Student Transportation Services and Policies * Eligibility for Transportation Services * School Closing and Cancellations * Transportation Guidelines and Procedures * Student Ridership Expectations * Consequences for Unacceptable Behavior 

WAUNAKEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Student Transportation Services and Policies

The Waunakee Community School District will comply with all state regulations concerning the transportation of regular education students and students with disabilities. All transportation arrangements will be made by Lamers Bus Lines in coordination with the Waunakee Community School District.

This handbook shall be distributed to all students, parents, teachers, school bus drivers, and school administrators to be used as a quick reference guide on transportation rules and guidelines. More specific information is found in Board of Education Policies (750’s) which are available at: http://www2.waunakee.k12.wi.us/admin/boe/policy/WCSD%20Policies.htm.

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Eligibility for Transportation Services

The Waunakee Community School District provides transportation for:

1. Students in grades Kindergarten through fourth grade who reside more than 1.0 miles from their assigned school. The district shall provide transportation to students in grades 5-12 who live more than 1.75 miles from the intersection of Knightsbridge and South Street in the Village of Waunakee. 
2. Students in grades K-8 will be transported to school from hazardous areas as defined by the Dane County Sheriff. Hazardous areas include: north of Main Street; east of Division Street; west of State Highway Q; south of Woodland Drive, and east of Highway 113 (by Arboretum school).
3. Students who are placed in a special education program if the IEP team deems transportation necessary for the safety of the child.
4. Students who participate in the early childhood or Sprouts program.

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School Closings and Cancellations

Announcements for closing of schools will be made via local radio and television stations between 6:00AM and 7:00AM or during the day if a storm develops after the students arrive at school. School closings are determined by the District Administrator. Tune to the following stations to learn about emergency school closings:

RADIO TV
WOLX (94.9 FM) Channel 3 WISC
WMMM (105.5 FM) Channel 15 WMTV
WYZM (105.1 FM) Channel 27 WKOW
WMLI Lite 96 (96.3 FM) Cable Channel 4 (local only)
WZEE Z104 (104.1 FM)
WMAD (92.1 FM)
WTSO (1070 AM)
WIBA (1310 AM/101.5 FM)
WNNO 106, (106.9 FM)
WBKY (95.9 FM)
WIBU (1240 AM)
WDLS (900 AM)

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Transportation Guidelines and Procedures

The following information pertains to transportation practices in the School District. This information is intended to provide each eligible student with safe, efficient transportation to and from school.

Bus schedules will be established which will cause pupils to be picked up at a set time and arrive at school before the start of the school day, but generally no earlier than twenty (20) minutes before the first bell.

1. The bus route number, pick up time and approved bus stop location will be provided to you before school begins.
    
2. Students must be out at the bus stop location a minimum of five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled pick up time. The bus will not wait or return for students.
    
3. Only students who are assigned on the route will be allowed to ride. Space and liability issues do not allow for additional or unauthorized riders. A bus student who needs to accompany another bus student to/from home or who needs to use a different bus or bus stop must have a note of explanation written by their parent and the parent of the student whose home they are going to/from. The notes must be submitted to the school office. This note must be approved by the Principal or School District Business Manager. The student will then receive a bus pass for a specific date or time period.
    
4. Students who are not eligible to ride the bus are not allowed to ride with another student even with a parent note. Exceptions may be granted by the School District Business Manager, Steve Summers.
    
5. Students will be picked up and dropped off only at designated stops along the route that are approved by the School District. It is the parent’s responsibility to instruct their child where to get on and off and how to get to and from the bus stop locations. It is strongly suggested that a parent or a neighbor wait at the bus stop location to supervise younger students.
    
6. Unless specifically authorized, bus routes will not enter private driveways, cul-de-sacs, dead end roads and areas that would create an unsafe situation or require the bus to back-up.
    
7. Students will use the district shuttle system when necessary to transfer between the elementary school attendance areas. This service shall be provided for intra-district transfer students, students with disabilities, and students whose approved day care provider is in another attendance area.
    
