Transportation

A bus full of students driving away with hands waving goodbye out the window.

The district will provide free transportation for all District students who reside:

A distance of one-and-one half (1.5) miles or more from their assigned schools; or
Within one-and-one half (1.5) miles of their assigned school, but for whom walking would constitute a serious safety hazard due to vehicular traffic as determined by Illinois Department of Transportation standards of rail crossing, or a course or pattern of criminal activity as determined by the local law enforcement agency and adequate public transportation is not available.

A student’s parent/guardian may file a petition with the board requesting transportation due to the existence of a serious safety hazard. Free transportation will be provided in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act.

School Bus Safety Expectations

School Bus Safety Expectations

Arrive at the bus stop (5) minutes before the designated pick-up time.
Be safe. Stand at least (5) feet from the bus/street until the bus comes to a complete stop. Do not board the bus until the driver signals you to do so. Use the handrails and board the bus in a single file and orderly fashion.
Find the first seat available. Sit facing forward with your feet on the floor. Keep your hands, arms, head and personal items inside the bus at all times. Keep personal items and clutter out of the aisle.
Do not eat or drink on the bus.
Be courteous to the driver and other passengers. Talk in a quiet voice. Remain silent at railroad crossings.
Remain in your seat until the bus comes to a complete stop. After exiting, always cross in front of the bus. Never walk alongside the bus, crawl under the bus, or attempt to re-enter the bus after exiting.
Students must ride their assigned route. Students wishing to ride home with a peer will not be permitted if it is not the student’s assigned bus route.
Using or possessing a cellular telephone, video/audio recording device or other electronic device (including but not limited to computers, smartphones and tablets) in any manner that jeopardizes the safe travel of the school bus or violates the rights of others is prohibited.
Follow the driver’s directions. Drivers reserve the right to give direct instructions to student(s) in order to preserve the safe and secure transportation of the student(s).
Dress code and grooming guidelines are expected to be followed while on District-provided transportation.

All students must follow the District’s School Bus Safety Expectations. The District is authorized to suspend a student from riding the school bus for up to 10 consecutive school days for engaging in gross disobedience or misconduct, including but not limited to:

Prohibited student conduct as defined in Board Policy 7.190, Student Discipline.
Willful injury or threat of injury to a bus driver or another driver.
Willful defacement of the bus.
Use of profanity, slanderous, or obscene language that is unjustly damaging to others.
Willful disobedience of a directive from a bus driver or another supervisor.

Such other behavior as the Superintendent or designee deems to threaten the safe operation of the bus and/or its occupants. If a student is suspended from riding the bus for gross disobedience or misconduct on a bus, the board may suspend the student from riding the school bus for a period in excess of 10 school days for safety reasons. Students suspended from the bus who do not have alternate transportation to school shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent credit. It is the responsibility of the student’s parent/guardian to notify school officials that a student suspended from the bus does not have alternate transportation to school and it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to request homework.

Electronic visual and audio recordings may be used on school buses to monitor conduct and to promote and maintain a safe environment for students and employees when transportation is provided for school-related activity. Notice of electronic recordings shall be displayed on the exterior of the vehicle’s entrance door in compliance with State law and the expectations of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety. Students are prohibited from tampering with electronic devices with electronic recording devices. Students who violate this policy shall be disciplined in accordance with the Board’s discipline policy and restitution to the district for any necessary repairs or replacements may be involved.