STUDENT CONDUCT ON SCHOOL BUSES

The law does not relieve parents of students from the responsibility of supervision before the child boards the bus in the morning and after the child leaves the bus at the end of the school day.

Once a child boards the bus - and only at that time - does he/she become the responsibility of the school system. Such responsibility shall end when the child is delivered to the regular bus stop at the close of the school day.

In view of the fact that the bus is an extension of the classroom, the board requires children to conduct themselves in the bus in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior.

In cases when a child does not conduct him/herself properly on a bus, such instances are to be brought to the attention of the building principal by the bus driver. The building principal will inform the parents immediately of the misconduct and request their cooperation in checking the child's behavior.

Children who become a serious disciplinary problem on the school bus may have their riding privileges suspended by the principal. In such cases, the parents of the children involved become responsible for seeing that their children get to and from school safely.

Legal Reference: Title 20-A MRSA SEC. 5401

Adopted: February 28, 1994