District Transportation Overview and Policies
The majority of the students within the Fox Point-Bayside Schools are provided bus transportation to and from school. The exceptions to this rule include Open Enrollment students who are not eligible for bus service and a limited number of students around Bayside Middle School who are in a designated walking area.
The School Board contracts with Riteway Bus Company to provide bus services within the Fox Point-Bayside Schools. The School Board has established the following general tenets for the bus service that it provides:
The school bus shall be considered an extension of the classroom, therefore, the Board shall require students to conduct themselves while on the bus in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior. A set of bus rider rules (detailed below) shall be developed by the administration in order to insure the safe transportation of students to and from school. These rules shall be approved by the Board.
In cases when a child fails to conduct him/herself properly, such misconduct should be brought to the attention of the administration by the bus driver. Where continuing or extremely serious problems exist, the student’s bus riding privileges may be suspended.
General Bus Transportation Information
Bus transportation is provided for all pupils attending the Fox Point-Bayside School District, with the exception of students attending under the Open Enrollment Policy. Routes have been planned to adequately cover all areas. No route, however, is permanent. All are subject to change as conditions and population in given areas change.
Written consent from a parent and the approval of the principal (or designee) are required when a pupil plans to deviate from the regular routine.
If You Have Bus Problems - Who Do You Call?
If you have a question or concern about a bus route, a late or early bus, or a bus driver, please call the bus company directly – RITEWAY BUS SERVICE, INC. - 226-5481 (PRESS 0)
If you have a question or concern about a discipline matter on the bus, please call Stormonth School - 247-4100.
Bus Rider Rules
Each bus is under the direct supervision of a trained driver. In the interest of safety, parents are asked to help in instructing their children to follow the bus rider rules. Bus drivers will inform the building principal in writing of students who do not comply with the bus rider rules. Failure to comply with these rules may result in loss of riding privileges. Transportation to and from school would then become a parent responsibility.
Students should:
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Obey the bus driver.
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Remain seated at all times.
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Keep windows closed unless permission is given by the driver, and keep hands, head and arms inside the bus.
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Keep books, backpacks, jackets, etc. out of the aisle.
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Help keep the bus safe and clean. Eating, drinking, and littering are not permitted.
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Remember that loud talking, yelling, or unnecessary commotion distracts the driver and may result in an accident. Rough and boisterous behavior is not permitted.
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Be considerate of the rights, belongings, and feelings of other riders and the driver.
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Refrain from using obscene language or gestures.
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Be on time at their designated school bus stop.
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Be careful in approaching and waiting at bus stops.
All riders are expected to obey the driver, who has full authority to operate the bus in the best safety interests and convenience of the rider. The driver has full authority to assign seats or restrict privileges, if necessary.
Bus Report Procedure
1st Bus Report:
The first bus report is considered a warning to the student, unless it is a serious offense. The student is counseled by the principal or the classroom teacher. The discussion includes appropriate bus ridership and the consequences of a second bus report. Parents generally are notified depending upon the degree of misbehavior.
2nd Bus Report:
The second bus report is considered a warning to the student and the parents. The student is counseled by the principal. The discussion includes appropriate bus ridership and the consequences of a third bus report. At this point parents are contacted by phone and/or letter. A copy of the first and second bus reports are sent home for parents to review.
3rd Bus Report:
The third bus report may result in a bus suspension. This suspension would be for a period of one to five days. Parents have the legal responsibility to see to it that children are in school on days that children are suspended from the bus. Parents are contacted by phone or letter, and a copy of the third bus report is sent home. At this point, a meeting with the student, parents, bus company representative and the principal may be arranged. Serious breeches of discipline could result in losing bus transportation for up to a full school year.
Additional Bus Reports:
If more than three bus reports are made, similar procedures stated previously will be followed, with suspensions possible for up to five days. Excessive bus reports may result in the suspension of bus privileges for the balance of the school year. Depending upon the severity of the misbehavior, the Fox Point-Bayside School District reserves the right to remove students from the bus for an unlimited period of time, at any time.
Students may also be assigned a seat on the bus for inappropriate bus behavior, lose recess privileges and/or receive an in-school suspension.
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