BUSING & Drop OFf

The East Penn School District provides transportation to and from school for kindergarten and elementary students residing one and one-half miles or more and secondary students residing two miles or more by the nearest public highway from the school in which the students are lawfully enrolled and to which transportation is authorized or required.  Exceptions to the distance limitations are made only for those students residing in areas where road or traffic conditions constitute a hazard to the safety of the child when so certified by the Department of Transportation.

BUS SAFETY

It is the responsibility of all bus drivers to obey all traffic laws and regulations.  Of particular concern is ensuring that all school buses, loaded or unloaded, stop at all railroad crossings designated by appropriate signs, signals, or markers.  The East Penn School District requests that any violations of traffic laws and regulations by a bus driver be reported to the Director of Operations.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING TRANSPORTATION 

Students and their parents are expected to review the following School Board Policies which apply to district transportation:

• 810 Transportation 

• 810.2 – Transportation – Video/Audio Recording

ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL BUS DISCIPLINE

Riding the school bus is a privilege.  More than 8000 students are transported daily by the district.  Safety is a shared goal of the school district and our transporter.  In order to achieve our goal of having all students transported safely to and from school in a timely manner, it is necessary for all students to adhere to the rules listed below.   

Each student will:

• Stay in their seat, facing front while the bus is in motion, unless otherwise directed by the driver.

• Keep head, hands, and feet inside the bus and to themselves;

• Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, littering or using any type of illegal substance on the bus;

• Refrain from any horseplay, excessive noise or vulgar language; 

• Follow all directions given by the driver;

• Only transport items such as backpacks, projects, instruments, sports bags that can be held on their lap during the bus ride.

• The school bus driver is in complete charge of the bus and students, and the driver has the authority to discipline students for minor infractions of the rules.

The bus driver may: 

• Load the school bus from back to front for management purposes, if necessary;

• Give a verbal reprimand;

• Change or assign the seat arrangement of students;

• Pull the bus to the side of the road or return a bus to the school, if necessary, in order to achieve appropriate student behavior;

• Request school administrators’ assistance, when necessary;

• Complete a written bus misconduct report to be submitted to the building administration in cases of repeated offenses or major infractions of the bus rules.

Upon receiving a written bus misconduct report, the school administrator(s) may:

• Have the ability to assign seats to students for disciplinary reasons;

• Determine the punishment/consequences;

• Notify the parent/guardian of bus incident, either by telephone and/or in writing with any assigned consequences;

• Deny bus riding privileges for up to 5 school days for serious and/or repeat offenses;          

• Suspend a student’s bus riding privilege for the remainder of the school year whenever warranted by extreme inappropriate behavior or numerous repeat offenses on the part of the student.  (This may occur on a first offense.)     

The school administration works cooperatively with the bus drivers and our transporter to assure safe school transportation for all students.  With the assistance and cooperation of our students, parents, school bus drivers and administrators, we look forward to a successful, uneventful school year related to school transportation.

SPECIAL NOTE: The district requires, in advance, a signed note from a parent or guardian to the principal if a request is made for a student to use a bus route or a bus stop other than the one assigned.  This request must then be agreed to by the principal and transporter. 

SNOW EMERGENCY BUS STOPS

In order to have the district schools open as many days as possible, there have been alternate weather emergency stops established for the developments within East Penn School District.  The decision to close school due to the weather is based on the ability of our buses to transport students safely to school and home again at the end of the day.  In some instances, the major arteries may be open and allow for safe passage, but the developments located within the school district may not have the necessary clearance for buses to traverse the roads safely.  Please refer to your district calendar for the listing and note the Snow Emergency stop for your particular development and current bus stop.  These stops will only be used in severe weather conditions.  An announcement will be made via local stations that WEATHER EMERGENCY stops will be in effect.                                                                  

Bus Video/Audio Recording Purpose: 

The use of audio and video recording equipment supports efforts to maintain discipline and to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff, contractors and others being transported on district-owned, operated, or contracted school buses or school vehicles. Authority: The Board authorizes the use of video and audio recording on school buses (11 or more passengers) and school vehicles (no more than 10 passengers) for disciplinary and security purposes. The Board prohibits the use of audio recording on any school bus or school vehicle that is not being used for a school-related purpose. 

Student Drop Off

At the start of the school day, students being dropped off at school when driven can be dropped off  at the northern entrance (the parking lot entrance on the left closest to the corner of North/Harrison St. and Macungie Ave. This is the only approved drop off location. Students should enter the building via door numbers  7 and/or 8. 

When arriving late, students must enter through the main office entrance only.