8. A responsible adult must be present to receive a special education early childhood student or Sprouts student. In the event that no one is there when the bus arrives, the child will remain on the bus until the end of the route. Attempts to contact emergency caregivers will be made by Lamers Bus Service and school district personnel. Drivers will attempt to drop the child off again at the end of the route. If there is still no one at the stop to receive the child, the Lamers Bus Service will bring the child to the local police and/or contact the appropriate county social services department. Parents will be responsible to pick up their child.
    
9. Requests for a student to ride a route bus to get on or off at a bus stop near a daycare or baby-sitter must be in writing on the Request for Alternate Pick Up/Drop Off Form. The district will consider requests only if the route bus can accommodate additional riders and if the rider ship will be on a consistent basis. The district will permit only two (2) pick up/drop off locations including home. Route buses will not make additional bus stops along the route to accommodate a baby-sitter or daycare provider. Fees apply when your home is not eligible for transportation or when the daycare provider’s location is not eligible for transportation. The Waunakee Community School District reserves the right to cancel or revoke the request at any time during the school year.

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Student Ridership Expectations

The following section explains student behavior expectations while on the bus. The Waunakee Community School District views transportation as part of the school day. Therefore, behavior expectations of the students riding the school bus shall be no less than what is required in the classroom. From a safety standpoint, the fact that students are on a moving vehicle requires rules that are even stricter than those for the classroom. Each bus driver carries the responsibility of ensuring transportation for students and is authorized to enforce all established rules. The Waunakee Community School District reserves the right to modify the following rules, expectations and consequences at any time. In addition, the District authorizes the use of video cameras on school buses to assist with discipline issues.

The following includes most, but not all, of the basic Student Expectations.

1. Students may ride only on assigned routes and vehicles.
    
2. Students should respect private property while waiting at the bus stop and wait only in designated locations. Students should not move toward the bus until it has stopped and the driver has motioned the students to board. Students should always cross the street in front of the bus. See Appendix A
    
3. Student should avoid crowding or pushing when getting on or off the bus. The use of the emergency door is restricted for emergency evacuations only.
    
4. Students should take a seat as soon as they board the bus and remain seated at all times until the bus has stopped completely at the destination or bus stop. Students must share seats with other riders. Students may be required to sit three (3) to a seat and/or sit in assigned seats.
    
5. Students should keep arms, legs, head and other objects inside the bus and out of the aisle. Each student must keep arms, hands and legs to themselves while riding the bus.
    
6. Students should use quiet and normal voices in conversations with fellow riders. Yelling, screaming or profane language is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Harassing behavior, disorderly conduct, hazing, or anti-social behavior will not be tolerated. Sexually harassing behavior (obscene language and actions) will not be tolerated.
    
7. For safety reasons, students are not allowed to carry onto the bus any live reptiles, animals, insects, firearms, explosives, flammable materials, scented items or items that can be sprayed, i.e. breath spray, hair spray, scented markers, etc; slingshots, rubber band guns, water pistols, knives or other sharp objects, any other unsafe items or oversized items that would block an aisle, cause loss of passenger seat space, obstruct the drivers' view or create a safety hazard. If a student needs to bring such items to school, it shall be the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to transport.
    
8. Students may not use cell phones on the bus unless there is an emergency during which the bus driver needs assistance in notifying other adults.
    
9. When getting off the bus, the student should immediately move away from the side and never toward the rear of the bus. If a student must cross the street, they must wait for the driver's signal and cross in front of the bus. If a student needs to cross the street in a different area, they must wait on the sidewalk until the bus leaves the area and cross at the nearest crosswalk. See Appendix A.
    
10. Students should show respect for all bus drivers, adults assisting students and fellow students riding on the bus.
     
11. Bus drivers shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of all passengers and will report any behavior problems.
     
