musical instruments, riser platforms, etc.” WAC 392.145.015

The state law outlined above regarding heavy and bulky articles which may be hazardous in the event of an accident, is very specific as to what is and is not allowable on a school bus. Two very important items to consider are:

1. Whether the student can hold the instrument in his/her lap.
2. Whether the student can control his/her instrument while boarding the bus and walking down the aisle. Instruments must be held at waist level or below.

Allowed

Taking these two items into consideration, it has been determined the following instruments (or those of similar size) WILL be allowed on the school bus.

Clarinet, Coronet, Trumpet, Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Trombone

Possible in Uncrowded Conditions

When buses are not at capacity and room allows, the following instruments MAY be allowed on the school bus. (Check with the driver the day before.)

Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Baritone, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, French horn, Small Drum Kits, Tuba

Not Allowed

The following instruments WILL NOT be allowed on the school bus unless on a designated band trip where special space has been set aside specifically for carrying instruments.

Bass Drums, Sousaphone, Keyboard, Amplifiers

SAFETY FIRST

SCHOOL BUS RIDING REGULATIONS

1. The driver is in full charge of the bus and passengers. Passengers must obey the driver promptly and willingly.
2. Students shall ride their regularly assigned bus at all times unless permission has been granted by school authorities based on a note or phone call received from the parent/guardian. (Please include in the note the name, address and phone number of where your child is going.) Present the note to the driver upon entering the bus.
3. Students shall be permitted to leave the bus only at their regular stop, unless written permission has been granted by the school principal. Students shall enter and leave the bus in an orderly fashion.
4. Each student may be assigned to a seat in which he/she will be seated at all times unless permission to change is given by the driver.
5. Students shall not throw anything out windows, put any part of the body out of windows, and are to assist in keeping waste off the floor. Eating, chewing gum, and drinking beverages are not allowed unless supervised by a teacher.
6. Students are to remain in their seats. Students must sit facing the front of the bus, keep their hands and feet to themselves, and keep their voice levels moderated.
7. Students must not have sticks, breakable containers, any type of firearms or straps & pins extending from clothing. Except for service dogs, no animal (reptile, fish, insect or fowl) is permitted on the bus.
8. When the bus stops at a railroad crossing, there will be ABSOLUTELY NO NOISE OR TALKING until the bus is completely across the tracks.
9. Students must look both ways before crossing a roadway. ALWAYS CROSS IN FRONT OF THE BUS IN FULL VIEW OF THE DRIVER AND ONLY WHEN THE DRIVER GIVES THE SIGNAL TO CROSS. Students must be in full view of the driver at all times.
10. Students shall be on time. Bus policy is to be at the stop five minutes early and wait in an orderly manner. Bus drivers are instructed not to wait for tardy students.
11. Any damage to a bus shall be reported to the driver at once.
12. No large, bulky items that can't easily fit on the student's lap or between the student's legs, or items that may break, cause injury to others, or distract the driver will be allowed on the bus.
13. Students may check their mailboxes if they follow the rules noted here: they must wait until the bus has cleared the area so they can see both lanes of traffic. Cross the road in a straight path after checking for vehicles and recheck the road before returning to their side.
14. Small CD's, iPod's, MP3, radios, or tape players with headsets may be used as long as the sound does not disturb others.
15. Headsets must be removed when boarding the bus and upon departure from the bus. Students may not wear headsets when crossing the road.
16. Students are discouraged from bringing items of value or of sentimental significance onto the bus as their safety and integrity is not guaranteed.
17. Cell phone use is discouraged. Ringers must be left off.
18. Students may not open the windows without permission from the driver.
19. Unnecessary talking to the driver while the bus is in motion is prohibited.
20. When the bus is arriving or departing, students shall stand clear of the bus a minimum of six feet.
21. Private and school property at bus stops shall be respected at all times.
22. Students shall not stand or play in the roadway while waiting for the bus.
23. For safety reasons, no student will be allowed to board or leave a bus once the buses begin to leave the school grounds unless permission is given by the Transportation Department.
24. Musical drumsticks must be stored away securely.
25. Loose items such as baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, etc. will not be permitted on the bus unless they are placed inside a sports bag.
26. Keep aisle clear at all times.
27. Do not eat, drink, or chew gum.
28. Students may not bring toy guns or squirt guns on the bus.
29. Paint balls are not allowed on the bus.
30. A parent/guardian or older sibling must be at the bus stop to receive kindergardeners

