The safety of our students is always the district’s first concern. The safe operation of a school bus requires both the full attention of the school bus driver and proper behavior of the student passengers. Parents are asked to discuss with their children their individual responsibilities for a safe bus ride and the importance of observing the bus rules.

These rules are based on state law, Ohio Department of Education guidelines, and Pickerington Schools policies. Adherence to these rules ensures the safety and welfare of all riders on the bus.

Remember, the school bus driver is the school district representative in charge of the bus. A driver’s instructions must be followed and respected by students on the bus. These instructions guide the students as they board and leave the bus and help manage student conduct during the ride.

Rules for school bus safety include:

1. Students should take the safest route to the bus stop and arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus. Wait a safe distance from traffic. While waiting, students must respect other individuals, their possessions and surrounding property, and behave in an orderly fashion.

2. When crossing a street to board a bus, a student must check traffic in both directions, obey the bus driver’s hand signal, and walk at least ten paces in front of the bus.

3. Students should not run toward a moving bus or approach the bus until the driver opens the door. Students should enter the bus calmly, sit face forward in the first available or their assigned seat, and keep the aisle of the bus clear. In some cases, elementary and middle school students will be assigned three to a seat.

4. Students need to observe classroom behavior and follow their school’s code of conduct while on the bus. All drivers’ instructions should be obeyed promptly and respectfully. Ask the driver’s permission to open windows.

5. Students must be quiet when the bus is approaching railroad crossings and must remain quiet until the bus has safely crossed the tracks.

6. Students must not throw or pass objects on, from, or into the bus. Students should keep their entire body within the bus.

7. Students are not to eat or drink on the bus except as required for medical reasons.

8. Students must not use tobacco in any form on the bus.

9. Students must not have alcohol or narcotics in their possession while on the bus except for any prescription medication required for a student.

10. Students may carry on the bus only objects that can be held in their laps or properly secured. Additionally, if students are attempting to carry on more items than can safely be held on their lap they will not be permitted to ride. Headphones, boom boxes, toys, etc., must be kept in book bags. This includes musical instruments. Students will not be permitted to bring the following musical instruments on buses transporting students to and from school.

• Tenor Sax
• French Horn
• Baritone
• Trombone
• Tuba
• Drums
• Cello
• String Base

Drivers may confiscate anything carried on the bus. No animals are allowed on the buses except where specified in a student’s IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan. No glass bottles or containers are allowed on the bus.

11. Students may only board or leave the bus at locations to which they have been assigned unless they have written parental and administrative authorization to do otherwise.

12. Students should not tamper with the bus or any of its equipment, including emergency equipment. Students and parent/guardians will be held financially responsible for any malicious destruction to the bus and/or to equipment.

13. If students need to cross the street after getting off the bus, they should cross at least ten paces in front of the bus. Before students cross, the driver will raise his or her hand. Once the hand is lowered, the student should cross to the middle of the street, stop and look both ways to check for any oncoming traffic. If it is safe, the student should then continue crossing and go directly to their place of safety. Never stop to pick up anything from underneath the bus.

14. All students are governed by the district’s policy on harassment.

15. Civil charges may be filed against a student for any serious rule violation(s).

16. Any malicious distraction of the bus driver is considered a violation of the student discipline code.

Corrective actions for misconduct on a school bus will follow appropriate district and Petermann policy. Minor infractions may involve corrective action by the bus driver at the time of the incident or a later call to a parent or guardian.

Serious or repeated infractions jeopardizing anyone’s safety will result in a write-up for Petermann personnel to address. If a student is referred a third time, severe disciplinary action will be taken. Such discipline can involve suspensions from bus transportation up to and including immediate removal from a bus, if warranted. Pupils have a right to due process. Parents, guardians, or designees are responsible for transporting students to and from school when bus privileges have been suspended.

For an extra measure of safety, many of our buses are equipped with video recording devices to monitor conditions on the vehicle. The video recording this produces may be used to support disciplinary action or for driver training purposes. Petermann is the sole owner of the video recordings.