Bus & Transportation

SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION

The Emanuel County School System operates school buses during the week for all students who desire to participate in the transportation program. However, this service which is determined by the conduct of the student rider may be discontinued.  A student is expected to behave by following school rules. For safety purposes, a student who misbehaves and threatens safety of students and/or staff will be reported to the principal. 

The principal will determine if the misbehaving student keeps or loses bus privileges. The principal’s decision is final.

Please speak with your child about his/her behavior on the bus. Help us help you get your child to school safely. Emanuel County School buses have video equipment on each bus. Videos are used to help deter bad behavior and to identify those who threaten school buses/children/drivers, etc.

Video Cameras on Buses

The Emanuel County School System has installed a video camera on all regular route buses and are archived on video tapes or hard drive disc (tapes).  All students who travel on system buses are shown on the tapes as they board and disembark from the buses and ride to and from school and other locations.  All tapes from this recording equipment are the property of the Emanuel County BOE.  The camera is there for safety purposes and to assist the driver and principal with discipline problems on the bus.  The camera records for about six hours then stops, rewinds, and begins again.  This might mean that something will not be recorded during this time.  Also, sometimes the equipment does not work properly even though every effort is made to maintain it in working order.  The tape may be pulled from the recording by the principal, transportation director, lead driver, or a person authorized by one of the above persons.  The tape will be labeled with the bus number, date, and the name of the person pulling the tape.  The tape will be given to the principal, assistant principal, or transportation director for viewing.  

Parents are not allowed to view videos due to the privacy rights of other students.

The tape may be pulled if an alleged disciplinary incident occurs involving, but not limited to, the following: a fight on the bus; illegal drugs/ weapons on the bus; verbal abuse/disrespect/ sexual harassment of the driver or another student; any act of physical violence upon another person; sex acts or sexual touching of any type; principal/ driver believes there to be a problem that the driver has not seen or heard; and/or altercation that results in law enforcement being called to the bus for assistance.

All tapes should be kept at the transportation department and in student record for storage.  They will be held until the school year ends and then be destroyed.  The tape may be used as evidence in disciplinary hearing if requested by principal or tribunal panel.

BUS STOP SAFETY/BEHAVIOR

There are serious safety issues for students while waiting at the school bus stop. Students are responsible for their actions and behavior while waiting at the school bus stop. School bus transportation can be denied if students do not conduct themselves properly.

The following are essential behaviors for student safety while at the school bus stop.

Students should:

1. Get up and get ready on time. Arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to come.
2. Go back home and get help or phone for assistance if you miss the bus. Get someone you know to take you to school.
3. Have all items in your book bag before you leave home so you don’t drop anything.
4. Wait in a safe place, 12 feet away from traffic.
5. Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger. Tell your bus driver, your teacher or your parents if a stranger tries to talk to you or pick you up.
6. Respect the property of home owners at the bus stop and also keep the noise down.
7. Respect the rights and safety of other students.
8. Wait in a “single file” line or in an orderly group.
9. Avoid horseplay.
10. Refrain from pushing and shoving.
11. Form an orderly line as the bus approaches, with the 1^st student in line standing 12 feet away from the road.
12. Keep electronic equipment packed away when preparing to board. Never use an electronic device or wear ear buds/headphones when boarding. You MUST be able to hear!
13. Wait before moving to the school bus.

BUS SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

Bus service is provided to and from a student’s home and school. Bus conduct rules must be obeyed. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of bus privileges. Parents are responsible for their children going to and from the bus stop and while they are waiting at the bus stop. Students who want to ride a different bus home, or get off at a different stop must have a note from home that is approved by the school office. Students must be at their designated bus stop when the bus arrives. Students are expected to arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Buses cannot wait for latecomers. Go back home for help if you miss the bus. Never walk to another bus stop. Never have parents drive students to another stop. GADOE rules. Only Emanuel County Public School students are authorized to ride the bus. The Director of Transportation must approve anyone else to ride the bus.

BUS STOPS

Although we are committed to the safety of students on the bus and at the bus stop, there are situations that require your assistance and participation in order to ensure the safety of your children when walking to and from the bus stop. Sometimes, children can be exposed to a dangerous situation because of their own behavior.

School bus stops are located as close as possible to the student’s home. Students are to use the stop closest to their home. If a residence is in a populated area, stops will be determined with the majority of student’s interests in mind. In other areas, such as housing developments or complexes, central locations are used as bus stops  State regulations require that bus stop be spaced at least one-tenth (1/10) of a mile or more apart on major highways. State provisions also require that children walk no more than ½ mile to their assigned stop. Bus travel down private roads that are not county maintained is not permitted. Exceptions are allowed in response to safety hazard. Bus drivers are not permitted to deviate from their routes without permission from the Director of Transportation. Buses are not permitted to travel on closed or flooded roads. Bus stops served by such a road will be temporarily relocated to the closest safe location. Service will be restored when conditions permit.

 

BUS LOADING AREAS

Each school has an area of the campus that is used strictly for the loading and unloading of students from the school bus. Automobiles that are in these restricted areas pose a dangerous safety hazard to students and will be stopped or moved.

WE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING POLICY

LACK OF SUPERVISION- Policy 2104.4, Georgia Department of Human Resources

Children eight years or younger should not be left alone.

