FILE: JCDAD
SCHOOL BUS CONDUCT
All persons who ride school buses of the Lafayette Parish School Board shall be subject to all safety/behavior policies and regulations of the School Board that are designed to provide quality transportation of students in a safe and timely manner, as well as provide a safe atmosphere for all persons on the bus and on the roads travelled by school buses. The School Board recognizes the authority of the school bus operator to supervise student behavior on or about the vehicle he/she operates.
Any behavior that distracts the bus operator shall be considered a serious hazard to the safe operation of the school bus. Riding the school bus is a privilege, and as such, the consequences of misconduct may result in dismissal of transportation services, as well as other disciplinary measures, including suspension and/or expulsion.
School Board regulations regarding proper conduct on school buses shall be provided in writing to students and parents/legal guardians at the start of school each year. The bus operator, together with the principal, shall assume full responsibility for discipline of students riding buses. Disciplinary problems shall be reported by the operator to the principal of the school involved. It is the duty of the operator, in the case of an infraction of the rules by any student, to notify the principal of the school the student attends. If possible, this must be done in person. It is the responsibility of the principal to determine necessary punishment to students violating regulations.
If found necessary, the principal may suspend bus privileges. Any parent of a student suspended from riding a school bus shall have the right to appeal to the parish Superintendent, who shall conduct a hearing on the merits of the bus suspension.
A student who causes damage to a school bus shall be subject to suspension from school and shall not be readmitted until acceptable provisions for restitution have been made for such damage or until readmittance is directed by the Superintendent.
PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING BUS CONDUCT
All schools shall be provided with the School Bus Behavior Report Form, which shall be completed on any occasion when a student's conduct on a bus is unsatisfactory.
One copy of the School Bus Behavior Report Form shall be signed by the parent and returned to the school principal. In all such cases a student shall be permitted to continue to ride the bus until transportation privileges have been denied by action taken by the appropriate school administrator.
In cases of severe misconduct, the principal or designee may temporarily suspend the student's bus privilege until appropriate disciplinary action is taken. The student's parents should be immediately notified of the temporary suspension.
Immediately after taking disciplinary action, the principal, or designee, shall sign and shall indicate the disciplinary action taken on the School Bus Behavior Report Form. Copies of the report shall be distributed to the student's file; to the parent; and to the operator. A copy of the report may also be sent to the Superintendent or designee.
In the event of an appeal of the principal's decision by parents, a hearing may be scheduled by the Superintendent or designee.
Adopted: October 7, 2015
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:223, 17:416, 17:416.1
Board minutes, 10-7-15
Lafayette Parish School Board