Handbook Articles

Transportation

Students will be required to board and exit from their assigned buses at the location designated at the time of purchasing a bus pass. Changes, other than at the time of purchase, will require a one-week notice prior to the change. Students will be required to present their bus pass before boarding the bus. There are 2 safety practices per year so all students know how to exit a bus in the event of an emergency.

BUS CONDUCT RULES
Urbandale Community School District contracts all student-busing services to Laidlaw, Inc.

Rules for riding the Urbandale school buses:

1. Stay in your seat at all times.
2. Keep your hands, feet, books, and objects to yourself.
3. Swearing, rude gestures, teasing, and disrespect is unacceptable.
4. Use classroom voices on the bus.
5. Follow the driver's directions.

The operation of a safe, efficient, and economical transportation program requires that all passengers observe a set of regulations. In order to avoid any misunderstanding that might develop at a future date, the procedures below will be followed:

1. The driver will counsel with the student on proper bus behavior.
2. The driver will write a referral and submit it to the principal and bus company official.

ÿÿÿÿÿ1st Referral - Warning by the principal.
ÿÿÿÿÿ2nd Referral - Suspension from the bus for 3 days.
ÿÿÿÿÿ3rd Referral - Suspension from the bus for 10 days.
ÿÿÿÿÿ4th Referral - Suspension from the bus for indefinite       period of time.

Parents will be notified after each referral. A meeting will be conducted involving the driver, Bus Company official, and parent after the fourth referral.

For extremely dangerous behavior, immediate suspension will be warranted and utilized.

Video cameras may be placed on school buses to monitor student behavior. The film may be used as evidence in a student disciplinary hearing.

STUDENTS RIDING DIFFERENT BUSES
Students riding a bus and/or going to a stop other than their regularly assigned stop is not encouraged. However, in the event a child should need to, please send a written note with the student, with a parent/guardian signature. A note will need to be sent each time the child needs to change the stop. The note shall be given to the child's bus driver. If a child does not present a note, then the change cannot be made.

In order to maintain efficient bus routes, load sizes must be consistent. Therefore, non-eligible bus riders would only be allowed to ride the bus when space permits an when accompanied by a written note signed by the parent/guardian.

DISTRICT BUSING
The District will provide transportation for elementary students and middle school students living more than two miles from a designated attendance center, and high school students living more than 3 miles from Urbandale High School. Kindergarten students north of Aurora and south of Douglas, west of 75th Street or east of 70th Street will be provided transportation.

Paid transportation will be available for the 2004-2005 school year in the following elementary areas:

Jensen: none
Karen Acres: west of north Walnut Creek Drive and east of 86th Street
Olmsted: northwest corner of 86th Street to 77th Street to Parkview Drive to Townsend Avenue
Rolling Green: none
Valerius: none

Paid transportation is available to those middle school students living east of 86th Street south of Douglas, and the area east of 70th Street.

Paid transportation is available in the mornings only for high school students residing west of 86th Street.

Students will be required to board and exit from their assigned buses at the location designated at the time of purchasing a bus pass. Changes, other than at the time of purchase, will require a one-week notice prior to the change. Students will be required to present their bus pass before boarding the bus.

See Board Policy 703 - Transportation.

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