BUS SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION RULES

 

The Gwinnett County Public Schools standards of discipline on buses must be maintained at all times in order to satisfy safety standards.   Each bus driver has complete authority over the students riding the bus.  Students are expected to follow all bus rules and procedures.

·          Students will follow the directions of the bus driver.

·          Students should be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus arrives, waiting in a safe place, clear of traffic and 10 feet from where the bus stops.

·          Students will wait in an orderly line and avoid playing.

·          Students will cross the roadway in front of the bus after the bus has stopped, they have looked at the driver for a hand signal, and they have looked in both directions for traffic; left, right, left.

·          Students will signal the driver with a waving motion if something is dropped and wait for the driver to give a signal before picking up object.

·          Students will go directly to assigned seat when entering the bus.  Keep the aisles and exits clear.

·          Students will remain properly seated, back against the back of the seat, bottom against the bottom of the seat, and keep hands to themselves.

·          Students will not eat, drink, chew gum, or bring tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or any controlled substances on the bus.

·          Students will not carry animals, glass objects, nuisance items, hazardous materials, or weapons onto the bus.

·          Students may only carry objects that can be held in their laps.

·          Students will refrain from using loud voices, profanity, and/or obscene gestures, and respect the rights and safety of others.

·          Students will be totally silent at railroad crossings.

·          Students will stay seated until time to get off the bus.  The open door is the signal to get up from the bus seat.

·          Only in an emergency situation with prior approval from the school administrator will students be allowed to ride a bus other than their own.

·          Students must provide a written note giving permission to depart from or board at a different bus stop.

(a)      student must have a note from a parent/guardian

(b)     student must take the note to the main office as he/she arrives at school

(c)      student must return at end of day to pick up the note that has been authorized  by the school official

(d)     student must give note to the bus driver

(e)      without the authorized note the student will not be allowed to depart or board from any other stop other than the assigned stop.

·          Students will keep their bus clean and in good, safe condition.

·          Students shall be prohibited from using any electronic devices during the operation of a school bus, including but not limited to cell phones, pagers, radios, tape, compact disc players, or any other electronic device in a manner that might interfere with school bus communications equipment or the school bus driver’s operation of the school bus.

·          Students shall be prohibited from using mirrors, lasers, flash cameras, or any other lights or reflective devices in a manner that might interfere with the school bus driver’s operation of the school bus.

 

Major Offenses

 

Violations that should be considered major offenses include, but are not limited to, the following:

·          Drugs (includes alcohol, cigarettes, lighters)

·          Throwing objects off the bus

·          Fighting (trying to intentionally to hurt someone, not pushing or shoving)

·          Weapons, dangerous instruments, explosive/implosive devices

·          Threats (verbal and physical threats)

 

Such violations shall be reported immediately to the school administrator on a Bus Discipline Form.  A Parent Notification Form attachment is not necessary when dealing with one of the major offenses.