STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
POLICY NO: 7700 DATE: 1998-09-22 REVISED: 2001-06-12
SUBJECT: STUDENT
TRANSPORTATION
===============================================================================
The goal of the school bus transportation system is
to transport district public school students safely, economically and
expeditiously in the following order of priority:
a) to and from school;
b) co-curricular
activities both within the school district and beyond.
It is the policy of the Board of School Trustees
that where there are sufficient eligible students, the Board may provide a
school bus service to convey students to and from school.
Where there are insufficient eligible students to
justify the establishment of a school bus run or where a bus run has not been
established for other reasons like safety and unsuitable road conditions, the
Board will pay transportation assistance to the parents of eligible students in
accordance with the scale set by the Ministry of Education, Skills and
Training.
The Board will establish regulations, which may be
amended by resolution defining eligible students and laying down procedures for
payment of transportation assistance.
The use of buses by District students is a
privilege, not a right. The Board
expects students to comply with the behaviour and procedure expectations of
drivers, teachers and other supervisors.
The Board delegates to the bus driver the authority
and responsibility for the safety and well being of all students on board the
bus. The driver has the authority to
maintain order on the bus and ensure that rules regarding transportation are
respected.
SCHOOL
DISTRICT NO. 78
(FRASER-CASCADE)
REGULATIONS NO: 7700 R DATE: 1998-09-22 REVISED: 2001-06-12
SUBJECT: STUDENT
TRANSPORTATION -
ELIGIBLE
STUDENTS AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE
===============================================================================
1. Eligible Students
For
the purpose of student transportation, an eligible student is:
a) a
physically handicapped student;
b) a student
in Kindergarten Class, living more than 1.6 kilometres from school;
c) a student
in Grades 1 to 7, living more than 4 kilometres from school;
d) a student
in Grades 8 to 12, living more than 4.8 kilometres from school;
e) a student
not under suspension from school.
Ineligible students living close to a school
bus route may use the bus provided that:
a) there is
space available on the bus; and
b) no extra
stops are required.
At the discretion of the Board, this privilege can be
withdrawn if it causes undue inconvenience or hardship to students who live
beyond the walking limits.
Persons not registered in a school in School District No.
78 (Fraser-Cascade) shall not be permitted to ride on District buses except by
approval of the Board of School Trustees.
Exceptions may be made upon written approval of the Board and only when:
a) there is
space available on the bus; and
b) no extra
stops are required.
Students who attend non-public schools may be permitted
to ride district buses to and from school on a fee paying basis, depending upon
seating availability.
2. Transportation Allowance
Transportation allowance will be paid to an eligible
student in accordance with the scale set by the Ministry of Education, Skills
and Training.
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Transportation allowance will be paid on receipt of a
signed application from the parent/guardian of an eligible student. Application forms are available in each
school. Parents should complete and
sign the forms, return them to the school for approval by the School
Administrative Officer and for approval by the Secretary-Treasurer. Applications submitted between September and
December will be retroactive to September of the current school year and
applications submitted after December 31st will be retroactive to January of
the current school year.
Administrative Officers are to forward a monthly report
to the Secretary-Treasurer, giving attendance details of eligible students.
3. Exceptions
The Superintendent of Schools may declare an ineligible
student to be eligible for school bus transportation or transportation
allowance if the walk to school is along or across a dangerous section of
highway, or if there are other special circumstances.
Should it become necessary for a student to transfer from
a school in his attendance area to a school in another area in order to receive
Special Education services not available in his home school, that student will
be considered eligible for transportation allowance, if there is no bus
reasonably available. The Board will be
notified of those students.
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SCHOOL
DISTRICT NO. 78
(FRASER-CASCADE)
REGULATIONS NO: 7700 R DATE: 1998-09-22 REVISED: 2001-06-12
SUBJECT: STUDENT
TRANSPORTATION -
SCHOOL BUS
RULES AND REGULATIONS
===============================================================================
The bus driver is responsible for the safety of the passengers on the
bus. The driver must be as free as
possible to devote full attention to driving safely in all weather conditions. Any distraction caused by passengers makes
the job more difficult and thus more dangerous.
In order to ensure the safety of students, the Board requires certain
rules, regulations and procedures as minimum standards of conduct for students
who ride on school buses, whether they attend public or private schools.
The following rules apply:
On the bus:
1. The
driver is in charge of the school bus and passengers at all times. On field trips or extra-curricular
activities where a supervisor is on the bus, it is the supervisor's responsibility
to support the driver by supervising the students.
2. Students
shall obey the driver promptly.
3. Smoking
is prohibited.
4. Shouting
or unnecessary noise is prohibited.
5. Standing,
changing seats or moving about while the bus is in motion is prohibited.
