WINSLOW UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION
Dear Parent/Guardian:
We’re pleased to be transporting your child to and from school this year. Please remember, riding the bus is a privilege. Therefore, students and parents' cooperation regarding the bus rules and procedures is important. The transportation team is proud of our safety record and professionalism. Rules are intended to increase student safety. Please help us ensure your child’s safety by adhering to the following procedures:
- Make sure your child arrives at the designated bus stop five minutes early each day. Children who are late for the bus may panic and chase it, or run into the road. This presents a significant risk to the child.
- Provide your child with a backpack or bookbag. Loose items are dangerous for children entering and exiting the bus.
- Check your child’s clothing for the presence of long drawstrings, shoelaces that may get snagged in the bus door as your child enters or exits the bus.
- Stop times on routes may vary due to seasonal traffic situations, accidents or road conditions in inclement weather.
- If the bus is 5 minutes late for your pick up, please call the transportation office.
- The driver is unable to return for students who miss the bus.
- Insist your child wait for the bus safely, in an orderly fashion, and back ten feet from the roadway. Behavior problems at the bus stop can create hazardous conditions for all children waiting.
- When the bus arrives, your child must wait for the bus driver’s signal before boarding the bus. Children are expected to board the bus in a single file line and in an orderly fashion.
- Teach the children the importance of sitting quietly on the ride to and from school. It is important for our drivers to concentrate on driving safely. Excessive noise presents a potential danger.
Please note, if anything makes your child feel unsafe at the bus stop, or on the bus ride, please contact the transportation department immediately at (928) 288-8107
WAITING FOR THE BUS
- Walk to the bus stop with a parent or in groups of two or more students.
- Be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
- Stay out of the street and away from traffic.
- Respect property in the neighborhood.
- Be kind and courteous to others.
- Form a line as the bus approaches.
BOARDING THE BUS
- Let the bus come to a complete stop before boarding.
- Enter the bus one person at a time.
- Board quickly, but carefully, without crowding or pushing. Use the handrail. Walk, don’t run, up the steps.
- Go directly to your assigned seat and sit upright facing the front.
ON THE BUS
- Be courteous and obey the driver’s instructions.
- Sit in your assigned seat.
- Keep the aisle clear. Stay seated until your stop.
- Keep your hands, arms, feet, legs and head out of the aisle and inside the bus.
- Talk quietly. Do not yell or use vulgar or abusive language.
- Do not throw anything inside the bus or from the bus.
- Eating is not permitted on the bus.
- All personal electronic devices must be turned off and out of sight. Unless being used for acceptable educational or entertainment purposes with only one earphone in or on silent mode.
- Do not abuse or deface the bus or bus equipment.
- Keep cases, band instruments and other belongings under control at all times.
LEAVING THE BUS
- Stay seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.
- Do not push or crowd others.
- Walk, don’t run, down the steps.
CROSSING THE ROAD
- Cross the street only when the driver has indicated the way is safe. Walk 10 feet in front of the bus so the driver can see you. Never cross behind the bus.
- Keep looking to the right and to the left as you walk.
- At an intersection, look in all directions.
- Do not cross the street at an angle.
- Walk briskly across the road, but do not run.
ITEMS BANNED FROM BUSES
Prohibited items include weapons, explosive devices, harmful chemicals, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, vapes, glass objects other than eyeglasses, skateboards and scooters, insects, reptiles and other animals, with the exception of service animals.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE ON THE SCHOOL BUSES
Bus drivers must handle student misbehavior that threatens passengers' safety or distracts the driver. In the case of a violation, your child will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. In addition, a referral will be sent to the Transportation Supervisor, Every attempt will be made to contact a parent or guardian when such issues arise. Therefore, please be certain your contact information is accurately listed. Below is a list of examples of student misconduct that will be addressed.
- IGNORING THE BUS DRIVER’S INSTRUCTIONS
- BEING OUT OF THERE SEAT WHEN THE BUS IS IN MOTION
- EATING OR DRINKING ON THE BUS (Drinking water is permitted)
- LITTERING
- SHOUTING OR SCREAMING
- FAILURE TO KEEP HEAD, HANDS, FEET AND ALL OBJECTS TO ONE’S SELF AND INSIDE THE BUS
- FIGHTING, HITTING SPITTING, OR BITING ANOTHER STUDENT
- BULLYING, TEASING, OR AGGRAVATING OTHER STUDENTS
- MISCONDUCT AT THE BUS STOP, VERBAL ABUSE, OBSCENE GESTURES, THREATS MADE TOWARD OTHERS
- ASSAULT OF BUS DRIVER, OR STUDENT (WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR)
- DESTRUCTION OF SCHOOL PROPERTY, SUCH AS SEATS, INTERIOR, OR EXTERIOR OF BUS (WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR)
- POSSESSION OF TOBACCO, DRUGS, MATCHES, LIGHTERS, VAPES OR WEAPONS (WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR)
1st - DISCIPLINE REFERRAL - VERBAL WARNING
2nd - DISCIPLINE REFERRAL - 5 DAYS SUSPENSION OFF SCHOOL BUSES
3rd - DISCIPLINE REFERRAL - 2 WEEKS SUSPENSION OFF SCHOOL BUSES
4th - DISCIPLINE REFERRAL - SUSPENSION FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR
Please note, the expectations for the students behavior on the bus does not differ from what’s expected in the classroom.
A standard school bus may contain as many as 80 students at a time! The bus driver has an enormous responsibility of operating the bus safely, including analyzing road conditions, while monitoring students. THUS, THE NEED FOR RULES. Our buses are equipped with cameras to ensure safety and protect the students, and our bus drivers. Videos are viewed randomly by the Transportation Supervisor to enhance any investigations. This footage is also used as an evaluation tool. An investigation may be initiated following an incident reported by a student, parent/guardian, employee, or community member.
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJUST SUSPENSION TIMES BASED ON SEVERITY OF THE INCIDENT, OR IF MULTIPLE INFRACTIONS OCCUR. A SUSPENSION FROM THE BUS DOES NOT INCLUDE SCHOOL OR EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
Should your students be suspended from their bus route, they will lose all transportation privileges to and from school. Students suspended will NOT be allowed to change bus stops or routes.
Transportation is provided to and from the bus stop closest to the child’s home.
Please teach your student his/her physical address.
Bus routes are not designed to transport students to alternated sites, i.e. piano lessons, dance classes, club meetings, parties or businesses. Multiple and/or varied stops for individual students leads to confusion, and is the leading cause of losing track of students. Daily changes to bus stops will NOT be allowed.
Only in exception of an emergency, i.e. death or hospitalization of a family member, accident, etc., will changes be made.
Should a student require more than one permanent stop during the school week, (WITH NO MORE THAN 2 STOPS PER STUDENT) it must be pre scheduled with the school and transportation department.
If a child is a bus rider and a parent/guardian would like to pick them up they need to do this by 2:00 p.m. (11:30 a.m. on early release days) from the school. The parent/guardian must come into the front office to sign the child out. Last minute notices will not be accommodated (unless there is a family emergency).
Once a student is on the bus, they cannot be removed (unless there is a family emergency). Boarded students will be taken to their assigned stop. Removing students at the last minute impedes the process of getting all our student’s home in a timely manner.
Due to the time constraints, buses will not wait for late students. Buses are also unable to return to bus stops to pick up students who may have missed the bus. Please note, our buses operate on a tight turnaround schedule.