AP 810: Safety and Code of Conduct on School Buses
Transportation
Background
To maximize safety for all who use the transportation system, it is paramount that students, parents/guardians, bus operators (drivers) and principals adhere to their roles and responsibilities associated with student transportation.
Definitions
a) The Bus Driver: Shall refer to any authorized contracted operator or staff member who transports students, for any purpose, on behalf of Parkland School Division Transportation Services.
b) The Parent: Shall refer to a Parent, as defined in the Family Law Act and, for the purpose of this procedure, shall include those guardians who hold responsibility for the student under the Act.
c) The Student: Shall refer to any student from Parkland School Division, or any of the partnering school divisions or independent schools, who utilizes Parkland School Division Transportation Services for any reason, and including day-to-day transportation, athletic event transportation, or off-site activity transportation.
General Student Responsibilities:
1. The Student shall respect and follow the direction of the bus operator at all times.
2. The Student, and/or the Student’s Parent shall inform the bus operator or Transportation Services when an absence is expected from the bus.
Safety Requirements While Waiting, Boarding and Departing the Bus:
3. The Student shall dress adequately for current and anticipated weather conditions.
4. The Student shall choose the safest walking route, to and from the bus stop; notably,
4.1. The Student shall stay on the sidewalk/roadside at all times while waiting for the bus;
4.2. The Student shall keep well-clear of the travelled roadway; and
4.3. The Student shall maintain respect for public and private property, while waiting at the bus stop, and for the complete duration the transportation.
5. The Student shall demonstrate care when crossing a road in front of the bus; specifically,
5.1. The Student shall only proceed when it is safe to do so, and under the guidance of the bus operator.
6. The Student shall arrive at their assigned bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pick up time; specifically,
6.1. With respect to pick-up, the time indicated by the Bus Driver is the departure time, and not the arrival time.
7. The Student shall line up and board the bus in an orderly manner.
8. The Student shall use the hand rail when getting on and off the school bus.
9. The Student shall scan their bus pass every time they board and exit the bus;
9.1. Bus pass scanning is not applicable or necessary for Athabasca Delta students.
10. The Student shall proceed promptly to the designated school bus after dismissal from class;
10.1. School buses shall wait for 10 minutes after dismissal.
11. The Student shall only exit the bus at their designated stop, unless they have been approved temporarily to get off at the alternate location.
Safety Requirements While Riding
12. The Student shall move promptly and safely to the assigned seat, and remain in the assigned seat, for the duration of the ride.
13. The Student shall remain face-forward with all body parts and possessions remaining out of the aisle.
14. The Student shall behave responsibly and respectfully at all times; specifically,
14.1. The Student shall follow the generally accepted rules of classroom conduct, with the allowance of ordinary quiet conversation;
14.2. The Student shall avoid conflict with other students;
14.3. The Student shall refrain, at all times, from disrupting the Bus Driver;
14.4. The Student shall not engage in fighting or rowdy behaviour; and
14.5. The Student shall use appropriate language and behavior at all times.
15. The Student shall demonstrate respect that the use of the rear door is only for emergency purposes only.
Safety with Respect to Items and/or Belongings
16. The Student shall place equipment in the area designated by the Bus Driver, when instructed to do so.
17. The Student shall demonstrate an understanding that some items are not permitted on the bus, or require special placement; notably
17.1. The Student shall refrain from carrying large items, onto the bus, that might obstruct aisles or doorways;
17.2. The Student shall place books, lunch boxes and other items, on their lap or on the floor under the seat;
17.3. The Student shall refrain, specifically, from carrying skates on the bus, unless they are equipped with skate guards, and placed into a reinforced carrying bag, or securely wrapped;
17.4. The Student shall refrain from carrying sports equipment, such as toboggans, hockey sticks, skis, skateboards, scooters on the bus;
17.5. The Student shall refrain from carrying prohibited items (e.g. tobacco, e-cigarettes, firearms, knives, etc.) on the school bus.
