School bus transportation is provided to all students - public and non-public students - in the Owen J. Roberts School District. Before the start of the school year, the Transportation Department notifies all students and parents of the time, location and bus number to which each student is assigned for morning and afternoon bus runs. Students are expected to know this information. Students are only permitted to ride the bus to which they have been assigned, unless otherwise requested in writing by a parent and approved by the principal and an official bus pass issued.
All students riding school district transportation are expected to be at their assigned stop five (5) minutes prior to pick up. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not jeopardize the health, safety, and welfare of other students. Students may not eat, drink or smoke on the bus. Any behavior that is deemed by the bus driver to be disruptive, disrespectful, or a violation of school rules will be reported to school officials and disciplinary consequences will be applied for the incident. Severe or repeated offenses could lead to suspension of bus transportation for a student.
All regularly scheduled afternoon bus runs depart from the high school at 2:22 p.m. Student riders are expected to be on their bus and seated at this time. Once the buses begin to depart, they cannot stop to pick up students who did not arrive on time. Students without an official pass will not be permitted to ride a bus to which they are not assigned.
NOTE: Records indicate that students driving vehicles to school have higher frequency rates of absenteeism, lateness and truancy. All students are encouraged to ride school buses.
School Bus Surveillance Cameras
Students and parents/guardians should be aware that school buses have cameras monitoring its passengers. The cameras record sound and visual images. Camera recordings are reviewed by school officials for discipline and security purposes, and may be provided to police or used in school disciplinary proceedings. Students should understand that their actions and words while on school buses will be recorded – and that they should have no expectation of privacy when riding school buses. Riding school buses constitutes consent to audio and visual recordings by surveillance cameras.
Electronic Devices on School Bus/ Vehicles—Policy 237
Students are restricted in the use of audio listening, imaging and video devices on school bus/vehicles. Students may possess these items but the imaging and audio capturing capabilities are prohibited. Audio listening is only permitted by the use of an ear listening device. Audio is not to be transmitted aloud.