Las Cruces Public School District

Students of Las Cruces Public Schools are eligible to be transported on school buses under the following criteria:

1. Students in grades kindergarten through 5th must live more than one mile from home to school one way.

2. Students in grades 6th through 8th must live more than one and one-half miles from home to school one way.

3. Students in grades 9th through 12th must live more than two miles from home to school one way.

Students will not be required to walk a greater distance to the bus stop than the required walking distance for each grade level. Students will not be provided transportation if attending schools outside their designated home schools. Transportation to schools outside the home school boundaries is the responsibility of the parents or guardians. Students attending day-care or baby-sitter facilities may be transported if such facilities have the same pickup and drop off locations.

Students who do not ride a bus on a regular route will not be transported on any bus at any time (except for authorized charters).

All regular school bus stops utilized to load and unload students will be established by a coordinated effort between the school bus contractor and the school district's transportation office. School bus stops may be reviewed and changed by the State Department of Education, School Transportation Division. No stops may be changed or time schedules altered by school bus drivers or contractor without the approval of the School District Transportation Department.

All school buses must operate on a specific time schedule. These time schedules will be definitely established by the end of the second week of school. Bus schedules are available at each school. Drivers are not expected to wait for students unless students are observed making a timely effort to reach the bus. Drivers will act as the judge in such cases.

If buses are late in arriving at school, students are to follow the instructions given by the schools' administrators regarding tardiness.

School buses will pick up students at assigned stops and will return students only to the same assigned stops. A student may be allowed to board or exit the bus at a different stop only upon pre- sentation of a dated note from the parent/legal guardian. The note must be signed by the principal or other authorized school official.

Students are to report to their buses as soon as schools are dismissed. Buses will wait no longer than 7 minutes. Once the entrance door is closed and the buses begin to move, drivers are not authorized to allow any additional students on the bus.

If a parent/administrator wants a student off the bus (like at school prior to leaving) the parent/administrator must come to the bus and identify themselves before the driver can release the student. Parents are not allowed to enter the bus at any time.

To assure adequate space for the safety of passengers, the State has directed all large musical instruments and other bulky, awkward, or dangerous items shall be banned from school buses.

The following instruments WILL BE allowed on school bus daily runs: Flute, Piccolo, Trumpet, Cornet, Clarinet, Oboe, English Horn, French Horn, Mellophone, Bass Clarinet, Alto Clarinet, Trombone, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Bells (in case), Bassoon, Violin, Viola, guitar.

The following instruments WILL NOT BE transported on school bus daily runs: Tuba, Snare Drums, Cello, Sousaphone, Baritone Sax, String Bass, Baritone, Contra Bass Clarinet.

1. Band students should load buses last and exit at stops after other students exit.

2. Band students should make seating arrangements with bus drivers so that their instruments do not create a safety problem.

All instruments carried by students should be under their control at all times and carried on the lap or between seats. The aisle should not be blocked at any time. No instruments shall be placed in the driver's compartment.

Band Directors are aware of this list. If a child is going to have a problem with transporting their instrument, let the Band Director know before choosing an instrument.

Student transportation is a privilege, not a right, extended to qualified students. Students who do not obey the following rules and regulations may have their transportation privileges revoked by the contractor and/or school officials.

1. Students should look both ways before crossing to the opposite side of the road.

2. Students shall arrive at the bus stop five-ten minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

3. Students shall wait in a safe place, clear of traffic and away from where the bus stops.

4. Students shall wait in an orderly manner and avoid causing destruction to area yards, homes, or fences.

5. Students shall cross the street in front of the bus (8-10 feet) only after the bus has come to a complete stop and upon the direction of the driver.

6. Students shall go directly to an assigned or available seat when entering the bus.

7. Students shall remain properly seated and keep aisles and exits clear of books, equipment and musical instruments.

8. Students shall not throw or pass objects on the bus or throw or pass objects through bus windows.

9. Students are permitted to carry objects and band instruments that can be held on his/her lap if there is sufficient room and if it will not jeopardize the safety of other students.

10. Students shall refrain from the use of profane language, tobacco, alcohol, drugs or any other controlled substance on the bus.

12. Students shall not carry any kind of weapons, hazardous materials (such as glass), nuisance items (such as inflated balloons, assembled kites) and animals onto the bus.

13. Students shall not mis-use pencils, pens or other sharp objects. Students shall not write or mark on seats or other bus equipment.