Children between the ages of nine years and twelve years, based on level of maturity, may be alone for brief periods of time (less than two hours.

Children thirteen years and older, who are at an adequate level of maturity, may be left alone and may perform the role of babysitter, as authorized by the parent, for up to twelve hours.

 

Have an adult visible to receive your small children eight years or younger.

 

RULES SPECIFIC TO SCHOOL BUS

1. Students should observe the same rules as in the classroom.
2. Students should respect their bus driver and cooperate with his/her instructions or requests.
3. Students are prohibited from fighting or “rough housing”, which includes disruptive behavior such as pushing, shoving, shouting, slapping, pinching, kicking, etc.
4. Students are prohibited from having drugs, alcohol, weapons, fireworks or tobacco products in their possession when riding the school bus.
5. Students should remain in their assigned seats when the bus is moving and keep their hands and feet out of the aisle and off other riders or their property.
6. Students should keep their heads, hands and feet inside the bus at all times.
7. Students should not use profane, vulgar or obscene language or gestures to anyone on or outside the school bus.
8. Students should not eat drink or chew gum on the bus. No glass bottles or containers.
9. Students should not damage any portion of the interior or exterior of the school bus or its equipment.
10. Students are prohibited from having toys and radios in their possession when riding the school bus.
11. Students must remain absolutely quiet at all railroad crossings.
12. Students should not use tobacco products, including vapes on the school bus or at the school bus stop.
13. Students should not have things dangling from their book bags. Any excessively long straps should be pulled tight or cut off.

Bus Discipline Procedures

Disciplinary action for bus misbehavior is administered by the principal or other designee at the local school.  School buses and bus stops are considered extensions of the school campus.  All rules that govern student conduct while on school campus/property apply while students are on the school bus or at the bus stop.  School principals have the authority to impose an immediate suspension for serious offenses. The principal may also add any other disciplinary action deemed necessary.  School bus

drivers do not discipline children, although they have the prerogative to assign seats or move a child from one seat to another to solve a discipline problem.

Elementary Procedures for Bus Discipline are as Follows:

Offense 1:  The driver will talk with a student or may reassign him/her to a new seat on the bus.  If this does not correct the misbehavior, the driver will contact the school administrator.  The driver will document these actions.

Offense 2:  The principal will counsel with the student and warn the student.  Student will be placed on probation.  Driver will provide documentation of action taken during first offense.  The parent(s) or guardian(s) will be contacted.

Offense 3:  Student will be suspended from riding the bus for one (1) day.

Offense 4:  Student will be suspended from riding the bus for three (3) days.

Offense 5:  Student will be suspended from riding the bus for five (5) days.

Offense 6:  Student will be suspended from riding the bus for 10 days.

Subsequent offenses will warrant 10 or more days removal from bus.  The principal may also add any other disciplinary action deemed necessary.

Middle / High School Procedures for Bus Discipline Are As Follows:

Offense 1:  The principal will counsel with the student and warn the student. Student will be placed on probation.  Driver will provide documentation of action taken during first offense.  The parent(s) or guardian(s) will be contacted.

Offense 2:  Student will be suspended from riding the bus for one (1) day.

Offense 3:  Student will be suspended from riding the bus for three (3) days.

Offense 4:  Student will be suspended from riding the bus for five (5) days.

Offense 5:  Student will be suspended from riding the bus for 10 days.

Subsequent offenses will warrant 10 or more days removal from bus.  The principal may also add any other disciplinary action deemed necessary.  

In addition to any other rules governing the behavior of students on school buses, every student who rides a school bus should understand that the following behaviors are specifically prohibited:

1. Any “act of physical violence” defined under Georgia law as follows:

• Intentionally making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with the person of another (which is referred to in this Handbook as “Type One Physical Violence”); or
• Intentionally making physical contact which causes physical harm to another unless such physical contacts or physical harms were in defense of himself or herself, as provided in Georgia Criminal law at O.C.G.A. Section 16-3-21 (which is referred to in this Handbook as “Type Two Physical Violence”).

2. Bullying as defined elsewhere in the Handbook;
3. Physical assault or battery of other persons on a school bus;
4. Verbal assault of other persons on a school bus;
5. Disrespectful conduct toward the bus driver or other persons on the school bus;
6. Other unruly behavior on a school bus;
7. Using any electronic devices during the operation of a school bus, including, but not limited to, cell phones; pagers; audible radios; tape or compact disc players without headphones; or any other electronic device in a manner that might interfere with the school bus communication system or the school bus driver’s operation of the school bus.
8. Personal belongings should be left at home.  The school bus driver is not responsible for personal belongings of a student including belongings left on the bus.
9. Using mirrors, lasers, flash cameras, or any other lights or reflective devices in a manner that might interfere with the school bus driver’s operation of the school bus.
10. If a student engages in physical acts of violence, either Type One or Type Two, the student will be subject to the disciplinary consequences explained under the other relevant sections in this Handbook.
11. If a student is found to have engaged in bullying or in physical assault or battery of another person on a school bus, the parent or guardian of the student shall be required to participate in a meeting with appropriate school officials to form a school bus behavior contract for the student.  The contract may include, but is not limited to, assigned seating, ongoing parental involvement, and suspension from riding the bus.