*It is the responsibility of the student and the parent/guardian to ensure compliance with the Bus Safety Guidelines. Not knowing the Safety Guidelines will not be a valid excuse should violations lead to disciplinary action. *

*All Putnam City Public School Policies and Guidelines apply to all passengers boarding, riding, and departing from Putnam City School Buses. Anyone to be found in violation of Bus Safety Guidelines and/or Putnam City Public School Policies will be subject to Disciplinary Action.

1. Weapon, Drug, Tobacco, and Alcohol Guidelines (Zero-Tolerance)

A. Possession of any weapon (real or fake) will not be allowed on the bus. Brass knuckles, guns, knives, lighters, fireworks, or any other object that is used with the intention to cause harm to any individual are all considered weapons on the bus.

i. Possession of any weapon will result in a bus suspension for the remainder of the school year.

B. Possession and/or use of any tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, vapes, or any other drug/drug paraphernalia will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

C. Possession and/or use of any alcohol will not be tolerated under any circumstances. This includes any drink with any amount of alcohol concentration.

2. Guidelines While on the Bus

A. A driver may ask any student at any time to provide their name and/or student ID number. Students are required to provide this information to the driver immediately upon request.

i. If a student refuses to provide the requested information at the bus stop or school, then the student may be refused transportation services.

ii. If a student refuses to provide the requested information while the bus is on route, the student may receive a bus suspension.

B. All students are required to sit properly in their seat and keep the aisle clear while on the school bus. This means that students should be facing forward sitting on their bottom, and all belongings should stay in the student’s backpack. Backpacks, instruments, duffle bags, etc. will need to stay in the student’s lap. Students should never be sitting on their knees, turned around backwards in their seat, standing in their seat, walking, or standing in the aisle, climbing over seats, or sitting and/or crawling on the floor. Students who violate this guideline create an extremely dangerous situation and present a danger to themselves and others on the bus.
C. Personal Electronic Devices (PED) on the bus can be a distraction to the driver while on the bus. Students who are in Elementary School are not allowed to have their PED out on the bus. Students who are in Middle School or High School may have their PEDs out on the bus, but the volume of their device must remain off, or the student must have their headphones in.

D. Students must always keep their entire body inside the bus.

E. Students must keep their hands to themselves. This includes physical roughhousing or horseplaying. Hitting/touching other students on the bus will not be tolerated.

F. Students are expected to use a reasonable inside voice while riding on the bus. Screaming, yelling, or excessive noise creates a distraction for the bus driver, and will not be tolerated.

G. Students are never to throw any item inside or outside the bus.

i. *It is against the law to throw any object outside a bus window.

H. Students are not allowed to eat or drink while on the bus. Students may only have a water bottle with a screw-on style cap. Eating and drinking may result in a student choking, spilled food or drinks, sticky floors and seats that requires the driver to clean, and health violations. If a student has a medical condition (i.e., diabetes or hypoglycemia), the parent must contact Transportation and provide this information so that the driver knows the student may have snacks in an emergency.

I. Students should do everything they can to avoid a fight while on the bus. Fighting creates a serious safety concern for everyone on board the bus, including the bus driver.

J. Students are not allowed to, under any circumstances, tamper with any of the emergency equipment installed on a bus unless the bus driver specifically otherwise tells them.

i. Students must remain on the bus when there is a road emergency, including if the bus is involved in a wreck. Students will not be released from the bus until local law enforcement and the district nurse has released them. The only exception to this rule is if the bus driver instructs students to evacuate the bus, in which case students still must always stay with the driver until properly released.

K. Items that create vision problems for the driver are not allowed on the bus. This includes but is not limited to flowers, balloons, and other party favors.

L. Students who deface any part of the school bus will be subject to discipline action and will receive an invoice to cover repairs for damages. These invoices help to cover the cost of materials and parts to replace the seat as well as offset part of the cost of labor.

i. *AN INVOICE MUST BE PAID IN ORDER TO REINSTATE RIDING PRIVILEGES! A student with an open invoice will be refused service until the invoice is paid or payment arrangements are made. Payments are to be made to the Putnam City Public Schools Transportation Department in the form of a cashier’s check or money order. Unfortunately, the Transportation Department does not have the means to process debit card, credit card, or cash payments.
Students who deface a bus seat by means of graffiti (if it can be cleaned) will be fined $75.00 per seat defaced.
Any seat that is punctured or damaged but can still be repaired will result in a fine of $100.00 per seat damaged.
Any seat that is damaged to the extent that will require the seat to be replaced will be charged $150.00 per seat.
A student may be charged a cleaning fee of $75.00 when the student leaves the bus in a state that would require extensive cleaning by Transportation Staff.

3. Bus Stop Guidelines

A. A student needing to ride a bus other than the bus they are assigned will need a parent/guardian to contact the Transportation Department for permission. Students whose parents do not call and get permission will be denied service. Handwritten notes or calling the school are not acceptable means to get permission. *The Transportation Department may deny a request for any number of reasons, including rider capacity on buses.

B.      Students are required to use the bus stop to which they are assigned. Students will not be allowed to get on or off the bus without permission (see procedures for guideline 3.A for how to get permission).
C.       Students must wait for the bus away from the roadway. Students should NEVER step off the curb or in front of the bus at any point until they have been given permission from the driver first. Students should NEVER “swarm” the bus under any circumstances.
D.      Students who cross the street at a bus stop must wait until they receive the signal from the driver indicating it is safe to cross. It is imperative that students wait for this signal and cross the street in front of the bus. The student needs to be able to always make eye contact with the driver.
E.      When loading the bus, students should get on the bus and immediately find their seat. The longer a bus sits on the road, the longer that bus is holding up traffic. Loading and/or unloading the bus is not the time for students to socialize with their friends.

BUS SAFETY GUIDELINES

Bus Safety Guidelines For Riders

Eligibility Requirements for Transportation Services

Description of Authority: Drivers, Monitors, and Transportation Administration

Responsibilities & Guidelines for Parents/Guardians

Bus Safety Guidelines for Students and Passengers

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