YOUR COOPERATION IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS

• Noncompliance to driver's directions
• Fighting
• Profane/rude/abusive language or gestures
• Possession/use of alcohol or drugs
• Smoking or use of any tobacco product
• Use of sparking device
• Use of fireworks, cap guns, or “poppers”
• Use of laser light, flashlight, or flash units
• Grossly excessive noise or loud behavior
• Bullying or threatening harm to others
• Excessive horseplay
• Spraying perfumes, colognes or any other type of fragranced item due to possible allergic reaction
• Impeding drivers from safely accomplishing their duties by giving incorrect directions
• Withholding name when asked by driver or administrator
• Giving false testimony or falsely accusing another student
• Throwing any item while on the bus
• Forging a teacher or parent name on any bus note
• Spitting or shooting spit wads
• Breaking a paint ball on the bus
• Anyone caught with a firearm will have a minimum 365-day suspension.
• Anyone caught making a bomb threat will have a minimum 365-day suspension.

BUS CONDUCT REPORT

Student_____________________ Bus # ____ Date ________

This student has violated the following bus conduct rules:

______ Profanity
______ Not staying in seat
______ Rude/ Discourteous
______ Litter/Spitting
______ Harassment
______ Intimidation
______ Pushing/Tripping
______ Improper Boarding Departing
______ Excessive Noise
______ Throwing Objects
______ Fighting
______ Obscene Gestures
______ Tobacco
______ Body Parts Outside Window
______ Drugs/Alcohol
______ Matches
______ Dangerous Weapon
______ Vandalism

Other____________________________________________

Drivers Comments :

Disciplinary Consequences

______ Step One Bus driver discusses behavior with student and copy sent to parent
______ Step Two School principal discusses behavior with student and copy of report sent to parent.
______ Step Three Student is removed from bus for two days. *
______ Step Four Student is removed from the bus for four days. *
______ Step Five Student is removed from the bus for rest of the semester. *

* Steps can be skipped depending on the severity of the infraction and parents/guardian must sign and personally return this form to administrative offices before student can return to the bus.

____________________________
Bus Driver Signature

_____________________________
Parents/Guardian Signature

SNOW SCHEDULES

In the interest of safety for our bus-riding students, the following route changes will be in effect when it is announced the buses are running on winter snow schedules.

Buses may be running a few minutes late due to road conditions. Pickups will be made unless there are radio or television announcements to the contrary. If it is announced that school is starting one or two hours late, please remember that BUS PICKUPS WILL ALSO BE ONE OR TWO HOURS LATER THAN NORMAL.

Should it become necessary for time changes or a limited bus schedule announcements will be made over the following stations beginning at 6:30 a.m.:

RADIO STATIONS

KOMW
KOZI

TELEVISION STATIONS

Spokane
KREM 2
KXLY 4
KHQ 6
Seattle
KING 5

Parents and students are requested not to call the radio or television stations. The school and transportation office will be open but we ask you not to call unless absolutely necessary.

DIRECTORY

BRIDGEPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT #75

BUS GARAGE 509-686-3921
DISTRICT OFFICE 509-686-5656
HIGH SCHOOL 509-686-8770
MIDDLE SCHOOL 509-686-9501
GRADE SCHOOL 509-686-2201

THANK YOU!!!

Bridgeport School District #75 complies with all federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or disability. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district's Title IX RCW 28A.640 Officer and/or Section 504/ADA Coordinator.