These school bus policies and procedures have been established so students and parents in the Brunswick City School District, both public and non-public, will receive information leading to an understanding of the expectation of students while they are being transported to and from school.
These policies call for cooperation on the part of students, parents, bus drivers, and other school personnel, and have been developed to promote safety.
Parents are encouraged to study these policies and procedures with their child/children. Both parents and students should become familiar with what is expected for safe and orderly transportation to and from school.
 | Help the driver maintain the scheduled pickup times by being ready and waiting 10 minutes before the bus arrives. Students are to be waiting by the curb of the property or at the designated "safe" stop and not in their house, on the front porch, or in the garage. If the driver cannot see the student waiting, the driver will continue on to the next stop. Too frequent and long stops cause delays in the fixed bus schedules, increase traffic congestion, and delay the arrival of students at schools. This is unfair to students, schools and other highway users, and multiplies hazards for the bus and its occupants. |
| Parents are responsible for the conduct of students while going to or from pick-up points and for students' meeting the bus on schedule. The Board furnishes transportation in compliance with Ohio law. This fact does not relieve parents of students from the responsibility of supervision until such time as the student boards the bus and after the student leaves the bus at the end of the school day. |
| Students living in developments with a single access road shall walk to the designated pick-up spot, usually the intersecting street. |
| Bus stops are limited, where feasible, so that students from several homes can meet at a central point safely for group pick-up. |
| Students shall be waiting, in an orderly manner, at the assigned loading area to board the bus when it stops in the morning. No pushing or shoving will be allowed when boarding or getting off the bus. |
| After the bus stops, wait until you get a signal from the driver before crossing streets to get on or off the bus. |
| Look both ways before crossing a street. |
| Walk quickly, but safely, so that the bus will not be holding up traffic. |
| Use caution crossing the road after getting off the bus. Some drivers of other vehicles may not observe the rule requiring them to stop for a stationary bus. |
| Only students eligible for transportation and residing in the Brunswick City School District are permitted to board and ride Brunswick City School buses. |
| All school and district rules as listed in board policy or school handbooks are also in effect while traveling on school buses. |
| All students will be assigned seats on the bus by the driver. |
| Take assigned seats as soon as you get on the bus. No standing will be permitted. |
| All seats must be shared. If the bus is filled to capacity, state law permits three to each seat as long as students are safely contained within the seat compartment; this applies to junior and senior high students as well as those in the elementary grades. |
| No student shall leave or be out of his/her seat while the bus is in motion. |
| All parts of a student's body shall be kept inside the bus, especially when a window is open. |
| Do not throw anything in the bus or out an open window. |
| Nothing shall be held so it extends out of the window or in the aisle of the bus. |
| Parents shall be financially responsible for any damage to the interior or exterior of the bus done by their child/children. |
| No eating or drinking is permitted on the bus at any time. |
| Talk quietly at all times. At intersections and at railroad crossings, there is to be no talking to ensure safety. |
| Illegal drugs of any type shall not be permitted on the bus at any time. |
| No smoking or use of tobacco products shall be allowed on the bus at any time. |
| Absolutely no alcohol is allowed on the bus at any time. |
| Live animals (caged or otherwise), firearms, ammunition, explosives or other dangerous materials and objects which may interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle shall not be transported on the school bus. |
| Large objects, including band instruments, are not to be transported on the bus unless they are small enough to be held in the student's lap. |
| Learn how to get off the bus in case of an emergency. The bus driver will conduct practice drills periodically. |
| Students must ride their assigned bus to and from school. Changes in bus assignments and/or stops can be made only in the case of an emergency. Approval for any change must be requested by the parent or guardian in writing and approved in writing by the building principal. |
| Video cameras may be placed on buses to monitor student behavior and will be used to identify any misconduct. |
| The driver will be responsible for the orderly conduct of his/her passengers. While on the bus, the student is under the authority of, and directly responsible to the bus driver or aide, where applicable. |
| The driver has the authority to enforce the established procedures for bus conduct. If any student willfully refuses to obey the bus driver or the posted safety rules, a School Bus Incident Report shall be completed and turned in to the Transportation Office. A copy will be forwarded to the building principal. The building principal will handle all discipline and advise parents of any disciplinary procedures or action taken. |
| The Board authorizes the Superintendent or designated administrators to suspend a student from school bus riding privileges only for a period of up to one school year. The only due process required is notice to the student of an intended bus riding suspension and an opportunity to appear before the administrator considering the suspension before it happens. |
| When it becomes necessary to refuse a student transportation due to misconduct, the school administrator (principal or designee) shall make the decision and notify the parents in writing of such refusal with an explanation for this action. The bus driver will not permit the student to board the bus until the suspension is completed or the principal/designee stipulates otherwise. |
| It should be clear that all suspensions or matters needing the principal's attention will be handled and directed through him/her. |
| All bus transportation will be based on the student's home address unless a Child Care Arrangement Form is completed and filed with the Transportation Office. These forms are available at each school, the Board of Education, and the Transportation Office. This form must be completed EACH YEAR by July 31st for transportation requests to any location other than the home address. |
| All students must be picked up at the SAME location Monday through Friday and dropped off at the SAME location Monday through Friday. (Example: pick up student at home every morning; drop off at babysitter every afternoon.) DAILY CHANGES CANNOT BE ACCOMMODATED. (Example: cannot pick up student Monday through Wednesday from home and from babysitter Thursday and Friday.) Parents must arrange for transportation to and from any unauthorized address. Emergency situations arising require authorization from transportation or the building principal. |
| Requests can only be made for transportation to and from a child care provider or babysitter within your attendance district. (Example: no transportation will be provided if your child attends Kidder elementary and your babysitter or child care provider resides in the Towslee school district.) |
| Kindergarten class (AM or PM) will be determined by street location and areas of pick-up and drop-off. Any babysitter/child care provider must reside in the same class area (AM or PM) to be eligible for transportation at mid-day. |
| Requests received after July 1st may require up to five (5) days to implement due to bus routes and loads and cannot be guaranteed. |
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT RIDING A BUS IS A PRIVILEGE!
