Transportation

Transportation
The District shall provide free transportation for any student in the District who resides: 

     (1) at a distance of one and one-half miles or more from his or her assigned school, unless the 

School Board has certified to the Illinois State Board of Education that adequate public 

transportation is available.

     (2) within one and one-half miles from his or her assigned school where walking to school or 

to a pick-up point or bus stop would constitute a serious hazard due to vehicular traffic or rail crossing, and adequate public transportation is not available. A student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) may file a petition with the Board requesting transportation due to the existence of a serious safety hazard. 

Free transportation service and vehicle adaptation is provided for a special education student if included in the student’s individualized educational program. Homeless students shall be transported in accordance with the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. 

Bus schedules and routes shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee and shall be altered only with the Superintendent or designee approval and direction. In fixing the routes, the pick-up and discharge points should be as safe and convenient for students as possible. 

No school employee may transport students in school or private vehicles unless authorized by the administration. Every vehicle regularly used for the transportation of students must pass safety inspections in accordance with State law and Illinois Department of Transportation regulations. 

The strobe light on a school bus may be illuminated any time a bus is bearing one or more students. The Superintendent shall implement procedures in accordance with State law for accepting erratic driving reports. 

All contracts for charter bus services must contain the clause prescribed by State law regarding criminal background checks for bus drivers. 

BUS REGULATIONS  (see Board Policy 4:110 and 7:220 for more information)

Riding a school bus is a privilege, not a right. Students who are unable to follow the bus rider code of conduct may lose the privilege to ride the school bus for an extended period of time.  

The district provides bus transportation to and from school for all students living 1.5 miles or more from the school. A list of bus stops will be published at the beginning of the school year.  Students are not permitted to ride a bus other than the bus to which they are assigned. Exceptions must be approved in advance by the building principal.

Students are considered to be on “school grounds” when riding the school bus and students are under the authority of the bus driver while in transit to and from school.  Bullying, harassment, threats, or physical contact with another student or the driver while at the bus stop or while on the bus will not be tolerated and will lead to the loss of bus privileges and further school disciplinary action for the offending student. The bus drivers are instructed to report any violations to the administration. Video and audio cameras may be active on buses to record student conduct and may be used for the purposes of investigation into misconduct or accidents on the bus.

Bus Rider Code of Conduct

• All school Code of Conduct expectations apply to riding a school bus.

• Students must not cause an intentional disruption or distraction for the driver at any time.

• Students are only allowed to ride on their assigned bus, unless granted permission by the school. 

• Students may not leave the bus on the way to school or home without the driver’s permission.

• Students who must cross the road after disembarking should pass in front of the bus, not behind it.

• The driver, chaperone, or school administration has the right to assign seats to any and all students.

• Students must sit on the seat and face the front of the bus at all times.

• Students are not permitted to stand, change seats, or otherwise move about the bus without direct permission from the driver or chaperone.

• Students may not sit in the aisle, on any materials, or on their knees or feet.

• Students must not throw any objects or pass objects around the bus without permission.

• Students must keep their voices and conversations to a normal level.  Yelling, singing loudly, or other loud noises are not permitted on the school bus.

• Students must keep their hands, heads, and feet inside the bus windows at all times.

• Students must not eat or drink on the bus, unless permitted by the driver or chaperone.

• Students must not damage the bus in any way.

• Students are not allowed to self-carry medication unless approved by the school nurse.

• Students should dress properly for the weather and are required to be out at their bus stops approximately five minutes before their regular pickup times in the morning. 

School Bus Suspension

The Superintendent, or any designee as permitted in the School Code, is authorized to suspend a student from riding the school bus for up to 10 consecutive school days for engaging in gross disobedience or misconduct, including but not limited to, the following:

1.  Prohibited student conduct as defined in School Board Policy, 7:190, Student Behavior.

2.  Willful injury or threat of injury to a bus driver or to another rider.

3.  Willful and/or repeated defacement of the bus.

4.  Repeated use of profanity.

5.  Repeated willful disobedience of a directive from a bus driver or other supervisor.

6.  Such other behavior as the administration deems to threaten the safe operation of the bus and/or its occupants.

If a student is suspended from riding the bus for gross disobedience or misconduct on a bus, the School Board may suspend the student from riding the school bus for a period in excess of 10 days for safety reasons. The District’s regular suspension procedures shall be used to suspend a student’s privilege to ride a school bus.