STUDENT CONDUCT ON SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
Code No. 711.2
Bus transportation for students enrolled in the school district is one of the requirements set forth by the Iowa State Department of Education. In complying with this requirement, the Board is authorized to establish policies and regulations that will ensure safe transportation for all students.
Although the law requires the district to provide transportation, it does not relieve parents from the responsibility of supervision until such time as the child boards the bus and after the child leaves the bus at the end of the school day. Nor does it relieve students from the responsibility to behave in an orderly and safe manner on the bus. School bus transportation is a privilege that can be taken away any time a student’s conduct is considered bad enough to jeopardize the safety of the other passengers. The right to safe transportation will not be taken from an entire busload of students because a few of them disobey the rules.
Students utilizing school transportation will conduct themselves in an orderly manner fitting to their age level and maturity with mutual respect and consideration for the rights of the school vehicle driver and the other passengers. Students who fail to behave in an orderly manner will be subject to disciplinary measures.
The driver will have the authority to maintain order on the school vehicle. It is the responsibility of the driver to report misconduct to the building administrator.
Those students guilty of flagrant, repeated, or gross disobedience or misconduct on school buses are subject to suspension within the guidelines of the district’s Student Suspension Policy, Code Number 503.2. Continued violation of bus rules will be considered sufficient cause for refusing to transport the student(s) involved, and may lead to suspension from school, depending upon the seriousness of the matter.
The board supports the use of recording devices on school buses used for transportation to and from school as well as for field trips, curricular or extracurricular events. The recording devices will be used to monitor student behavior and may be used as evidence in a student disciplinary proceeding. The recordings are student records subject to school district confidentiality, board policy and administrative regulations.
After three (3) warnings for bad conduct, the building principal will have the authority to suspend transportation privileges of the student or impose other appropriate discipline.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the building principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding student conduct and discipline when utilizing school district transportation.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 285; 321.
Cross Reference: 503 Student Discipline
506 Student Records
804.6 Use of Recording Devices on School Property
Adopted: 01/12/1987
Reviewed: 06/26/2023
Revised: 06/26/2023