Transportation

If you would like your child discharged at a point other than your driveway, obtain an Alternate School Bus Discharge Point form from your bus driver, school office, or at registration time. Complete and sign the form and return it to your bus driver or the Transportation Supervisor.

While every precaution is taken to see that the children arrive at their destination safely, the cooperation of the parents is needed in this endeavor. Driving a bus is a difficult and responsible task and anything that happens on the bus to divert the driver's attention from his/her driving responsibilities endangers the safety of the passengers. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that the children riding the bus conduct themselves in the best possible manner. It is the parents' responsibility to make sure that their children understand the "Rules and Regulations Governing Students Riding Howard-Winneshiek School Buses."

1. The bus driver may assign seats.

2. Be courteous, respectful and responsible to the bus driver and other riders.

3. Students will talk in a normal tone of voice with no profanity allowed.

4. Do not eat or drink on the bus and keep your area clean.

5. Violence and roughhousing are prohibited.

6. Remain seated when the bus is in motion.

7. Keep your hands and head inside the bus with feet on the floor at all times with the aisles clear at all times.

8. No items such as large band instruments, class projects, or large carrying bags will be permitted.

9. Do not destroy property. Destruction of property will be handed over to the proper authorities as “vandalism”.

10. For your own safety do not distract the bus driver through misbehavior.

11. Riders are not to throw items in the bus, at the bus or out of the bus. If items are thrown out of the bus, the student will be charged with littering and handed over to the proper authorities.

12. Touching safety equipment such as emergency exit windows, rear emergency door exits and other items are prohibited.

13. All riders will return required forms filled out and signed by the parent(s) or guardian(s).

14. Most rules applied in the classroom also apply on the school bus.

MISBEHAVING ON THE BUS: PENALTY AT DISCRETION OF PRINCIPAL OR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR  DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES MAY INCLUDE REMOVAL FROM BUS FOR 1 TO 10 DAYS OR PERMANENT REMOVAL FROM THE BUS BY FORMAL HEARING. SERIOUS MISBEHAVIOR ON THE BUS MAY ALSO BE CAUSE FOR PUNISHMENT UP TO AND INCLUDING SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION FROM SCHOOL. RIDING THE BUS IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT.

The bus driver has the ability to discipline a student and may notify the administration of a student's inappropriate bus conduct. Video cameras are in use on school buses for the safety of all students riding the bus. The content of the video tapes may be used to discipline students.

Parents are asked to call the transportation director (563-547-2341) if they would like to have their child ride a bus to a friend's home. In addition, all students need to have a written note, signed by a parent, guardian, or school official, and present it to the office and/or classroom teacher.

• • Buses will not stop or turn around mid route unless there is an emergency deemed by administration. If your child misses the bus or is not supposed to be on the bus, other arrangements by the parent will need to be made.