The Central Square School District Board of Education believes that the bus driver is in charge of the bus, and as such, the bus driver's instructions are to be obeyed by all students at all times.  

Upon boarding the bus, the school day begins. The school bus is to be considered an extension of the classroom, and all rules and regulations enforced in school classrooms are in force for students while riding on school buses.

Student actions which have the potential of distracting the driver, or otherwise affect a safe and orderly environment on the bus are strictly prohibited and will result in consequences involving loss of riding privileges. The Superintendent, or his/her designee, is authorized to investigate charges and suspend riding privileges for those students who exhibit serious disciplinary problems on district school buses.  

In the event that a student has behaved in a way that warrants the loss of riding privileges, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the student involved will become responsible for seeing that their student gets to and from school safely.

Ref: Education Law3214; 3635

CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT ON DISTRICT SCHOOL BUSES

1. The bus driver is in charge of the bus.
2. The bus driver's instructions are  to be obeyed by all riders at all times. 
3. Upon boarding the bus, riders are to go immediately to their assigned seat and remain seated for the duration of the trip.
4. Upon boarding the bus the school day officially begins.
5. The school bus is considered an extension of the classroom, and all rules and regulations enforced in school classrooms are in force for students while riding on school buses.
6. Student actions which have the potential of distracting the driver, or otherwise affecting a safe and orderly environment on the bus, are strictly prohibited and will result in automatic consequences involving loss of riding privileges.
7. Such actions as the following, but not limited to these behaviors, will result in automatic loss of riding privileges:

a. Directing against the bus driver any personal attack, verbal abuse, or obscenities.

b. Smoking on the bus

c. Use of illegal drugs on the bus

d. Use of profanity

e. Deliberately causing damage to the vehicle

f. Deliberately tampering with the emergency exits

g. Throwing objects within, outside or at the bus that directly threatens the safety of students and/or driver

h. Being responsible for a physical altercation with other students

i. Threatening or harassing other students

j. Deliberately obstructing the driver's vision

k. Refusing to be seated in their assigned seats.

CONSEQUENCES OF STUDENT CODE VIOLATIONS

The consequences below are considered minimum consequences and the school principal or superintendent may add to the consequences as he/she deems appropriate. Any suspension from instruction will be handled in accordance with Section 3214 of the Education Law and the applicable Board Policies.

The suspension of riding privileges is to mean suspension of all bus riding, including athletic and extracurricular trips.

The bus driver must "witness", not simply "overhear" a violation, in order for a loss of riding privileges consequence to be enforced.

The beginning day for the denial of bus riding privileges is to be the next school day, immediately following notification to parents.

In the event that bus riding privileges are suspended, the school principal is to notify parents of the period these privileges are denied and the reason.

Examples of Consequences

Immediately upon suspension of riding privileges, for the violations as indicated by and asterisk (*), the student will not be allowed to ride his/her bus. Parents will be contacted to transport their child.  In the event the parent is not reached, the district will provide alternative transportation for the first trip (am or pm) following the suspension.

PROCEDURES

Automatic consequences are to be considered minimum consequences. With the bus considered an extension of the classroom, each school principal may add consequences as he/she deems appropriate.

Suspension of riding privileges means suspension of all bus riding, including athletic and extracurricular trips during the period of the suspension.

Immediately upon suspension of riding privileges for the violations the student will not be allowed to ride his/her bus. Parents will be contacted to transport their child. In the event the parent is not reached, the district will provide alternative transportation for the first trip (a.m. or p.m.) following the suspension.

• When the violation occurs on the p.m. run, the principal will be responsible for notifying the parent that they must provide transportation for their child to come to school in the morning. In the event the principal cannot be reached, the Transportation Supervisor or Assistant Transportation Supervisor will attempt to contact the parent.
• After violations, the student will not return to their bus until the end of the suspension period.

The bus driver must "witness", not simply "overhear" a violation, in order for an automatic consequence to be enforced. Heresay from other students will not satisfy this requirement to "witness". 

Bus drivers are required to write referrals for any category of violation and to provide these in person to the building principal, within two hours of the end of the route when the occurrence took place.

The district will provide routine training in the areas of:

• Student behavior management
• Parent relations
• Writing bus conduct referrals
• General procedures and practices
• The form used for referrals will be reviewed and upgraded to support the Code of Conduct on District School Buses.