Student Conduct on School Buses Administrative Procedure
NEPN/NSBA: JICC-R
The following procedures will be used in the handling of misconduct on the bus.
The driver will issue a misconduct warning report to the student and to the school principal.
The student will deliver the report to the parent.
The parent will sign the warning report to indicate that it has been received. (Signature does not indicate agreement or disagreement).
The student will return the warning report to the school principal.
The principal will determine what action is required and inform the parent, the student, and the driver of said action. (Serious misconduct may result in immediate bus suspension. Continued minor misconduct will result in bus suspension.)
Students are responsible:
To be on time at their designated bus stop;
To walk on the left of the road, on the shoulder of the road, facing traffic;
To walk across the road, when necessary;
To stand in an orderly line off the pavement when waiting for the bus;
To wait patiently for the bus, refraining from pushing, throwing objects or creating a disturbance for neighbors;
To provide the driver with a permission slip to ride a bus other than their regular bus;
To obey the driver who has full charge of the bus;
To go to a seat as rapidly as possible without crowding or pushing;
To remain seated at all times until they reach their bus stop;
To talk quietly with his/her neighbor, keeping the noise to a minimum;
To keep all objects out of the aisle of the bus;
To remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop;
To walk to the front of the bus as rapidly as possible when leaving the bus;
To move away from the side of the bus after leaving the bus;
To go a minimum of 10 feet in front of the bus and wait for the driver to signal them to cross whenever crossing the street is required; and
On field trips, to remove all litter from the bus.
For the safety of all those who ride the bus, the following are not permitted:
Glass objects (bottles, jars, etc.);
Drinking or eating on regular trips;
Smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes;
Shouting, waving or throwing objects out of or within the bus;
Fighting, pushing or creating a disturbance;
Opening windows or doors without permission of the driver;
Damaging the interior or exterior of the bus;
Talking with the driver unless in an emergency; and
Extending arms, legs or head out of the bus.
Large items that are necessary for student participation in school activities (e.g. hockey sticks, skis, lacrosse sticks, musical instruments) may be required to be placed in a designated location on the bus. If possible, items should be stored at school or transported by other means to reduce risk of injury to riders and damage to the bus.
Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA§5401
Cross Reference: EEA–Student Transportation Services, JICH -Student Substance Use and Possession
Adopted: Prior to 1982
Revised: June 8, 1992, November 14, 2019