15. Students shall refrain from leaving or boarding the bus at locations other than the assigned stops at home or school.

16. Students shall refrain from extending head, arms, objects out of the bus windows.

18. Students' parent/guardian shall be held legally and finan- cially responsible for malicious destruction on the bus, such as cut seats or broken windows. If there is damage done, the student responsible would not be allowed to ride until the damage is paid for.

19. Students shall carry balls and any other athletic equipment in a zippered athletic bag (no plastic grocery bags) carried on the lap, between seats, or in a vacant seat. The aisle should not be blocked at any time.

Many injuries occur during boarding and exiting, both drivers and students need to be especially careful during these two procedures. Parents, School Personnel and Bus Drivers need to instruct students in proper loading and unloading zone safety.

1. Allow enough time in the morning to get to the bus without hurrying. Rushing causes carelessness, a major factor in accidents.

2. Be a safe pedestrian when you walk to the bus. Whenever you cross a street, stop first and look left-right-left. Keep looking until the road is clear. Once traffic is clear, cross the street, checking for any sudden traffic changes.

3. At the stop, wait a safe distance from the roadway in an orderly fashion. Don't stray onto streets, alleys or private property.

4. Wait for the bus to stop completely before trying to board it. Wait for the door to open before moving toward the bus. Then, board the bus carefully, using the hand rail. Once on the bus, find a seat quickly.

4 If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk 8-10 feet ahead of the bus along the side of the road, until you can turn around and see the driver. Then stop and wait for the driver's signals, walk across the road, keeping an eye out for sudden traffic changes.

6. Cross the street carefully, looking left-right-left until you are safely across. Stay clear of the bus's rear wheels at all times.

7. Do not cross behind the school bus. Cross 8-10 feet in front of school bus only.

Bus drivers appreciate good conduct and good citizenship. Cooperating with your bus driver will result in the safety of all who ride the school buses. The following regulations apply to School Bus Operations:

1. Drivers may not transport any persons who are not students assigned to their buses while making regular routes, unless they have a note signed by the parent (or guardian), or school authority, and bus has not reached its capacity. Student must be a regular bus rider at school (eligible rider).

2. Drivers shall provide safety instructions and emergency evacuation drills to all students on their buses. Loading and unloading procedures will be emphasized during the sessions.

3. Drivers shall adhere to the established route schedules approved by the School Safety/Security and Transportation Department.

4. Drivers must be on time at their assigned bus stops. The drivers are not expected to wait for students unless they are observed making a timely effort to reach their buses.

5. Drivers are in full charge of students when they are riding the buses. In cases where teachers or school administrators are on the buses, they also are authorized to enforce student discipline.

All school bus drivers have been supplied with School Bus Incident Report To Parents forms which reflect the rules of student conduct. Students can be disciplined for the following actions:

Improper Boarding/Departing Procedures
Bringing articles aboard bus of injurious or objectionable nature
Throwing objects in/out of or at bus
Failure to remain seated properly
Fighting/Pushing/Tripping
Refusing to obey driver
Lighting matches/smoking on bus
Spitting/littering
Unnecessary noise, especially at all railroad crossings
Tampering with bus equipment
Rude, discourteous and annoying conduct
Destruction of property or vandalism
Other behavior relating to safety, well-being and respect to others
Eating and/or drinking on the bus (including gum)

If students choose to break a rule, the bus driver through the School Safety/Security and Transportation Office will use the following disciplinary actions:

The School District will make every effort to notify parents/guardians of the suspension. Students will be given a copy of the Bus Incident Report to give to their parents the afternoon prior to the suspension. (Suspensions are from school year to school year and not calendar year.)

The following inappropriate and dangerous behavior will result in automatic suspension of transportation privileges:

Physical harm to any student
Physical harm to the bus driver/bus attendant
Physical damage to the bus or school property
Going out emergency back door
Incidents with fire
Carrying of any item considered a weapon (gun, knife, etc.)

In addition to the suspension of transportation privileges, criminal action may be taken and may result in an arrest. Parents/Guardians may also be held responsible for malicious destruction of buses.

Video cameras may be used onboard school buses to help monitor bus activity. The video will not be distributed to anyone other than the school, transportation provider, or LCPS School Safety/Security and Transportation Department.

Items left on bus will be held for one month at the Las Cruces Public School Administation Building in the School Safety/Security and Transportation Department. After the one month period,items will be discarded. Perishables will be discarded immediately.