12. Students may not litter. Please help us keep our buses safe and clean.

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Consequences for Unacceptable Behavior

Generally, major type or repetitive rule violations will result in suspension of bus riding privileges. The following is the standard format used when dealing with rule violations. However, these are the minimum consequences and may be altered based on circumstances surrounding the incident.

Violations or acts of conduct that are severe in nature may result in immediate suspension of bus riding privileges and a conference with school officials may be held prior to resuming transportation services.

Parents will be notified by the school or Lamers Bus Service before any suspension goes into effect. Suspension days are school days - not calendar days.

** REMEMBER, RIDING THE BUS IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT! **

MAJOR VIOLATION CONSEQUENCES

1ST VIOLATION - The incident will be documented by the driver with copies sent to the parents/guardians, principal and Lamers Bus Lines within 24 hours. In cases involving severe incidents, the driver and school officials reserve the right to start discipline procedures at steps 3 or 4 (see below). A permanent suspension from the bus may be invoked. Law enforcement officials may issue lawful penalties. The school may impose additional consequences.

MINOR VIOLATION CONSEQUENCES

1ST VIOLATION – A verbal warning will be given to the student. The bus company / bus driver will promptly notify parents/guardians of the incident by phone within 24 hours. The incident will be documented by the driver with copies sent to the parents, principal and Lamers Bus Lines within 24 hours. The school principal will give a verbal warning to the student and may impose additional consequences.

2ND VIOLATION - The incident will be documented by the driver with copies sent to the parents/guardians, principal and Lamers Bus Lines within 24 hours. A 1-3 day suspension from the bus will be imposed. Parents will be responsible for transporting the student. The principal will speak with the student and may impose additional consequences. The principal must speak with the parent(s)/guardian(s) before the student will be allowed to ride the bus again.

3RD VIOLATION - The incident will be documented by the driver with copies sent to the parents/guardians, principal and Lamers Bus Service within 24 hours. A minimum five (5) day suspension from the bus will be imposed. Parents will be responsible for transporting the student. The principal will speak with the student and may impose additional consequences. A meeting with the student, parent(s)/guardian(s), bus driver/bus company and principal must take place before the student will be allowed to ride the bus again

4TH VIOLATION - The incident will be documented by the driver with copies sent to the parents/guardians, principal and Lamers Bus Service within 24 hours. The student will be suspended from the bus for the remainder of the year – the decision will be made in conjunction with the school. Parents will be responsible for transporting the student. The principal will speak with the student and may impose additional consequences. A meeting with the student, parent(s)/guardian(s), bus driver / bus company and principal must take place before the student will be allowed to ride the bus again.

EXAMPLES OF MAJOR RULE VIOLATIONS:

1. Smoking, chewing or possessing tobacco or related products.
2. Possessing prescription drugs not prescribed for the student, illegal drugs, related drug paraphernalia which includes devices used to abuse inhalants and /or alcoholic beverages.
3. Vandalizing or damaging bus property (restitution will be required from the offender).
4. Tampering with bus emergency equipment.
5. Possessing a firearm, knife, explosive, flammable material or other object that may be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon.
6. Interfering with the safe operation and travel of the bus and/or other motor vehicle.
7. Physically assaulting (hitting, punching, kicking, etc.) or verbally threatening the well-being of another person.
8. Refusing to follow safety rules or the driver's instructions.
9. Any act that seriously jeopardizes the safety of the student, passengers or the bus driver.
10. Using an object as a weapon for intimidation or bodily harm.

EXAMPLES OF MINOR RULE VIOLATIONS:

1. Yelling, screaming, singing or talking loudly.
2. Using profane or unacceptable language.
3. Failure to remain seated or to sit in an assigned seat if required by the driver.
4. Not keeping hands, arms and legs to oneself or out of the aisle.
5. Blocking the aisle.
6. Littering or spitting on the bus.
7. Showing disrespect toward the driver or another person.
8. Riding on another route without approval or a bus pass from the school office.
9. Throwing items in or out of the bus.
10. Failure to share seats.
11. Teasing, name calling, bullying, threatening violence, etc.

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