Lane Bus Policy

Procedures for Drivers, School Principals and Parents:

1. In case of misconduct on a bus, the incident will be reported on the proper form to the school principal by the driver. The principal will report the incident in writing to the child's parents. In the case of injury, the parents or guardian of the injured child will be notified.

2. In case of a repetition of misconduct, within a school year, the principal may suspend the student's transportation privileges, for a period of time to be specified. The student will have been afforded an opportunity for a hearing prior to disciplinary action. For an exclusion of ten days or less, the student will be given notice of the charges and the evidence against him or her, and an opportunity to respond to the charges. Written notice of exclusion will be provided to the parents and a copy sent to the assistant superintendent. The parents, and when appropriate, the student, must meet with the principal prior to the return of bus-riding privileges.

All disciplinary action will be subject to appropriate due process.

3. Further misconduct shall be referred to the assistant superintendent. If, upon investigation by the assistant superintendent, she deems the misbehavior to be chronic, bus privileges will be denied the student for a period to be determined by the assistant superintendent and the responsibility for transportation will then rest with the parent.

4. Any parent concerns with misconduct on the bus should be reported in writing to the principal who shall conduct an investigation to determine the merits of the complaint. Appropriate disciplinary consequences as outlined above will follow.

5. Any serious offense that threatens the safety of any bus passengers or driver will be treated with whatever extraordinary measures are deemed appropriate by the school principal including immediate suspension from the bus. A disciplinary hearing will be held the next school day and a decision will be rendered of disciplinary action. Consequences could include either short and long term suspension or permanent exclusion from the school bus.

Loading and Unloading at Bus Stop:

1. Riders must be on time. Bus drivers will not wait.
2. Riders will enter or leave the bus at regular stops only.
3. Orderly behavior and respect for private property will be required.
4. Instructions and directions of the driver must be followed by the riders when entering or leaving the bus.

Required Conduct Aboard the Bus:

1. Riders must remain seated when the bus is in motion.
2. Whistling and shouting are not permitted.
3. Profanity and obscene language, which will include tormenting and racial, religious or gender slurs, are forbidden.
4. Smoking is prohibited.
5. The following disturbances are prohibited:
   • Pushing, wrestling or inflicting bodily harm in any way
   • Threatening other passengers or disturbing their possessions
   • Unnecessary talking to the driver
   • Throwing objects within the bus or out of windows
   • Climbing over or under seats
   • Littering the bus
   • Leaning out of windows/including head, arms, hands or feet
   • Defacing or damaging the bus
   • Weapons of any kind including using body parts as weapons
6. Parents will be held responsible for any defacing or damaging of the bus.

Changes to Bus Routes:

1. As many of our buses are near capacity, we cannot permit riders to switch buses, even for a day or two, unless the change is required for:
   • A school-sponsored activity (e.g. Odyssey of the Mind)
   • An activity sponsored by the Town's Recreation
   • Program (e.g. "Kid's Club")
   • Emergency and/or temporary daycare arrangements
2. Children who wish to alter their regular route and/or mode of transportation home must bring a signed note from home requesting and specifying the change.

A Transportation Committee, comprised of parents, school, and bus company administrators, reviews all written concerns about bus transportation issues. The Committee can be contacted through the School Business Manager at the Office of the Superintendent.