A parent or guardian must be present at the bus stop to pick up their Kindergarten child at the end of the day. If a parent or designated adult is not at the stop, the bus will continue and the parent will be notified to pick up the student at the Transportation department at the end of the bus route. If a guardian is unable to be present, they may designate another adult by submitting a written note to the Transportation Office in advance. The note will be kept on file upon request. Submit your request to the Transportation Director, Cathi Gutierrez.

Students must obey the school bus driver, school bus monitor, and any instructional assistant assigned to the school bus by the transportation director and/or school district. When transporting classes or teams, the teacher and/or coach are primarily responsible for the behavior of the students. Students must obey the school bus driver, the teacher, the coach, and/or any other staff member. 

Students must ride only on their assigned school bus. Students must only get on and off at their assigned school bus stops. Any change requests must be made by the Transportation office and approved by the Assistant Transportation Director or the Transportation Director.

At the student’s assigned school bus stop the student must never cross behind the school bus and must watch for the school bus driver’s hand signal to cross the road in front of the school bus only when the school bus red STOP paddle is extended.

Students are expected to be at the school bus stop ten (10) minutes prior to the school bus arrival time and must remain off the road and stay off the property of local businesses or residents while waiting for the school bus. When waiting for a school bus or going to and from a school bus stop, students are responsible for conducting themselves according to the social and legal standards that apply to adults in public.They must not abuse or cause damage to private or public property; must not use obscene language or gestures; and must not engage in criminal activity.

Students must remain seated and facing forward with their feet on the floor while the school bus is in motion. Any school buses with seat belts must be fastened properly while the school bus is in motion, this is Washington State Law. Students should use their inside, library voice so the bus driver is able to hear the radios or a siren outside of the bus.

Students will be assigned seats and may only move seats with permission from the school bus driver. All student backpacks and lunch bags must remain closed and on the student's lap, out of the school bus aisle while riding the school bus.

All books and personal belongings must be kept in the student’s backpack.

Animals (except service animals) cannot be transported on school buses.

If you cannot see the driver, the driver cannot see you! It is important to never walk behind a school bus and always be at least four giant steps away from the bus.  When you are waiting for the bus in the morning or at school, stand away from the road and never cross the street until the driver gives you a signal that it is ok to cross.
 

Students must not open school bus windows without the school bus driver’s permission. Students must not extend any part of their body out of school bus windows at any time. Students must not throw objects out of the school bus windows at any time, with NO littering.

Students must not eat or drink on school buses except when specifically authorized and supervised by the school bus driver, an accompanying teacher, a coach, any other staff member, and/or student IHP. School buses must be kept clean, with NO littering. 

Students’ use of personal electronic devices in accordance with the school student handbook may be operated outside of the school bus unless an emergency exists that involves imminent physical danger when a school bus driver or school authority gives a student permission to use.

The use of electronic devices with any type of camera is prohibited. Any electronic device when a camera is used on the school bus will be confiscated and disciplinary consequences will follow.

Students that use electronic devices, including iPods, MP3 players, and electronic books must use headphones and keep the volume down with one earpiece out while riding our buses so that students are able to hear the school bus driver in case of an emergency.

See Student Board Policy 3245

Students and Telecommunication Devices Students in possession of telecommunication devices including, but not limited to, cellular phones, computers, tablets, digital cameras, portable gaming systems, or portable music players, while on school property or while attending school or school-related activities will observe the following conditions:

1. Telecommunication devices will be turned on and operated only before and after the regular school day, the school bus is an extension of the classroom and during the student’s lunch break, unless an emergency exists that involves imminent physical danger, or a school administrator or certified staff member authorizes the student to use the device.
2. Students will not use telecommunication devices in a manner that poses a threat to academic integrity, disrupts the learning environment, or violates the privacy rights of others.
3. Students will not take, send, share, view, or possess pictures, text messages, emails, or other material depicting sexually explicit conduct as defined in RCW 9.68A.011, in electronic or any other form on a cell phone or other telecommunication device, while the student in on school grounds, at school-sponsored events, or on school buses or vehicles provided by the district. 

Students must not possess or smoke any tobacco products on school buses. Students must not possess or ignite lighters or matches on school buses, this includes all vaping pens and any device representing a vape pen.

Students must not possess laser devices when riding a school bus. The use of a laser device while riding a school bus will warrant suspension of bus privileges. Students may not carry or have in their possession items that can cause injury to passengers on the school bus. (Such items include, but are not limited to, sticks, breakable containers, perfume products, weapons or firearms, straps or pins protruding from clothing, and large, bulky items which cannot be held or placed between the knees).

Students must not deface or damage our school buses. Students will be held accountable and will make appropriate restitution. This includes damage or graffiti to seat cushions, seat covers, side panels, windows, and the exterior of the school bus. The seat will be repaired and the invoice will be sent to the parent or guardian

Student bullying of others is not acceptable. If, in the opinion of the school bus driver or bus supervisor, a student is bullying it may result in a written report. The written notice is the primary means by which a school bus driver or bus supervisor communicates a student’s conduct to the school Dean and to the Transportation Department. This report, in most cases, reflects an infraction of rules that are repeated by the student after he or she, has received previous oral warnings from the school bus driver or bus supervisor. The school Principal, or Dean, upon receiving the report, will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and act according to the procedures set forth in the district’s policies pertaining to corrective action and punishment. When investigating the incident, the primary concern must be the safe transport of students.

Corrective action, if necessary, should be consistent throughout the district as follows:

1. WARNING: When a student’s misconduct is of a minor nature that does not jeopardize the safety or welfare of other students or the operation of the school bus.
2. SUSPENSION: When a student’s misconduct is deemed to jeopardize the safety of school bus passengers or the operation of the school bus or when repeated warning notices fail to correct abusive behavior or when a student incurs damage to the school bus.