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School District of Philadelphia 
Policy and Procedures 
Subject  School Bus Regulations
Classification  Student Behavior
Date Issued  March, 1987
Policy Number  654.0
Issued by  Office of School Operations
Supersedes  New Directive
Review Before   To be determined 
 

In order to provide safe, efficient, timely transportation to our children, it is imperative that the buses be operated without distraction to the driver. It is incumbent upon the parents that they discuss with their children the rules of proper behavior as outlined below:

A. School Bus Safety Procedures
 

1. Pupils must be at the bus stop on time.

2. While waiting to board the bus, pupils must stay on the sidewalk until the bus stops and red lights are flashing.

3. Pupils must remain seated at all times during the ride. Pupils should not stand to leave until the bus has stopped.

4. There is to be no loud noise on the bus. Pupils may talk quietly.

5. Pupils may not open bus windows without permission.

6. Pupils must keep all parts of the body inside the bus window.

7. Pupils are not to call or shout out of bus window.

8. Pupils are not to eat, drink, or throw objects on the bus.

9. Pupils must obey the driver at all times.


B. Suggested Administrator Procedures for Control of Pupil Behavior on
 School Buses
 

1. Letter of expectations and rules sent from Superintendent's Office (see attached sample letter).

2. Ongoing safety program and reminder by school personnel.

3. As individual infractions occur, principal will follow a due process procedure:
 

a. Notification in writing to parent as infractions occur (use Bus Behavior Referral form)

b. Conferences with parent and pupil (reminders that pupils mav be removed from bus if poor behavior persists)

 c. Referral of pupil to counselor

d. Suspension and Parental Conference

e. Conference and removal from bus for a period of time (after notification and approval from District Office)

f. Permanent removal from bus (must provide free tokens)

g. If poor behavior persists on public transportation, recommendation may be made for pupil to return to local school.

C. Bus Chauffeurs Procedures for Control of Bus Riders
 
1. Submission of "Bus Behavior Referral" form to principal as individual infractions occur.
 
a. Blue and white copy presented to principal. Pink copy retained by driver and yellow copy sent to Transportation.


2. Conference with principal and student for those individuals who continue to disregard safety of others.
 

a. It will be the prerogative of the principal to invite parents to conference at this point.


D. Change in Bus Riding Privileges
 

1. If child is suspended from bus service, the school administrator will advise Transportation Office, in writing, of the duration of suspension. Child will be offered tokens for short period.

2. Notification of termination of a child's bus riding privilege will be sent, in writing, to the Transportation Office. Children who are involved with termination of bus privileges will not receive tokens. It will be the parents' responsibility to see that children arrive at school in a timely fashion.

 
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA
BOARD OF EDUCATION

David W. Hornbeck
Superientendent of School

April 7, 1963

Dear Parents:

It is imperative that : appeal tQ you for your cooperation in assisting us to provide safer, more efficient service for our children who travel to and from school each day by school bus. Many of our children spend as much as two hours each day traveling or, buses and it is my endeavor, with your help, to make this experience as sale, efficient and pleasant as possible.

We are now requesting that you discuss with your children the following rules of proper behavior to which they must adhere. Their teachers and principal will reinforce these rules at the school level.

School Bus Safety Procedures

1. Pupils must be at the bus stop on time.
2. While waiting to board the bus, Pupils must stay on the sidewalk  until the bus stops and red lights are flashing.
3. Pupils must remain seated at all times during the ride. Do not stand to leave until the bus has stopped.
4. There is to be no loud noise on the bus. Pupils may talk quietly.
5.  Pupils may not open bus windows without permission.
6. Pupils must keep all parts of the body inside the bus window.
7. Pupils are not to call or shout out of bus window. .
8. Pupils are not to tat, drink, or throw objects on the bus.
9. Pupils must obey the driver and/or aide at all times.

Please understand that pupils who violate these rules so as to endanger the health and safety of those riding the bus will be prohibited from riding the bus for a period of time, or permanently. (In the event that a pupil is removed from a bus, it will be the responsibility of the parents to make provision for transportation for the pupil to and from school.) Parents are also reminded that under Pennsylvania State Statute( The Act of July 27, 1967, P. L. 186, 11 P.S. 2002 at seg.) they may be fined up to $300.00 for any damage or vandalism caused by their children.

I pledge to you that I will continue to make every effort to Improve our transportation situation. It is Important, however, that we in the schools have your full support and cooperation in our efforts to provide and maintain safe and healthful bus transportation so that the children can pursue their major task of learning with a very minimun of interruption.
 

Sincerely,

David W. Hornbeck
 

CEC/ba
 
 


 
 

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER. FOURTH FLOOR
734 Schuylkill Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19146

BUS BEHAVIOR REFERRAL

Pupil: ______________________________________________________
School: _____________________________________________________
Selection No.: _______ Date: __________ ( ) A.M. ( ) P.M.
Carrier: ___________________ Location/Garaqe: ______________

REASON:

( ) CONTINUOUSLY NOT STAYING IN THE SEAT
( ) LITTERING ON THE BUS
( ) TOO LOUD OR BOISTEROUS
( ) SMOKING OR LIGHTING MATCHES
( ) THROWING OR SHOOTING OBJECTS
( ) USING FOUL OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE
( ) FIGHTING, PUSHING, OR TRIPPING ON THE BUS
( ) GETTING TO BUS STOP LATE
( ) DAMAGING BUS
( ) DISRESPECT TO DRIVER OR OTHER RIDERS
( ) OTHER (BE SPECIFIC)

Please give details on incident ____________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Drivers Siqnature _______________________________________
Action taken by Principal_________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Administrators Siqnature____________________ Date ________
 
 

( ) Parents are to sign and return to principal when checked.

(Parents Signature) ------____________________________

(Please write any comments on back)

School Copy - White
Transportation Director - Yellow
Parent Copy - Blue
Driver Copy - Pink

TS 4-7-83


 
 
 

SCHOOL BUS REGULATIONS

(To be posted plainly inside all school buses and home room)

To have safe buses, the driver's attention must not be diverted by misbehavior on the bus. Only one or two students causing trouble could mean catastrophe for all of the students. Therefore, these rules will be enforced:

1. Upon entering a school bus, students will immediately find seats. They will remain in their seats. No one will be standing while bus is moving.

2.  Two students in a seat must make room for a third student.

3.  No one is permitted to save a seat.

4. Students may be assigned seats by the driver or principal.

5.  Each student shall display courteous conduct while on the bus.

6.  Every student will. get on and off at the bus stop assigned.

7. Drinking of any liquid is not permitted on the bus. (No bottles or cans are permitted on bus.)

8.  No eating, chewing gum, etc.

9. Smoking is not permitted on the bus.

10.  Yelling and loud talking is not permitted.

11. Profanity of any kind will not be tolerated on the bus.

12.  No snow shall be intentionally brought onto the bus.

13.  Nothing shall be thrown or otherwise propelled on the bus or through the windows.

14.  No fighting, scuffling, pushing or tripping shall be permitted on the bus.

15.  There is to be no littering on the bus.

16.  No student shall open the emergency door without being directed to by the driver except in an emergency in which the driver is incapacitated.

17.  Unreasonable conduct or any action which could endanger safe busing is not tolerated.

18.  Students will be held responsible for any damages which they may do to any school bus or to any other bus contractor's property.

The bus driver will be in charge at all times.