Transportation

The DeWitt School District offers transportation to and from school via bus routes running across the district. A complete list of routes, bus numbers, and drivers for the 2010-11 school year will be available in early August. Please return.

Policies for Students Riding School Buses

It should be regarded as a privilege to ride to school on a bus.

1. Be at the bus stop at the scheduled time. Stand back about 10 feet from teh bus stop and wait until teh door is opened before moving closer to the bus. Do not play on the highway. If you miss the bus, do not attempt to hitchhike a ride or walk to or from school.
2. While loading or unloading, enter or leave the bus quickly and in an orderly manner.
3. While riding the bus, students are under the supervision of the driver and must obey the driver at all times.
4. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner such that they will not distrct the attention of their driver or other riders on the bus which for each student includes keeping your hands to yourself, attending to your own matters, leaving other students alone, and being reasonably quiet.
5. No knives or sharp objects of any kind are allowed, nor firearms, pets, other animals, etc.
6. Students are to remain in assigned seats at all times.
7. Act 1744 requires that students be seated while the bus is in motion. This policy will be strictly adhered to.
8. Students are not to tamper with any of the safety devices, such as door latches, fire extinguishers, etc.
9. Students are not to put their hands, arms, heads, or bodies out of the window. Do not yell at anyone outside the bus.
10. Students are not to deface the bus or any school property. Do not write on the bus or damage the seats, etc. Do not throw paper, food, or any other object on the floor of the bus. No eating or drinking on the bus. No smoking or use of smokeless tobacco while riding a school bus. Keep the aisle of the bus clear of books, lunches, coats, etc.
11. Students should not ask the driver to let them off the bus in town, at the store, to get mail out of the mailbox, or any place except their regular stop.
12. If a student must cross the highway to enter the bus, they should try to be on the right side of the road while waiting for the bus. Wait until the bus has come to a complete stop and driver has signaled to board.
13. Students who must cross the road after leaving the bus in the afternoon must go to a point on the shoulder of the road 10 feet in front of the bus. Cross the highway only after the driver or student patrol has signaled to do so.
14. Do not damage road signs or warning signals placed on the highway by the highway department.
15. Students cannot ride any bus except their own. Visitors are not allowed to ride except in the case of an emergency or when permission has been obtained from the principal.
16. The driver has the same authority as a teacher in disciplining children on the bus, but is not to administer corporal punishment. In case of misconduct, the driver should bring the child to the principal's office. Incidents on the bus must be reported to the principal immediately. The principal has the authority to suspend a student's privilege to ride the bus for misconduct.

The previous listing is not intended to cover all the "dos" and "don'ts", but it is a very specific guide. The driver may find it necessary to interpret these policies in light of his or her own bus needs.

Bus Discipline

The following steps will be followed when dealing with discipline related to buses: