Bus Regulations and Disciplinary Policy (WNESU)

The Windham Northeast Supervisory Union school bus drivers perform a very important and responsible job every day.  The passengers we carry are our children and the children of the communities we serve. It is our goal to maintain a transportation system that assures each student a safe, comfortable ride to and from school.  In order to do this, it is important that we follow procedures, which are easily understood by all students, parents and employees.

1. Cooperate with the driver.
2. Stay in your seat while the bus is moving.
3. Do not eat or drink on the bus.
4. The bus driver is authorized to assign seats.  If you are assigned a seat, stay in that seat until the driver tells you that you may again choose your own seat.
5. Be courteous. (No loud or profane language.)
6. Keep the bus clean.
7. Do not smoke, chew tobacco, or consume drugs or alcohol.
8. Do not be destructive to either the bus or other student’s property.
9. Keep head, hands, feet and all other body parts inside the bus and out of the aisles, if possible.
10. Observe the same rules as expected in the classroom.  

The following disciplinary procedures will be used:

1. At the first violation of the rules, the bus driver will verbally warn the
   student.
2. If the student fails to comply, the bus driver will report the incident to the building principal or designee, both verbally and in writing. The principal will notify the transportation supervisor and the parent (within 24 hours).
3. For severe behavior, the bus driver will contact the appropriate principal, the transportation supervisor and/or the SU office immediately upon completing his or her run.  Student riding privileges are suspended until the parent or guardian consults with school personnel who are knowledgeable about the incident.  The driver fills out the incident report, or forwards it to the building principal as soon as possible.  The building principal contacts the parents and may suspend the student’s riding privileges for up to 10 days.
4. Future violations will be reported to the building principal which may result in the suspension of bus riding privileges for the student for a minimum of one to a maximum of ten days.  Parents will be notified of each violation.
5. At some point when the safety of the students is threatened, violation of the rules of the bus may lead to the suspension of bus riding privileges for the remainder of the school year.  Transportation is a privilege – not a right.
6. The riding privilege of a student may be suspended for the entire school year without following the above steps for more serious violations such as bringing a weapon on the bus, fighting, or causing injury, etc.
7. When a student has been suspended from the school bus, the school district will not be responsible for providing transportation. The suspension will apply to other school districts within the Supervisory Union.  Before a student is reinstated on the bus, a meeting between the parent/guardian, student, building level principal, and transportation supervisor or bus driver must take place. Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to the transportation supervisor at 463-9958, extension 120.