Students are subject to both the code of conduct under board policy JICDA/JICDA-R and this bus discipline code.

Riding a school bus is a privilege. The board expects students to conduct themselves on school buses in a manner consistent with the district's student code of conduct. All bus riders must cooperate fully with their bus drivers and conduct themselves properly at all times.

Bus drivers have responsibility for supervision of students on the bus. Bus drivers will report to school principals or their designees the name of any student whose conduct interferes with safe driving or who acts disruptively. The principal or his/her designee has the responsibility of investigating the reported incidents of student misconduct on buses, and as authorized by state law and regulation and district policy, the responsibility of suspending or denying bus transportation to a student whose conduct is persistently or flagrantly detrimental to safety and/or order on buses.

Misconduct includes disorderly, disruptive and criminal conduct as set forth in administrative rule JICDS-R and the following behavior on a bus or at the bus stop.

• getting on or off the bus at an unauthorized stop without permission; 

• eating and/or drinking on the bus; 

• standing or sitting improperly while the bus is moving; 

• violating any safety procedures; 

• intentionally riding a bus other that the assigned one without permission from the principal or the district's designee 

• continually making loud noises, yelling, and the like; 

• pushing, tripping, engaging in general horseplay; 

• encouraging others to misbehave; 

• defacing property (writing or marking on the bus); 

• littering inside the bus; 

• possessing and/or using any tobacco product or other illegal substances on the bus; 

• throwing objects inside of the bus; 

• throwing objects at the bus; 

• refusing to sit in an assigned seat; 

• using profanity, abusive language, and/or obscene gestures; 

• having hands, arms, head, and so forth, out of the bus windows and/or doors; 

• using rude, discourteous behavior directed toward the driver or other passengers; 

• disobeying the bus driver or aide/monitor; 

• harassing, threatening, intimidating, or physically abusing or hitting another student; 

• fighting * 

Repeated offenses will result in more severe penalties, and serious misconduct may result in other disciplinary action without regard to the number of offenses, up to and including suspension or expulsion from school in accordance with board policy JICDA/JICDA-R. The following indicate the typical disciplinary action that will be taken with response to misconduct.

First Offense: 

A verbal warning to the student and contacting or sending a copy of the bus report to the student's parent advising of the misconduct. If the offense is of a serious enough nature, a one to three day suspension from riding the bus may be given. 

Second Offense: 

Suspension from riding the bus for a period up to five days may be given and a copy of the bus report sent to parents. 

THIRD OFFENSE: 

Suspension from riding the bus for a period of 5 - 10 days and a copy of the bus report sent home to parents. Parents may be required to come to the school for a conference with the principal or his/her designee prior to the student being allowed to resume riding the bus. 

Fourth Offense: 

Student may be suspended from riding the bus for a period up to 15 days to the remainder of the school year and a copy of the bus report sent home to parents. 

When a student is suspended from riding a bus, he/she may not ride another bus during the suspension.

*All rules and regulations apply on the school bus and at the bus stop.

Print a copy of the bus policies