Transportation Procedures

A: Student Carry-On Regulations

The following guidelines have been established by state and school officials to insure rider safety. These apply at all times while on the bus whether regular bus run, sports trips and/or field trips.

Potentially dangerous items may not be carried on a school bus. This includes items such as skies, ski poles, golf clubs, bats, hockey sticks, weapons, ammunition, flammable liquids, animals, large sized packages and boxes over 1 cubic foot, large presentation boards, items made out of glass (regardless of size), and pressurized containers such as insect repellents and spray paints (unless special permission is obtained by the Transportation Supervisor).
Large size musical instruments such as drums, tubas, cellos and bass fiddles may not be transported inside school bus carrying students.
Musical instruments such as clarinets, flutes, trumpets, violins, trombones, and guitars may be carried on a bus providing: A: They are not stored in the center aisle. The center aisle must be free of obstacles at all times. B: The instruments do not jeopardize the safety and comfort of the students carrying the instruments or any other rider on the bus.
No over-the-counter or prescription medication is to be transported on the bus. Parent or guardian must transport all medication, unless other arrangements have been made with the respective nurse’s office. Such arrangements will be coordinated with the transportation department prior to transport.

Implementation of these safety regulations requires sound judgment by bus drivers. Their decisions will be influences by the availability of space and the number of students riding on a school bus at any given point in time.

B: Student Bus Riding Rules

A student who is granted the privilege of riding a school bus must assume certain safety responsibilities the “Rules”. Students and parents are reminded that bus transportation is a privilege which may be suspended due to student’s violation of the rules set forth herein. The following rules of conduct will apply to ALL students riding on school buses.

Students should be ready for the bus at least 5 minutes prior to pick up time. Students will cross the highway following correct procedure, and driver instructions, will not get mail at any time when discharging from bus. Upon entering or exiting the bus, students will go in turn and avoid pushing, will take their assigned seats promptly and remain seated until the bus arrives at their stops. Students will keep there feet and other items out of the center aisle; keep their hands off other students and property not belonging to them.

Students will not lower windows without prior approval of the bus driver, will not shout, call, or throw anything out the windows, or put any part of their bodies out the windows. Students will avoid excess noise which might distract the driver, will be respectful to all staff members, and will respond promptly to the bus driver’s instructions. Students will not eat or drink on the bus or use or possess any tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or illegal substances on a school bus at any time. Students will not use obscene language at any time.

Cell phone use is strictly prohibited on the bus for making phone calls and/or taking pictures. Cell phone use will be allowed ONLY for reporting an emergency or arranging parents transportation after a sports run or a late arriving field trip. The bus driver must provide authorization for cell phone use.

Unless permission has been granted by the principal or bus driver, students will not be allowed to have electronic/music devices or accessories on the school bus. Once in the school building, ALL electronic/music devices and accessories must be turned off and placed in lockers. The school will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.

C: Bus Conduct Reports

Violations of rules of bus transportation may require the driver to issue a bus conduct report, which shall be sent to the student’s administrator. The administrator shall then investigate the precipitating cause for the student’s violation of the rules set forth herein.

If the administrator determines that the student’s behavior is in violation of the rules set forth herein and or his/her behavior endangers the safety of himself/herself or others, the administration shall notify the superintendent and the student’s parents or guardian and may arrange a conference, the administrator and or superintendent of schools, the bus driver and/or the transportation supervisor, the student and his/her parent/guardian. The administrator or the superintendent of schools may temporarily suspend the student from riding the bus pending the conference of the above-named parties and the administrator shall notify the student’s parent or guardian prior to such suspension.

If the administration determines that the driver or another individual is the cause of the incident, the Superintendent of schools shall be notified by the school administrator and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The student and his/her parents or guardian will be notified of the school administrator’s determination.

D: Passing a School Bus

Overtaking or passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing is illegal at any time. State law also forbids overtaking or passing a stopped school bus in any school parking area when red lights are flashing.

E: AM Bus Run

Students in grades 7-12 are not allowed to ride the AM Elementary buses, unless parent/legal guardian contacts the Secondary school office to receive authorization. Consequences for Secondary School students riding on the elementary bus runs are as follows:
1st – Warning
2nd – Lunch ISS
3rd – Lunch ISS and Detention
4th – Full-day ISS

F: Bus Passes

When a student requires transportation to a location other than that which is registered with the school, the following requirements bust be met for the safety of the student: Students must have a note from his/her parent/guardian as well as the parent/guardian of the alternate location; this is subject to administrative approval.

1: Elementary Students

A written request will be presented to the appropriate school level office by 2:00PM each day. The request must include the person’s name, the correct 911 address and an emergency contact phone number for the requested location. Once these requirements are met, the office will issue the bus pass.

Verbal requests will not be accepted for bus passes, Exception to the rule would be, on a case by case basis; sudden sickness/illness, family emergency and to a traffic mishap.

Aside from the above listed exceptions, no request will be accepted after 2:00PM on a normal release school day, or 10:00AM on and early release school day.

2: Secondary School Students

Two written requests must be submitted to the appropriate office by 9:00AM. A written request must be from the parent/guardian of the student making the request stating approval is given for the request. A written request must also be received from the parents/guardian of the location to which the student is requesting to go stating approval is given for the request.

Verbal requests will not be accepted for bus passes. Exception to the rule would be in a case by case basis; sudden sickness/illness and/or family emergency.

G: Students in Grades 6-12 Riding 3:00PM Bus

Students staying for 10th period extra help may ride the Elementary bus home. The student will be issued a special 3:00PM Bus Pass from the teacher for which the student stayed. The pass must have the student’s FULL NAME. The teacher will sign the pass only on a day that the student remains in school for extra help. The pass must then be stamped with the appropriate administrator’s stamp of authorization. All passes will be collected by the Transportation Department when the student boards the bus. The passes will then be reviewed by the Transportation Department then turned over to the Administrative Offices for further review.

Any student arriving at the 3:00PM bus without a proper pass, or witnessed being off campus between the time 9th period ends and the student attempts to board the 3:00PM bus, will not be allowed to ride and sent back to the appropriate office to make other arrangements for a ride home.

H: Elementary Bus Stop Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of each and every parent/guardian, or designee, to be in attendance at the drop off bus stop location of all Prek-5 students of the Peru Central School District as referenced by Transportation Law 30:57.

A parent or guardian must be visible at the drop-off point. If no one is visible at the drop-off point, the Bus Driver will not be allowed to drop students off. The student will be transported back to the campus and transferred to the appropriate School Administrator. The parent/guardian will then have the responsibility to transport the student home after signing the student off campus from the appropriate administrator.

A parent/guardian may request in writing an exemption to this requirement. The written request must be made for each individual student. The request will be reviewed by the appropriate School Administrator and filed in the office. A copy of the signed request will be forwarded to the Transportation Department. The School District requires annual updates to this exemption; arrangements from previous school years will not be honored without re-authorization.