Cassville R-IV School District

Board Policy

BOARD POLICY EEA STATES:

“Buses carrying school children will be considered extensions of the school environment. Any student whose conduct on a school bus is improper or jeopardizes the safety of other students may have his or her right to school bus transportation suspended for such period of time as deemed proper by the superintendent, building principal, or designee. Uniform rules of conduct and disciplinary measures will be enforced.”

 

BOARD POLICY EEAC STATES:

“The safe transportation of district students to and from school is to be of primary concern to school officials in the administration of the school bus program of the school district. All state laws and regulations pertaining to the safe use of school buses will be observed by drivers, students, and district personnel. All school buses used to transport children shall be inspected by an official inspection station during the month of August or prior to operating the vehicle during the school year as required by law. Furthermore, all school buses which meet specific weight and structural requirements must be equipped with a crossing control arm as required by law.”

 

Guidelines for Safe Transportation

 

In order to transport children safely to and from school each day, as well as on school sponsored trips, it is very important that parents and children under-stand that there are certain requirements that must be followed for a safe and enjoyable ride. Any offense committed by a student on a district-owned or contracted bus shall be punished in the same manner as if the offense had been committed at the student’s assigned school. In addition, bus privileges may be suspended or revoked. Any assignments missed due to bus suspension will be unexcused.

Students must observe the rules for safe student transportation and follow the directions of the driver in a prompt and courteous fashion. The bus driver is responsible for the safety of the students and the bus at all times. He or she may assign students to specific seats, contact parents for assistance, or refer students to the principal for disciplinary action.

 

Bus Conduct Rules

 

Regulations for safe bus riding from the Missouri Transportation Laws, Regulations, and Standards that pertain to the Cassville R-IV School District are as follows:

• Each student is to conduct himself in an orderly and courteous manner, similar to student classroom conduct.
• Students are to take their seats and remain seated at all times until the bus comes to a complete stop.
• Students shall not, at any time, extend arms or head out of bus window.
• The bus driver is in charge of the students and the bus at all times, just as a classroom   teacher is during the school day. Students must observe the directions of the driver and obey the driver promptly and courteously.
• The bus driver has the responsibility and authority to request students to follow the regulations and to assign students to specific seats.
• Students must have a note from parents that is to be turned into the office, to ride buses other than normal or to get off at a stop other than normal.
• The school’s authority for student safety and orderly behavior begins when students leave their home in the morning and continues throughout the entire transportation process and only ends after the student has reached his/her home after school.

Procedures

 

In addition to the preceding guidelines, we ask that children be at the bus stop five (5) minutes before their bus is scheduled to arrive in the mornings.

 

Students who fail to observe these rules will be subject to disciplinary action, since their failure to do so may affect the safety of others. A student who misbehaves will be reported by the driver to the principal. Failure to follow bus conduct rules and regulations may result in detention, ISS, school suspension, or suspension of the privilege of riding the bus. In the event of disciplinary action, efforts will be made to contact the parent or guardian as to the disciplinary action taken. In the case of bus suspension, other means of transportation should be arranged so the student can maintain his/her attendance in school.

 

It is the desire of the Cassville R-IV School District to provide the best

possible student transportation in an efficient and economical manner, and we ask for the cooperation of each parent and each student in this endeavor. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us at any time.

 

The Cassville R-IV School District has developed a system of procedures to assist parents in communicating questions, problems, and/or other concerns with the school. These procedures will help maintain effective lines of communication between the parents and school. These procedures will be used for discipline referrals, bus policy changes, behavior conferences, parental questions, parental concerns, and parental grievances. These procedures are not meant to be all encompassing. Some issues may require steps to be bypassed in order to maintain an effective, safe school transportation program.

 

Step 1 – Bus Driver

Step 2 – Building Administrator

Step 3 – Transportation Department

Step 4 – Superintendent

 

Phone Numbers

Transportation Department: 847-2317

Primary School: 847-2445

Intermediate School: 847-4010

Middle School: 847-3136

High School: 847-3137

Superintendent: 847-2221

 

Disciplinary Actions

Below is a list of bus infractions and consequences for each category. The goal is for all

students to enjoy a safe ride to and from school daily. We appreciate the help and support of

parents in guiding children to appropriate school bus behavior.  Bus drivers must teach, re-teach, and/or warn Primary students (Kindergarten – 2^nd) before completing a bus referral.

 

Type I Infractions

1. Horseplay including pushing and shoving.

2. Yelling.

3. Open beverages and/or eating food or candy.

4. Failure to sit in an assigned seat.

5. Blocking the aisle.

6. Out of the assigned seat while the bus is loading or unloading other students or while the bus is in motion. Students must be seated with their backs touching seat backs and facing forward. 

7. Throwing objects and/or littering.

8. Any other student behavior deemed a Type I Infraction by the District Administration.

 

Type I Consequences

• First Offense: Warning, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.
• Second Offense: 1-3 day bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.
• Additional Offenses: Minimum 3-day bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.

 

Type II Infractions

1. Throwing objects out of a moving school bus or toward the driver or monitor.

2. Bullying or harassment.

3. Vandalizing or tampering with equipment. Restitution must be made before the student will be

allowed back onto the school bus.

4. Multiple failures to obey a request of a bus driver or other authorized adult on the school bus.

5. Disrespectful action or language toward the bus driver, authorized adult, or another student.

6. Obscene language, innuendo, or gestures.

7. Any other student behavior deemed a Type II Infraction by the District Administration.

 

Type II Consequences

• First Offense: Up to 5-day bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.  * Parents have the option to “opt-in” with corporal punishment.
• Second Offense: Minimum 5-day bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.
• Additional Offenses: Recommendation for long-term bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.

Type III Infractions

1. Fighting or assault.

2. Use, possession, distribution, or sale of tobacco and/or tobacco products or vaping devices, or of an item represented to be any such product.

3. Possession, sale, distribution, use, or under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance or of an item represented to be alcohol or a controlled substance.

4. Use or possession of a weapon or fireworks.

5. Any other student behavior deemed a Type III Infraction by the District Administration.

 

Type III Consequences

• Any Offense: Long-Term bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.

 

Long-Term Suspension

• First Offense: Up to 20-day bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.
• Second Offense: Minimum 41-day bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.
• Additional Offenses: Minimum 82-day bus suspension, student/parent contact, Lumen, letter home.

 

Additional Information

Infractions will accumulate for the entire school year. After a student has accumulated more than 10 days of bus suspension during one school year, the student will be recommended for a long-term bus suspension. Parents may appeal to the Assistant Superintendent of Schools.

 

Depending on the infraction, administrators may impose consequences more severe than those listed above. Frequent and consistent misbehavior on school buses may lead to more serious

consequences. Consequences may also include detentions, corporal punishment, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, or expulsion. Referral to the proper legal authorities may also be required in addition to those consequences listed above for serious and/or consistent misbehavior.

 

Bus suspensions will not start until an administrator has contacted a parent either by telephone or written notice, with the following exception: An attempt will be made to contact parents in a timely manner. However, a student whose conduct may endanger the safety of himself/herself or others on the school bus will not be allowed back on a school bus until a conference with parents has been held. If contact with a parent cannot be made, safety will take precedence.

 

A school bus suspension privileges includes: (1) Transfer transportation, (2) VO-Tech transportation, and (3) ALL extra-curricular transportation until the suspension period is concluded.