18. The Student shall only open the window when permitted by the driver to do so; specifically,
18.1. The Student shall refrain from placing anything (body part or object) through the window; and
18.2. The Student shall not throw wastepaper or other rubbish on the floor of the bus or out the window.
Parent Responsibilities
19. The Parent shall be responsible for student safety and conduct prior to pick up and after departure from the school bus; notably
19.1. The Parent shall acknowledge that in situations when a school bus delay exceeds 15 minutes, the student shall return to their residence and contact Transportation Services; and
19.2. The Parent shall ensure students are properly dressed for the prevailing or anticipated weather conditions.
20. The Parent shall demonstrate an understanding that a school bus shall be treated as an extension of the classroom.
21. The Parent shall ensure that students choose the safest walking route to and from the bus stop and keep well clear of the travelled roadway and private property.
22. The Parent shall ensure that their child obeys all transportation rules; notably
22.1. The Parent shall support and encourage their child to scan their bus pass upon boarding or exiting the bus.
23. The Parent shall acknowledge that improper student conduct may result in suspension of riding privileges by the school Principal or designate.
24. The Parent shall demonstrate an understanding that the student and the Parent shall be held financially responsible for damage to the school bus resulting from improper behavior or carelessness.
25. The Parent shall collaborate with the Principal and with the Bus Driver to correct any problem that their child may be experiencing while on the bus.
Parent Responsibilities Regarding Notification
26. The Parent shall contact Transportation Services, with no less than 24 hours advance-notice, when requesting permission for their child to use a different bus stop on the same route.
26.1. The Transportation Department shall accept or decline the request for an alternate stop, in consideration of space availability, and communicate this, accordingly, to the Parent in advance of the date of the route alteration requested;
26.2. The alternate stop request process does not apply to the students of the Athabasca Delta Community School.
27. The Parent shall notify Transportation Services of any pertinent medical condition.
28. The Parent shall notify the bus operator or Transportation Services when the Student no longer requires the bus.
29. The Parent shall notify Transportation Services, in writing, of any change in address and/or change in emergency contact.
30. The Parent shall not attempt to negotiate special transportation arrangements with the bus operator, Bus Driver or school Principal directly.
With respect to Student Discipline and Consequences
31. The Bus Driver shall separate students or groups of students who are deemed to be disruptive.
32. The Bus Driver may report minor student misconduct to the Principal.
33. The Bus Driver shall provide a report in writing, to the Principal, regarding any student who demonstrates continued misbehavior;
33.1. A Student Conduct Form shall be utilized for communication of misbehavior.
34. The Principal may suspend any student, under the provisions of the Education Act, from riding on any bus for a period of up to five (5) school days;
34.1. The Principal shall report the circumstances, in writing, to the Parent, the Bus Driver, and the Superintendent or designate; and
34.2. The Principal shall notify the Parent regarding the date upon which the Student may resume transportation.
35. If the Student shall not be reinstated within five (5) school days of the date of suspension, the Principal shall report, in writing, all the circumstances of the suspension and provide a recommendation to the Superintendent.
36. The Superintendent shall decide to either reinstate or expel the Student from riding the bus.
Regarding Damage to the Bus
37. The Student shall be held fully accountable for all cost of repairs to the bus, at the discretion of the Superintendent or designate.
Bus Driver General Responsibilities:
38. The Bus Driver shall comply with all applicable Division procedures, the Education Act, applicable Alberta Transportation regulations, the National Safety Code and the Highway Traffic Act.
39. The Bus Driver shall operate the bus with proper care and safety, and in full compliance with any operating regulations, at all times; notably,
39.1. The Bus Driver shall maintain their vehicles to be clean and free of hazards;
39.2. The Bus Driver shall maintain authority and control of the bus and its passengers at all times;
39.3. The Bus Driver shall drive in a considerate manner at all times and avoid sharp braking, fast cornering and harsh acceleration;
39.4. The Bus Driver shall check the convex rear-view mirrors and ensure that all areas are clear before moving the vehicle;
39.5. The Bus Driver shall ensure that all students remain seated until the bus comes to a full and complete stop at its destination;
39.6. The Bus Driver shall not move the bus while a student is out of their seat or standing;
39.7. The Bus Driver shall not leave the bus without stopping the motor, removing the keys, setting the brake and closing the door;
39.8. The Bus Driver shall use hazard lights where appropriate; and
39.9. The Bus Driver shall not fill the fuel tank of the bus when passengers are on the bus.
40. The Bus Driver shall complete passenger lists as requested by Transportation Services; notably,
40.1. The Bus Driver shall maintain confidentiality to students and their parent(s) or guardian(s) in accordance with the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and Protection of Privacy Act (POPA).
