Bus Procedure and Discipline

Transportation and Safety Concerns:

It is the intent of the Finley School District to bus all students to and from school. (Finley elementary students are not permitted to walk or ride bicycles to school.) We want the ride on buses to be safe and pleasant. Throughout the year bus drivers and teachers review safety rules with students. We would also like parents to discuss the rules and the reasons for bus rules with their student.

Glass items and pets are not allowed on school buses for safety reasons. Students should be extremely careful at bus stops and when crossing streets. Students should understand that bus stops become dangerous when pushing and shoving occurs. Good behavior at the bus stops in the morning is especially important. We would like parents to discuss with their student the importance of good behavior while waiting for the bus to come.

If you want your student to ride a different bus than his/her usual one, he/she will need a note requesting this, signed by his/her parent or guardian. These notes are first approved by the office and then given to the bus driver by the student. Due to limited seating for students on buses, we will not be able to transport extra students for club meetings or birthday parties. Note: Students riding buses are not allowed to leave school grounds once they arrive at school.

Students are responsible for their behavior from the time they leave school until they return the next morning. This includes their interaction with other students on the bus and at the bus stop. The understanding is the same: “No one has the right to interfere with the learning, safety and well-being of others” and each student is to “Do what is expected and do it the best that they can”.

Rules and Regulations for Riding a School Bus:

These rules and regulations were prepared the State Superintendent of Public Instruction with the advice of the Chief of the Washington State Patrol and of the Director of Highways of the State of Washington, and apply to all public school buses operating in the State of Washington.

  1. The driver is in full charge of the bus and pupils.
  2. Pupils shall ride their regularly assigned bus at all time unless permission has been granted by the school authorities.
  3. Unless by permission of school authorities, no pupil shall be permitted to leave the bus except at his/her regular stop.
  4. Each pupil may be assigned a seat in which he/she will be seated at all times.
  5. Outside of ordinary conversation, classroom conduct must be obeyed.
  6. Pupils are to assist in keeping the bus clean. Refrain from throwing refuse out of the bus. No eating.
  7. No smoking or fires.
  8. No open windows unless by permission.
  9. Pupils must see that they have nothing in their possession that may cause injury to another. No animals allowed.
  10. Each pupil must see that his/her belongings are kept out of the aisle.
  11. No pupil will be allowed to talk to the driver more than necessary.
  12. No pupil shall sit in the driver’s seat or be immediately left or right of the driver.
  13. Pupils are to remain seated while bus is in motion.
  14. Pupils must leave bus in orderly manner
  15. Pupils must cross the highway ONLY in front of the bus and ONLY with the consent of the school bus driver.
  16. Pupils must not stand or play in the roadway while waiting for the bus.
  17. Self-discipline should be exercised by pupils at the bus loading area and bus stops.
  18. Pupils who walk some distance to and from the bus must walk on the left side of the roadway.
  19. In the event of an actual emergency, emergency exit drill procedures will be followed.
  20. School districts will be reimbursed for damages to buses by students/parents.
  21. Student’s misconduct will be sufficient reason for transportation to be discontinued for those involved. (Finley School District Procedure 6605P)

Conduct at Bus Stops:

  1. Students must not stand or play on the roadway while waiting for the bus.
  2. Students should arrive at the bus stop no more than 10 minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus.
  3. Students must wait to board the bus in an orderly manner, no games, no cuts, no throwing of objects.
  4. Students must respect private property while waiting for the bus.
  5. Self-discipline must be exercised by students waiting in the bus loading area.

Video Cameras in Buses:

Our primary goal is to transport children safely to and from school each day. Our drivers must be aware of all traffic conditions, pedestrian traffic, emergency vehicles and still have full control of the students who are loading and unloading at their bus stops. All or part of these responsibilities could be jeopardized when students on the bus are not following the bus riding rules, and when the driver has to pay more attention to the students than operating the bus.

In order to assure safety and monitor the conduct of children riding the school buses, the Finley School District Transportation Department has placed a video camera surveillance system in each bus. The films may be shown to the school principal and/or parents for their review and possible action to correct any individual student’s control problems.

The presence of the video camera has helped to solve many of our concerns for safety and encouraged proper student conduct.