Transportation Department Policies and Procedures:

Route System- Maine-Endwell utilizes a route number system rather than a bus number system to better serve the students, principals, and parents. This means the route number will remain constant for all involved when buses are replaced because of maintenance, breakdowns or Department of Transportation inspections. The route number is located in a pocket attached to the side of the bus left of the entrance door and under the window line. The numbers are six inches high and attached to a galvanized holder.

Eligibility- Eligibility for transportation is determined only on the basis of grade of the child and the distance of the home of the child from the school (s)he attends. Children of the district will be transported to and from their designated schools if they qualify under the following:

All Kindergarten through eighth grade will be transported.

Ninth through twelfth grade, if they live outside a 1 1/2 mile walking distance from the nearest school entrance.

Questions on eligibility for transportation can be answered by calling the Bus Garage.

Activities and Transfers- Buses are provided for those who stay after regular dismissal for athletics, review classes or for other approved reasons. These buses drop off students withinone mileof their homes. Activity buses cover a very large area, consolidate routes, and do not travel the same routes as regular dismissal buses. The bus driver determines the route after the students board the bus. However, transfer students that must ride activity buses will be returned to their p.m. stops.

Safety Policy- 5 Minute Rule - Students are to arrive at their designated pick up point 5 minutes BEFORE the scheduled time of the pick up by the bus. This is to ensure that all students for that stop are not moving but are lined up at the same time the bus is arriving and stopping.

School Bus Conduct- The following are considered inappropriate behavior on a school bus:

1. Hazardous Acts That Are Not Acceptable Behavior On A District School Bus

(a) Use or possession of drugs or alcohol.

(b) Placing of objects such as books, feet, musical instruments, etc., in the aisle. Aisle is to be kept clear.

(c) Throwing objects inside or outside bus- books, paper clips, rubber bands, pencils, hats, or other clothing, food, etc.

(d) Placing of head, hands, or arms outside of bus.

(e) Carrying of pets, insects, live specimens or other animals on the bus.

(f ) Improper loading and unloading.

(g) Students are to wait for the bus in an orderly fashion, not closer to the road than the curb or grass line. At the school, never use the sidewalk area of the yellow line nor area between yellow line and the curb.

(h) Never move toward the bus until the bus entrance door is opened. Students should wait at their designated stop only and arrive 5 minutes before bus arrival time.
i ) Smoking - No matches or lighted material.

(j ) Cross 10 feet in front of bus (never in back of bus).

(k) Go directly to a seat, sit down and stay there until the bus comes to a complete halt at the assigned stop or school, and the entrance door is opened. Always sit facing forward.

(l) The following objects are considered hazardous and may not be carried on buses:

1) Athletic equipment such as field hockey sticks, skates (not in bag), skis and ski poles, pole vault (pole),

lacrosse sticks, bats, fishing poles, etc. 

2) Shop, Art and Science projects. Plants not enclosed in paper bags, objects large enough to require additional seat space, weapons,and glass items. 

3) Sharp objects such as pencils, knives, some combs and tools, toys, umbrellas, etc.

4) Large musical instruments. Those large enough to require additional seat space are not allowed, such as: bass violin, cello, guitar, tuba, baritone horn, trombone, French horn, tenor and/or baritone saxophone, drums. 

5) Radios and tape players.

(m) Tampering with emergency equipment such as doors, windows, flares, roof hatches, cameras, etc.

(n) Tampering with dashboard switches, door opener, or any other bus controls.

(o) Refusing to stand behind white line.

(p) Fighting, physical threats, extortion, harassment, and verbal abuse.

(q) Attempting to retrieve anything under or near the bus without FIRST getting permission from the driver.

(r) Carrying any weapon such as firecrackers or other dangerous material.

(s) Attempting to use other than designated stop unless showing a pass or parent's permission slip signed by the student's principal.

In situations where time does not permit student to secure the principal's signature prior to the need, you may use the okay of the transportation supervisor on the parent's permission slip.

2. Not Classified As Hazardous But Processed Like A Hazardous Act

(a) Insubordination and obnoxious behavior. Unreasonably loud talking, shouting or arguing. When driver turns on dome lights while traveling, it signals that absolute quiet is necessary.

(b) Refusal to follow instructions. Refusing to share a seat with other students. Failure to sit in assigned seat. Consistently being late for the bus.

(c) Damaging property - unscrewing seats, puncturing, cutting, ripping or pulling apart seats, breaking windows, writing on seats, walls or ceiling. 

3. Non-Hazardous Acts That Are Not Acceptable Behavior On A District School Bus

(a) Leaving seats while bus is in motion.

(b) Opening windows without permission of driver.

(c) Eating, drinking or chewing gum on the bus.

(d) Use of foul language and/or gestures. Being offensive to other students.

(e) Immoral acts.

(f) Arguing.

Busing Policies -Special Transportation Request For Students Within Riding Distance

Procedure to Ensure the Safety and Welfare of the Student:

1) Students who are eligible for transportation may be, on occasion, picked up or dropped off at a point different from the regular assigned stop at the principal's discretion, when a bona fide EMERGENCY situation exists. Requests must be written and signed by the parent/guardian and sent to the principal with enough advance time to ensure that the proper procedure can be instituted by the transportation department. The transportation department will be consulted by the principal concerning questions on proper routing.

The parent/guardian request must contain the following:

(a) Student name with phone number of parent/guardian that can be reached to discuss the request if more information is needed.

(b) Name, address and phone number of person at requested location.

(c) Dates and times special transportation is needed.

(d) Reason for request.

2) Students residing within the transported distance shall not be accorded transportation for other reasons than the above. Requests for transportation to parties, scout meetings, recreation, work situation (including babysitting), convenience situations, and other non-emergency situations will be denied.

3) It is the responsibility of the building principal to make the determination of eligibility for transportation in the above situations, using the following criterion:

(a) A bona fide request.

(b) Seating available on requested route.

(c) Student aware of "10 foot crossing rule."

4) If the principal approves the request, a signed bus stop change form will be signed by the principal/designee and issued to the student for presentation to the bus driver. In emergency situations where time does not permit the student to secure the principal's signature prior to the need, it is permissible to use the okay of the supervisor of transportation on the parent/guardian request slip.