Transportation

Transportation by Bus

The right to ride our school buses carries with it responsibilities for the comfort and safety of all our students. Bus evacuation drills are conducted periodically. The following bus safety rules are considered absolutely necessary for the welfare of all students.

1. Sit properly in the seat assigned to you

• • Do not have legs or feet in the aisle

  • All books, packages, or belongings must be placed on your lap

  • Be considerate of others

2. Never, at any time, throw an object in the bus, out of the

bus, or into the bus.

3. Do not, under any circumstances, put your hands or head

out of a window.

4. Do not make unnecessary noise while on the bus.

• Talk quietly

• Do not make noises that distract the bus driver

5. Do not eat while on the bus.

The driver of a school bus shall be in full charge of that vehicle. He/she shall never exclude a pupil, but if unable to manage any pupil, he/she shall report the unmanageable pupil to the principal. A pupil may be excluded from the bus for disciplinary reasons by the principal, and his/her parents shall provide transportation to and from school during the period of such exclusion. The above law 18A-25-2 was designed as an aid to discipline on our buses. All buses will be equipped with audio/video cameras. Your cooperation in this area will be most helpful. Remember, violations of the code may result in suspension from the bus route. The period of suspension may last for one month. During this period of suspension, the parent/guardian shall be responsible for transportation to and from school. Students must load or unload from a bus/van only at assigned bus/van stops. There will be no transportation services provided to or from any commercial establishments. Bus routes will be assigned based on the students’ primary residence. Any long-term requests to another private residence will be considered based on seat availability, and as such cannot be guaranteed since this practice may limit seating capacity. We ask your cooperation in limiting your requests for bus changes and for transfers. All authorized bus stops are board approved. On a daily basis, students may only ride on their assigned bus and are not permitted to switch or change buses for any reason. Any questions regarding this procedure should be addressed to the Main Office of your child’s school. Procedure for reporting bus problems and complaints is as follows:

• Discipline concerns while on the bus should be reported to the appropriate building principal.

• Problems regarding late buses, items left on bus, student-driver misunderstandings, parent/guardian complaints about bus drivers, etc. can be reported directly to Byram Bus Lines, (973) 398-5500.

Students from the Byram Lakes Elementary School WILL NOT be dropped off without an adult or older sibling (middle school age or older) to escort them from the bus. If an adult/older sibling is not present, your child will be brought back to school. Parents will be assessed a $25 fee for each instance that their child is returned to school. If you know you are running late, please call the school secretary and we will hold your child in our office. Our daily office hours are 8:00a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Transportation by Car

Parents/guardians are discouraged from driving their children to or from school. When it is necessary to do so, please be aware of the school’s safety precautions. Extra safety precautions must always be observed when driving near our schools. Observing the 10-25 miles per hour speed limit is imperative. Drive directly into the parking lot. Do not drive into the bus loop. Once in the parking lot, you must personally supervise your child’s crossing. If you are driving your child to or from school, do not arrive more than 10 minutes prior to the regular school opening and no later than 3:15 p.m. for dismissal from the Intermediate School and from the Lakes School. The students may not enter the building until the teachers are present in the classroom and the buses begin unloading at 8:48 a.m. for the Intermediate School and for the Lakes School. Parents must remain with their children and supervise them prior to these times. No child is to be left unattended.