{ EDCB-R :: Lafayette Parish School System

File: EDCB-R

SCHOOL BUS DISCIPLINE REGULATIONS

SCHOOL BUS DISCIPLINE REGULATIONS

In order to establish, maintain and provide quality transportation of students in a safe and timely manner, as well as provide a safe atmosphere for all persons on the bus and on the roads traveled by the school buses, students are expected to adhere to the following:

A. Students riding a school bus are expected to follow the bus driver's directions at all times, be familiar with all rules and regulations for riding a school bus and practice the skill of courtesy.

B. All students riding a bus must be registered to ride the bus, and return within five (5) school days a completed bus registration card signed by the student's parent/guardian and principal (or principal's designee). After five (5) days, a student must obtain a one-day bus pass from the school office and can do so for a maximum of three (3) days. If after the extra three (3) days the registration card is not completed and returned to the bus driver, the student's privilege to ride the bus will be suspended until a completed registration card is returned to the bus driver.

C. Disciplinary action will be administered at the discretion of the school principal or principal's designee.

D. Administrators or their designees shall notify in writing all bus drivers, at their respective schools, any time a student that rides a bus is suspended or expelled or has a medical or physical problem that could endanger them or other passengers.

E. All persons in the Lafayette Parish School System who ride buses are subject to the safety/behavior standards designed to provide safe transportation of passengers on a timely basis. Any behavior that distracts the bus driver is considered a serious hazard to the safe operation of a bus and, as such, jeopardizes the safety of all passengers, the bus driver and others. Riding a school bus is a privilege not a right and as such, the consequences of misconduct could result in denial of transportation.

F. Suspension from the bus may extend to riding the bus to and from any activity. Suspension of riding privileges does not relieve parents of the responsibility of sending a child to school.

G. Each rule is considered extremely crucial to the safe operation of our school buses, and it is imperative that all passengers follow these rules.

H. All school buses are deemed Zero Tolerance Zones.

I. Students must obey at all times the rules and regulations set forth by the State of Louisiana and the Lafayette Parish School Board while on or around the bus.

J. The bus driver is in full charge of the bus and passengers. Passengers shall obey the bus driver at all times.

K. Students shall occupy the space designated for them by the bus driver. Seat assignment shall be done on a nondiscriminatory basis. Students can converse in low normal tones with other students that occupy the same seat.

L. Students shall be on time to board the bus. The bus driver cannot wait for students who are not on time. Students are to meet the bus at a designated stop no later than five (5) minutes to a scheduled pick up time. Occasional passengers (friends) must obtain written permission from the school office and present it to the bus driver prior to boarding the bus. It must contain the name of the student, student's friend if applicable, and the location of the pick up/drop off. Occasional riders will be allowed on a first-come, first-serve basis if space is available.

M. Students shall not mar or deface the bus, spit on/at/or out of the bus or litter the bus. They shall help to maintain a clean and sanitary bus.

N. Students will not engage in teasing, pulling hair, scuffling or disturbing others on the bus.

O. Students who smoke, light matches or light any type of firework on the bus will lose their riding privileges for the rest of the year or four (4) months (carried over to the next school year) whichever is greater. They will also be referred to school administrators for further disciplinary action according to disciplinary policy.

P. Students found to be in possession of alcoholic beverages, drugs or weapons on the school bus will lose their riding privileges for the rest of the school year or four (4) months (carried over to the next school year) whichever is greater. They will also be referred to school administrators for further disciplinary action according to disciplinary policy.

Q. Students are not allowed to board the bus with beverage bottles or cans, food, gum or candy except for those in approved lunch bags. Eating, drinking or chewing, gum, tobacco, etc. are not allowed on the bus. At no time are glass containers or breakable items of any kind allowed on the bus.

R. Large objects which cannot be safely transported while held in the students lap or stowed safely under the seat are prohibited. Musical instruments larger than a slender trombone, including its case, are not allowed except in the case of band activity trips. At no time will an object be placed in an uncontrollable location. No student will be "bumped" from a seat because of an object. Book sacks shall be held safely in laps or stowed under the seat at all times.

S. Students shall practice safety at all times. They shall:

1. be seated while bus is in motion.

2. not stand in the street while waiting for the bus or unloading from the bus and not misbehave while waiting at the bus stop or after unloading from the bus.

3. not block the middle aisle with objects or their body.

4. not leave the bus without the bus driver's permission.

5. keep arms and heads inside the bus windows and arms to themselves.

6. neither throw things in nor out of the bus, nor use obscene language, nor make obscene gestures.

7. not engage in any other behavior that shall distract the bus driver (flash photos, loud screams, etc.).

8. not open or close windows without the bus driver's permission.

9. be courteous to the bus driver, other passengers and passers by (whether inside or out of the bus or bus stop).

10. not board bus with electronic devices such as radios, laser pens, CD-players, etc.

T, Bus drivers are permitted to make reasonable rules for the safe and proper operation of the bus.

