A MESSAGE FROM THE HUBBARD EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

With the 2012-2013 school year fast approaching, parents are reminded that they must go to the bus garage to complete the “Bus Change” form if your children will be riding a different bus to and from school. In order for the bus change to take effect on the first day of school, August 27, all forms must be completed and approved by the end of the day on Wednesday, August 22.Complete the form and take it to the bus garage for approval. Changes will not take place unless the transportation supervisor approves the form. Only one address change per student can be made.

Bus routes for all students will be posted at the bus garage on Wednesday, August 15. You can go to the bus garage between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to see if your child’s route has changed from last year.

If you have any questions regarding any transportation issues, please call Pam Findley at 330-534-3722.

The Bus Change form can be found here.

Pupil Instruction

(A) Safety instruction shall be given to all regularly transported pupils in grades kindergarten through three within two weeks after the commencement of classes each school year.

 The program shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Safe walking practices to and from the bus stop.

(2) Wearing of light-colored or reflective clothing when going to and from the bus stop in darkness.

(3) How and where to wait safely for the bus including how to avoid personal risks involving strangers.

(4) What to do if the bus is late or does not arrive.

(5) How to enter and leave the bus safely. This instruction shall include the potential hazards regarding the snagging of clothing, backpacks, or other items, as well as items which may be dropped around or under the bus.

(6) Safe riding practices (including instruction on rule 3301-83-08 of the Administrative Code, pupil transportation management policies).

(7) Safely crossing the highway before boarding and after leaving the bus.

(8) Respect for the rights and privileges of others.

(B) Pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade three who may be transported on non-routine type trips only must be given a general orientation annually on school bus safety procedures.

(C) Pupils enrolled in grades four through twelve and regularly transported shall be properly instructed in safety procedures on and around the school bus.

(D) Passengers participating in nonroutine use of school buses shall receive safety instructions at the beginning of the bus trip. (The return portion of a round trip event is excluded from this requirement.) Instruction shall include identification of safety exits, the requirement to keep aisles clear, the requirement to remain seated while the bus is in motion, and other rules as adopted by local policy.

Pupil management and safety instruction  

(1) Pupils shall arrive at the bus stop before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

(2) Pupils must wait in a location clear of traffic and away from the bus stops.

(3) Behavior at the school bus stop must not threaten life, limb or property of any individual.

(4) Pupils must go directly to an available or assigned seat so the bus may safely resume motion.

(5) Pupils must remain seated keeping aisles and exits clear.

(6) Pupils must observe classroom conduct and obey the driver promptly and respectfully.

(7) Pupils must not use profane language.

(8) Pupils must refrain from eating and drinking on the bus except as required for medical reasons.

(9) Pupils must not use tobacco on the bus.

(10) Pupils must not have alcohol or drugs in their possession on the bus except for prescription medication required for a student.

(11) Pupils must not throw or pass objects on, from or into the bus.

(12) Pupils may carry on the bus only objects that can be held in their laps (see paragraph (J) of Rule 3301-83-20 of the Administrative Code).

(13) Pupils must leave or board the bus at locations to which they have been assigned unless they have parental and administrative authorization to do otherwise.

(14) Pupils must not put head or arms out of the bus windows.

(15) Guidelines will be formulated for the use and storage of equipment and other means of assistance required by preschool and special needs children.

(16) Drivers and bus aides must have access to appropriate information about the child to the degree that such information might affect safe transportation and medical well-being. This information must be readily accessible in the transportation office. All such information is strictly confidential.

School Bus Stop Procedures

(1) Check mirrors for traffic conditions and apply brakes well in advance to warn traffic from rear.

(2) Actuate warning lights approximately three hundred feet prior to stop. A strobe light may be used if available and if conditions warrant.

(3) Stop the bus at the designated stop.

   (a) The bus shall be stopped near the right side of the paved or traveled portion of the roadway.

   (b) The bus should be stopped along the drive way entrance or along the curb when picking up or discharging passengers with special needs which require the use of special equipment.

