Items Permitted on a School Bus
- Items and supplies relating to or required for a course of instruction may be transported to and from school on a school bus, provided the item can be stored under the seat and secured from movement or can be held in the lap of the passenger.
- At no time can an item be transported on a school bus that would interfere with the emergency evacuation of the passengers in case of an accident or fire.
- Federal law mandates that all aisles and exits remain clear at all times. Therefore, items too large to be held in the lap of the student or secured under a seat will not be allowed on a bus.
- At no time can an item be transported on a school bus that would infringe upon the rights of another passenger to have a safe and comfortable seat on the bus.
- Principals, teachers and school bus drivers are instructed to communicate the rules and regulations for transporting items to the parents and students before a passenger gets to a bus stop with an unacceptable item.
- The school bus driver should contact the Transportation Director or Assistant Director about items to be transported. At no time will a student be left at a bus stop because of a disagreement or a misunderstanding about the item. The driver should contact the Transportation Department Supervisor or Assistant Supervisor by radio if the incident occurs on the school campus. The bus driver will then be relieved of the responsibility and the principal and supervisor will assume the responsibility of making a decision to resolve the matter.
- Principals, coaches and band directors are instructed to establish which items can be safely transported on the bus and still meet the above criteria, and they are instructed to communicate this decision to the students.
Items that are Prohibited
- Live animals or insects (exceptions may be made in consultation with the principal and Transportation Supervisor or Assistant Supervisor).
- Dead animals or insects that might cause panic on the bus.
- Band instruments that are too large to be held in the lap of the student or too large to be stored under the seat.
- Skateboards are prohibited.
- Open food or drink will not be allowed. Liquids or glass or glass containers will not be allowed.
- Eating or drinking is prohibited. Exceptions may be made for a field trip that involves lunch and is under the direct supervision of a classroom teacher.
- Chewing gum is prohibited because of the unsanitary conditions created by disposal of the gum.
- Large amounts of items to be sold as school fund-raising projects should be controlled. The principals are encouraged to communicate to the teachers the necessity of sending the items home over a period of several days.
- School bus drivers may provide "special occasion treats or rewards" to the students, provided they are distributed when the student leaves the bus in the afternoon.
- Teachers should be aware that loose papers sent home with an elementary student can cause serious accidents if the papers are accidentally blown under a school bus or into the street by the wind. Loose papers should be stapled together before the student leaves the classroom.
- Athletic equipment and band equipment transported to athletic events on the bus should meet as much as possible the same rules and standards as transportation to and from school.
- Additionally, all items prohibited at school, on school property, or at school functions are also prohibited on the bus.
Issued by Director of Schools
May 25, 2004