6. Marking
or damaging the bus or its equipment is forbidden. Report any bus damage to the driver immediately.
7. Eating
and drinking on the bus are not permitted.
8. Students
must not extend their arms or heads out the windows.
9. Students
must not throw paper or other rubbish on the floor or out the windows.
10. Students
must follow established waiting and loading procedures for bus pick-up points.
11. In an
emergency, promptly obey the driver's instruction. If the driver is unable to
issue instructions, promptly obey the bus emergency procedures.
In general any irresponsible
conduct by the student which may distract the driver will not be tolerated.
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Waiting for the bus:
1. Wait at the bus stop
that has been assigned.
2. Stay at the edge of the
road or on the sidewalk if there is one.
3. Respect private
property.
4. Refrain from pushing,
shoving, fighting or indulging in horseplay.
5. Be at the stop ahead of
the scheduled arrival of the bus.
6. Wear adequate clothing
for the weather conditions.
7. Return home at times
when the bus is extremely delayed.
Getting off the bus:
1. Remain
seated until the doors open.
2. Get
off the bus in a quiet and orderly manner.
3. Once
out of the bus door, move well clear of the bus.
4. Wait
until the bus has stopped and lights are flashing before crossing in front of
the bus.
If you miss the bus:
- going to
school - obey whatever instructions your parents gave
you.
- coming
from school - report
to the school office
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SCHOOL
DISTRICT NO. 78
(FRASER-CASCADE)
REGULATIONS NO: 7700 R DATE: 1998-09-22 REVISED: 2001-06-12
SUBJECT: STUDENT
TRANSPORTATION -
BUS
BEHAVIOUR - DISCIPLINARY ACTION
===============================================================================
When a student is guilty of misbehaviour,
repeated misbehaviour, defiance or any act which makes safe driving difficult, the
bus driver must notify the administrative officer in writing on Form
(attached). The administrative officer
will notify parents and the Secretary-Treasurer. It is understood that
verbal warnings and actions by the driver, such as assigning seats, may precede
this procedure.
Violations of the Rules and
Regulations covering bus misconduct by a student are as follows:
First Offence
(Step 1)
1. The
Bus Driver will notify the Administrative Officer and will fill out a Bus
Discipline Report stating the details of the problem.
2. A
Warning Letter, together with a copy of the Bus Discipline Report, will be sent
to the parents by the Administrative Officer.
3. Copy
of the Bus Discipline Report will be forwarded to the Secretary-Treasurer by
the School Administrative Officer.
4. Parents/Guardians
will be contacted by phone or in person by
the School Administrative Officer.
Second Offence
(Step 2)
1. The
student's privileges will be terminated for a period to be determined by the
School Administrative Officer in consultation with the driver depending on the
severity of the offence. A first
suspension will be for a maximum of twenty (20) days.
2. Parents/Guardians
will be contacted (by telephone, if practical) and advised of the suspension.
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3. Parents/Guardians
will be sent a letter stating the length of suspension and a copy sent to the
Secretary-Treasurer.
Step 2 may be repeated at the discretion of the
Administrative Officer.
Third Offence (Step 3)
1. The
student will be suspended from the bus pending a decision of the District
Review Committee.
2. The
District Review Committee will investigate and recommend the length of
suspension or whether the student will be allowed to ride the school bus again.
3. Parents
will be sent a letter stating the decision of the Review Committee.
For events of extreme misconduct or where the safety of students on the
bus and/or the driver are threatened, the Administrative Officer, in
consultation with the driver, the bus contractor or Transportation Supervisor
and the Secretary-Treasurer may suspend the student from bus privileges for up
to one (1) school year on the first or any other offence.
If the transportation privileges of a student are suspended, school
attendance is still mandatory. Parents
will have to make alternate arrangements and transportation assistance will NOT BE PAID.
Willful damage to school buses caused by students will be the
responsibility of the student's parent or legal guardian. Bus privileges will not be reinstated until
arrangements for payment and/or restoration have been made.
Parents/Guardians experiencing problems concerning bus routes and/or
suspension of bus privileges should contact the school. If the matter cannot be resolved with the Administrative
Officer it should be referred to the Secretary-Treasurer.
The Administrative Officer will advise the bus contractor and/or
Transportation Supervisor of students suspended from school and therefore not
eligible for bus transportation.
Curricular or
Extra-Curricular Trips:
1. The
Teacher In Charge, on consultation with the driver, shall recommend to the
Administrative Officer that either a Bus Discipline Memo or a Bus Suspension be
issued.
2. Parents/Guardians
and Secretary-Treasurer will be contacted forthwith by the Administrative
Officer.
At the beginning of each new school year the
discipline process is started over.