MINIMUM CONSEQUENCES

Louisiana State Law states that only the school administrator or his/her designee has the authority to take disciplinary action against a student. Should any pupil violate any regulation, a School Bus Driver Report Form will be completed by the bus driver and submitted to the proper authority. Parental contact will be made by the bus driver or the Lafayette Parish School System Department of Transportation designee only after the student has incurred the first violation. Four (4) levels are used to define the seriousness of the violation. They are as follows:

C, LEVEL 3

1. Throwing any objects from the bus or anything in the bus that can cause harm to other occupants

2. Engaging in or attempting to engage in kissing, hugging, etc.

3. Spitting on a person

4. Other

D. LEVEL 4

1. Lighting matches, lighters or fireworks on bus

2. Verbal abuse of or physical assault on a bus driver or bus assistant

3. Vandalizing property

4. Possession or use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs on the bus

5. Possession of weapon, simulated weapon, firearm, knife, mace/pepper spray, destructive device or dangerous instrument, etc. on bus or at a bus stop

6. Shoving student(s) into path of oncoming bus or other vehicles shall also be treated as battery

III. GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTERING DISCIPLINE

A. LEVEL 1

1. First Offense

a. Bus driver conference with student, report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/ guardian by phone or in writing.

2. Second Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Three (3) days suspension of bus riding privileges.

d. Conference with bus driver, administrator, parent/guardian and student.

e. If parent/guardian fails to attend conference, student will remain suspended from the bus for five (5) days.

3. Third Offense (Combine with Fourth)

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Five (5) days suspension of bus riding privileges.

d. Conference with bus driver, administrator, parent/guardian and student.

e. If parent/guardian fails to attend conference, student will be suspended from the bus for seven (7) days.

4. Fourth Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Thirty (30) days suspension of bus riding privileges.

d. Conference with bus driver, administrator, parent/guardian and student.

e. If parent/guardian fails to attend conference, then student remains suspended from bus until parent/guardian attends conference.

Fifth Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/ guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Suspension of bus riding privileges for the remainder of the year or for four (4) months (carried over to the next school year), whichever is greater.

B. LEVEL 2

1. First Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Five (5) days suspension of bus riding privileges.

d. Conference with bus driver, administrator, parent/guardian and student.

e. If parent/guardian fails to attend conference, student will remain suspended until parent/guardian attends conference.

2. Second Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Ten (10) days suspension of bus riding privileges.

d. Conference with bus driver, administrator, parent/guardian and student.

e. If parent/guardian fails to attend conference, student will remain suspended until parent/guardian attends conference.

3. Third Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Thirty (30) days suspension of bus riding privileges.

d. Conference with bus driver, administrator, parent/guardian and student.

e. If parent/guardian fails to attend conference, student will remain suspended until parent/guardian attends conference.

4. Fourth Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Suspension of bus riding privileges for the remainder of the year or for four (4) months (carried over to the next school year), whichever is greater.

C. LEVEL 3

1. First Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Ten (10) days suspension of bus riding privileges.

d. Conference with bus driver, administrator, parent/guardian and student.

e. If parent/guardian fails to attend conference, student will remain suspended until parent/guardian attends conference.

f. Other district or legal action deemed appropriate.

2. Second Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Thirty (30) days suspension of bus riding privileges.

d. Conference with bus driver, administrator, parent/guardian and student.

e. If parent/guardian fails to attend conference, student will remain suspended until parent/guardian attends conference.

f. Other district or legal action deemed appropriate.

3. Third Offense

a. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority.

b. A transportation designee to notify parentl guardian by phone or in writing.

c. Suspension of bus riding privileges for the remainder of the year or for four (4) months (carried over to the next school year), whichever is greater.

d. Other district or legal action deemed appropriate.

e. The administrator, at his/her discretion, provided a sufficient amount of time has elapsed from the first offense and the second offense (no less than sixty (60) days), can grant a student the privilege of starting at the first offense in Levels 1 and 2.

D. LEVEL 4 1. Students will be referred to school administrators for disciplinary action in

accordance with the Lafayette Parish Discipline Policy. Report filled out and turned over to the proper authority, transportation designee to notify parent/guardian by phone or in writing. Suspension of bus riding privileges for the remainder of the year or for four (4) months (carried over to the next school year) whichever is greater. Other district or legal action deemed appropriate.

LEGAL REF.: L.A.R.S. 14:122

Public intimidation

Public intimidation is the use of violence, force, or threats upon a school bus operator with the intent to influence his conduct in relation to his position, employment, or duty. Whoever commits the crime of public intimidation shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.

LEGAL REF.: L.A.R.S. 14:63.10

Vehicular trespass

No person shall knowingly enter into or upon a motor vehicle (school bus), of another without the consent of its owner or of any person who has the right to possession, superior to that of the entrant, when the entrant is not otherwise privileged to do so. Whoever commits the crime of vehicle trespass shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

LAWS:

FEDERAL LAW: H.R. 3162, SECTION 801 Terrorist Acts

Terrorist acts & violent crimes against transit employees and vehicles may be investigated, tried and punished as federal crimes. This act extends protection to school bus transportation and their employees and passengers. Offenses punishable under the new law include wrecking, setting fire to or otherwise disabling or impairing of vehicle; placing or causing to be placed any biological agent or toxin for use as a weapon on or near a vehicle that would endanger the safety of passengers or employees. A person convicted under this law will be subject to imprisonment for up to twenty (20) years and/or life.

Responsibility of the parents or appointed designee for both regular and special education students:

· Provide the local educational agency with pertinent written information regarding any special care the student may need while on the bus.

· Have the child at the designated bus stop at the regularly scheduled time and provide the necessary supervision until the bus arrives.

· Secure the child into any specialized carrying equipment or assistive device prior to the arrival of the bus.

· Meet the bus upon its return to the designated bus stop at the scheduled time or make appropriate provisions for the student's welfare when and if the student is unable to be met at the designated bus stop.

· Contact the bus driver or take the child home in the afternoon if the child misses A.M. bus.

• Make a reasonable and timely effort to notify the bus operator prior to the beginning of the morning run if the child is unable to attend school.