The Transportation Office can be reached at (631) 345-2775.
SAFETY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Please review the safety tips, rules and procedures outlined below with all students and drivers in your family, and encourage everyone to follow them. Some of these – such as stopping when encountering a school bus with flashing red lights (whether you are on the road or in a school parking lot) and obeying school zone speed limits – are state laws. They were established for the safety of everyone on the roads, especially our children!
PROPER CROSSING PROCEDURES
Please review these procedures with your children; if they must cross the road in front of the bus, knowledge of safe crossing procedures is vital.
• Waiting for the signal to cross. A student getting off the bus should walk to the front of the bus to a place where he/she can see the bus driver and the bus driver can see him/her. When all is clear, the driver will signal to the student that it is OK to cross, but as a precaution, the student should always look both ways before crossing.
• The horn warns of danger. If the driver blows the bus horn, the student should immediately return to the starting point.
• When parents meet the bus. Parents meeting the bus should wait on the side of the road where the child will be getting off and then follow the above procedures for crossing. Parents need to discourage their children from running across the road to greet them.
PARENT’S SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES
Parents should carefully review these policies with all members of your family. You should pay special attention to the following bus routes and safety information:
• Carefully review your child’s bus route to determine if the bus will pick up your child on the home side of the street or on the other side of the street.
• Children should not cross the street to board the school bus if not required to do so. If the designated bus stop requires your child to cross the street, follow the crossing procedures outlined here. Remember, your child should remain on the home side of the street until the bus stops completely. Your child should never cross the street until the bus driver gives the signal that it is safe to cross.
• Students should arrive at the stop at least ten minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
DRIVERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
• STOP – from either direction, even on divided highways – when encountering a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing. The bus is either picking up or discharging riders. Proceed only when the red lights are turned off and the bus is moving again, unless waved on by the bus driver or a police officer.
• Flashing yellow lights warn that the bus is about to stop, so slow down and prepare to stop. Children may be coming from any direction.
• Be aware that school buses may not turn right on red.
• Any vehicle that passes a school bus that has its flashing red lights activated will be reported to the police and/or New York State DMV.
BUS RIDERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Before the ride:
• Put loose articles – homework, books, pens and pencils – in a backpack.
• Arrive at the bus stop at least ten minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. DO NOT wait inside your home, and then run out to the bus.
• When at the stop please respect each other and other’s property.
• Wait until the bus has stopped completely and its door is open before approaching it.
• If you need to transport an item too large to fit on your lap, make other arrangements to get to school that day.
During the ride:
• Listen to any instructions from the bus driver – he/she is there to prevent injury to you and others.
• Remain seated properly throughout the bus ride
• No skateboards, animals, balloons, flammable materials of any kind, or medications that contain controlled substances may be transported on a school bus. The driver will not allow any of these items on the bus.
• Weapons of any kind and threatening gestures and/or comments will NOT be tolerated on the bus. A violation may result in a five-day suspension and a Superintendent’s Hearing with the possibility of more serious consequences. In accordance with the Gun Free Schools Act (1994), possession of guns on buses or school property could result in at least a one-year suspension.
• Behave on the bus as you are expected to behave in class. Be courteous; don’t use profane language.
• Eating, drinking and smoking on the bus will NOT be tolerated.
• Keep the bus clean; whatever you bring on the bus must leave with you.
• Don’t damage the bus – it’s school property, owned by the residents of the district.
• Cooperate with the bus driver, who is authorized to assign seats.
• Fighting, pushing and shoving will NOT be tolerated.
• Keep head, hands and feet inside the bus at all times.
• STAY IN YOUR SEAT, especially when the bus is moving.