BUS RULES

1. Every person on the bus will wear a seat belt. In addition, all children will be placed in an appropriate age-weight-height child restraint seat.

 

2. The parent or the sitter is responsible for and will take the child to and/or from the bus.
3. No child will be dropped off unless a parent or pre-designated adult is present and visible to the Driver/Rider.




4. The person taking the child off the bus must be at least 16 years old. Written permission must be given by the parent for any person under 16 years old (but at least 12 years old), taking the child off the bus.  (There is an appropriate place on the Child Information  Card.)
5. The Bus Driver will check each child’s name on the bus route checklist as the child enters and exits the bus.




6. If no parent or sitter is at home to receive the child, the bus driver will bring the child to the CDS center that the child attends.
7. If a child is returned to their center because no one was at the drop off location, staff will keep the child at the center while attempting to contact someone to pick up the child. If, after one hour, the child is still at the center, the police will be called to come and pick up the child.




8. There will be NO changes of address for either pick up or drop off UNLESS it is to be permanent or of an emergency nature. Both must be approved by the Transportation Manager one week in advance.
9. BUS DRIVERS ARE REQUIRED TO WAIT NO LONGER THAN ONE (1) MINUTE WHEN PICKING UP OR DROPPING OFF CHILDREN. BUS DRIVERS WILL NOT  BLOW THE HORN




10. BUS DRIVERS AND/OR RIDERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GO TO THE DOOR AND KNOCK.
11. No eating or drinking is allowed on the bus when children are present.




12. No smoking on the bus or school property at any time.




13.  Make sure all drawstrings, ties, straps, etc., on clothing, backpacks and other items, are shortened or removed to lessen the likelihood of them getting caught in bus doors, railings or aisles.
14. Dangling key chains, large buckles, toys, and other objects hanging from backpacks are not allowed.




15. The Transportation Manager/Bus Driver will notify the parents of the pick-up and drop-off times for their child. TEN (10) MINUTES EARLIER OR LATER SHOULD BE ALLOWED DUE TO DELAYS AND ABSENCES AND BAD WEATHER.
16. Parents are responsible for contacting a staff member if their child will not be attending school.




17. IF A CHILD IS ABSENT THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE DAYS AND THE CENTER HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED, THE BUS DRIVER WILL NOT STOP AGAIN UNTIL THE PARENT CONTACTS THE CENTER.
18. If a child continually misbehaves on the bus, the Bus Driver/Bus Rider will report it to the child’s teacher. Parents are then given a warning regarding the child’s behavior. If the behavior continues, the child’s bus privileges may be suspended for 3 days.




19. In the event that a designated adult is not present, or no one is present to receive the child, a note will be left on the door of the home indicating the problem and stating where and when the child may be picked up. A note will be left on the door the second and third time of such an event. However, on the third incident, the note will state that the child/family is suspended from transportation services for three consecutive Head Start days. The child may attend the program, but transportation will not be provided. Transportation services will resume after the suspension period at which time this process will repeat.

• We leave our seatbelts on until we get to our homes or school.
• We leave our food at home
• Toys stay at home.
• We ride using inside voices.
• We keep our hands to ourselves.