41. The Bus Driver shall refuse to allow any unauthorized persons to board the vehicle, and report any incidents of unauthorized persons attempting to board the vehicle to Transportation Services immediately.
42. The Bus Driver shall adhere to the bus schedules that have been established by the Division.
43. The Bus Driver shall follow the routes that have been planned and approved by the Division.
44. The Bus Driver shall not make changes in the routes, except in unavoidable situations;
44.1. Route changes made by necessity shall be reported to the Transportation Services.
45. The Bus Driver shall notify Transportation Services about any unsafe bus stops and suggest a more appropriate alternative.
46. The Bus Driver shall immediately notify Transportation Services in the event of a breakdown or an emergency.
Bus Driver Responsibilities Regarding Students
47. The Bus Driver shall remain polite and courteous to passengers at all times; notably,
47.1. The Bus Driver shall use an appropriate tone of voice and vocabulary when speaking to students;
47.2. The Bus Driver shall refrain from shouting, swearing or using offensive and/or aggressive language; and
47.3. The Bus Driver shall ensure that students riding on the bus are able to speak to each other in the language of their choice.
48. The Bus Driver shall ensure all students are informed about the bus safety rules.
49. The Bus Driver shall ensure that the Bus Strobe Light is activated whenever students are on board the Bus;
49.1. Strobe lights may be turned off at bus transfer sites but shall be turned on immediately upon leaving the bus transfer site.
50. The Bus Driver shall only collect and/or deliver students to the bus stops that are designated by Transportation Services.
51. The Bus Driver shall provide students a clear signal to indicate when it is safe to cross the roadway, and shall wait for the students to finish crossing before deactivating the crossing gate and stop arm.
52. The Bus Driver shall ensure that no student is left behind on the bus; notably,
52.1. The Bus Driver shall ensure that the “child check” process is carried out after the last student drop off.
53. The Bus Driver shall check at the end of each trip for any personal objects that may have been left behind and report them to the Division.
54. The Bus Driver shall not allow the photography of students unless approved by the Division.
55. The Bus Driver shall refrain, completely, from physical contact with any student or their property, except as required in emergency situations.
56. The Bus Driver shall ensure that early learners and kindergarten students are not released from the bus unless the child’s Parent, or appropriate aged sibling, comes to the door of the bus.
Bus Driver and Principal Collaboration
57. The Bus Driver shall communicate, to the Principal, with respect to any situation that arises concerning students.
58. The Bus Driver shall report, to the Principal, regarding any students who are repeatedly late and therefor cause a delay to the regular schedule of the bus.
59. The Bus Driver shall notify the school Principal in writing about any inappropriate or unsafe behavior by students using the Student Infraction Form.
60. The Bus Driver shall support any disciplinary action on the bus as assigned by the Principal.
Principal General Responsibilities
61. The Principal shall ensure that students are dismissed with sufficient time to get on the bus to prevent any bus delays.
62. The Principal shall maintain responsibility for attending to effective supervision at school-site bus loading and unloading zones.
63. The Principal maintains the authority to inspect a bus for cleanliness;
63.1. The Principal maintains the authority to direct the Bus Driver to clean up an untidy or unsanitary bus; and
63.2. The Principal shall report any interaction, regarding bus cleanliness, to the Director of Transportation Services.
64. The Principal maintains the responsibility to suspend a student from riding the school bus for violation of the rules established by the Division; and
64.1. The Principal maintains the responsibility to subsequently reinstate a student at the conclusion of the suspension.