   (c) The driver must maintain firm pressure on the service brake. The parking brake shall be set when:

      (i) Stopped on a grade

      (ii) Stopped for the left side crossover pickup and discharge, and

      (iii) During extended stops created by the number of students at a bus stop

      (iv) Operators of vehicles equipped with an approved brake interlock device shall be exempted from these requirements to set the parking brake.  

(4) To prevent the bus from lunging forward, the gear shift lever shall be placed into the neutral gear for both manual and automatic transmissions

(5) Open the service door to actuate the warning lights and place hand over horn to warn students of any potential hazards.

(6) Left side crossover pickup

   (a) Bring the bus to a stop ten feet or more from the students.

   (b) Check mirrors and roadway for safe crossing and count the number of students waiting to board the bus.

   (c) The driver must raise his or her hand palm up to be visible to the students outside the bus. When safe to cross, make eye contact with students and signal students by slowly dropping hand straight down and place other hand over the horn.

   (d) The students should check for traffic before crossing the roadway and must cross straight across the roadway, approximately ten feet in front of the bus.

   (e) When the students board the bus, the driver must count the student(s) as they board and remind them to board quickly and safely.

   (f) The driver shall check the overhead mirror to be sure all passengers are seated before moving the bus.

(7) Left side crossover discharge

   (a) Bring the bus to a stop approximately ten feet from students’ designated stop location. Once bus is stopped, students may begin to leave their seats.

   (b) Check mirrors and roadway for safe conditions to cross students.

   (c) As the students safely and quickly exit the bus, the driver must raise his or her hand palm up to be visible to the students outside the bus, have the other hand covering the horn, and count the number of students exiting the bus.

      (i) Students are to walk ten steps along side of roadway away from the front of the bus where the driver can see the students and the students can see the drivers hand. Students must wait for eye contact and signal from driver before crossing.

      (ii) When safe to cross, the driver will signal students to cross by dropping hand slowly and straight down, after making eye contact with students.  

      (iii) Students are to cross directly toward other side of roadway, stopping halfway to check for traffic in both directions. When safe, they must continue to cross to residence side.

      (iv) Once on residence side, students are to gather at a designated place of safety where they must remain until the bus leaves the stop. Only after counting students may the driver begin to leave the bus stop. After the bus leaves the stop location, the students may continue to their residence.

      (v) Modification of this procedure may be necessary for preschool, kindergarten, and special needs students.

(8) Right side pickup

   (a) Check mirrors and roadway for safe conditions to board students.

   (b) Students are to remain clear of the danger zone by waiting at their designated place of safety ten feet or more from the bus.

   (c) Driver is to make eye contact with students and signal them to board the bus.

   (d) When the students board the bus the driver must count the students as they board and remind them to board quickly and safely.

   (e) The driver shall check the overhead mirror to be sure all passengers are seated before moving the bus.

(9) Right side discharge

   (a) Check mirrors and roadway for safe conditions to discharge students.

   (b) Once the bus comes to a complete stop, the students may begin to leave their seat to exit the bus.

   (c) Students are to exit the bus quickly and safely and walk ten steps clear of the danger zone and wait at the designated place of safety on the residence side.

   (d) The driver must count the students as they exit the bus and see them to their designated place of safety on the residence side where they must remain until the bus leaves the stop. Only after counting the students may the driver begin to leave the bus stop. After the bus leaves the stop location, the students may continue to their residence.

   (e) Modification of this procedure may be necessary for preschool, kindergarten, and special needs students.  

(10) Shift the gear lever into the starting gear, only after the students are in a safe place.

(11) Before closing the door and canceling the warning lights, look to identify students and potential hazards in the danger zone, counting the mirrors as follows:

   (a) 1 – Right side mirror

   (b) 2 – Right blind spot mirror

   (c) 3 – Right crossover mirror

   (d) 4 – Left crossover mirror

   (e) 5 – Left blind spot mirror

   (f) 6 – Left side mirror

   (g) 7 – Inside overhead mirror

   (h) 8 – Right crossover mirror

   (i) 9 – Left crossover mirror.

(12) Close the door when all areas are clear. Door must be closed before the bus moves.

(13) Release the parking brake after closing the door.

(14) The driver must recheck the right and left side mirrors prior to pulling away.