This policy serves to govern how West Fargo Public Schools will provide bus transportation services to students. Special education students who qualify for busing are subject to the bus guidelines stated within the Special Education Department’s policies and procedures.

BUS ROUTES & ZONES

The Director of Transportation is responsible for the establishment of routes and schedules. Buses travel only on routes considered passable by the driver and the Director of Transportation. Routes may be altered by administration as road conditions, weather conditions, or similar circumstances dictate.

The Transportation Department offers busing services to students who live more than 0.9 miles of a mile from their attendance school. Distance is calculated from the residence's driveway to the school property line. The Transportation Department's mapping software is the official measuring tool for determining bus zone boundaries. The Director of Transportation and the superintendent determine hazards which would alter bus zone boundaries.

BUS STOP LOCATIONS & RANGES

Bus stops shall be located so all bus students have less than, or equal to, a 0.4 mile walk from their home to the bus stop. The Transportation Department's mapping software is the official measuring tool for determining those ranges.

Parents/guardians are responsible to ensure their children get to and from bus stops safely. In cases of long rural driveways where bus access is limited, parents/guardians are responsible for meeting the bus at the appropriate location.

Parents/guardians who feel there are hazards between their home and the bus stop should submit a request to the Director of Transportation; the Director of Transportation and the superintendent make decisions on any such requests.

All students are expected to board and exit at their designated bus stop. The Transportation Department reserves the right to add, change, or remove bus stop locations and times.

ATTENDANCE AREA BUSING

Students are provided bus services within their school's attendance area only. The Transportation Department only transports a student to another school in the event the student has been forced to transfer schools; the service is offered as long as the forced transfer remains in effect.

DESIGNATED PICK UP TIMES

Students are expected to be at their designated bus stop five minutes prior to the scheduled department time. Official time is kept at the Transportation Department and may be accessed by calling (701) 356-2120.

SEATING

The Transportation Department is required to keep the number of riders equal to, and preferably less than, the stated capacity of the school bus. The Transportation Department attempts to keep secondary counts at, or below, two thirds of the stated capacity of the school bus.

GUESTS

Students are not allowed to bring guests on to the school bus unless:

1. Prior approval was granted by the Transportation Department and the student's school by 12:00PM on the day of the request.
2. The guest has bus riding privileges.
3. The guest is a student of West Fargo Public Schools.
4. The bus has available capacity.

Multiple guests for birthday parties and sleepovers are not permitted.

Parent/Guardians are not allowed to ride on the school bus unless prior approval is granted by the Director of Transportation and the superintendent.

TARDY BUS STUDENTS

Students tardy to school are excused if the delay is the result of a bus service problem or if school administration determines there is an excusable reason for the tardy.

PERSONAL ARTICLES

Students are not allowed to bring any articles on the bus that the Transportation Department staff consider to be dangerous or that may cause injury. Items include, but are not limited to: baseball hats, golf clubs, rollerblades, skateboards, and umbrellas.

Food, drinks, and cell phones must be stored at all times. Band instruments may travel on the bus as long as there is room to store them in a seat without displacing another student.

The Transportation Department is not responsible for items lost on the bus.

STUDENT CONDUCT

All bus riders are expected to behave in a respectful and courteous manner. Bus riders must maintain a low voice and remain in their seats at all times. The drivers, along with school administrators, are charged with the responsibility of maintaining discipline and order on the buses. The school district maintains a standardized discipline policy for all students who ride regular education buses.

CLOTHING

Parents/Guardians are responsible for ensuring bus riders are dressed appropriately for the bus stop and ride. For example, in the winter months, coats, caps, mittens, and boots should be worn.

BUS ASSIGNMENT

The Transportation Department assigns all eligible students transportation services to their home addresses. A home address is considered the residential address on file in PowerSchool. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure children know the bus schedule for transportation to addresses other than their home address; this option is allowable as long as there is capacity available on the bus. The Transportation Department assists families in locating the bus schedule information but is not responsible for tracking their bus schedules. The Transportation Department reroutes or makes adjustments to accommodate alternative bus locations.

TRANSPORTATION FOR OPEN ENROLLED STUDENTS

Open enrolled students and in-district transfers may utilize transportation services and current bus stop locations as long as the bus has available capacity. The Transportation Department does not alter or make route adjustments to accommodate open enrolled and in-district transfer students.

Adopted: 01/22/79

Reviewed: 22/22/22

Revised: 11/11/80

03/08/93

10/26/98

09/27/11

CONDUCT

All students who utilize district transportation services are subject to the following rules:

• Obey the bus driver.
• Stay in your seat, facing forward, with legs and arms out of the aisle.
• Keep your hands, head, and feet in the bus.
• No eating or drinking while on the bus.
• Bus riders will always conduct themselves in a respectful and courteous manner.

If the rules listed above are not followed, the following consequences will be enacted:

• Low-Level Infractions: Students who violate low-level rules are subject to in-school consequences which are determined by the principal at each school. Upon third low level write up student may be subject to the high-level consequences.
• High Level - 1st offense: Student will be removed from the bus for one week.
• High Level - 2nd offense: Student will be removed from the bus for two weeks.
• High Level - 3rd offense: Student will be removed from the bus for one month.
• High Level - 4th offense: Student will be removed from the bus for the remainder of school year.
• Severe Clause: Students may have their riding privileges suspend for longer durations for severe acts on the bus.
• Revoking Clause: A student may have their bus riding privileges permanently denied for serious actions, or threats that pose a danger to others.

SEATING

The Transportation Department is required to keep the number of riders equal to or less than the stated capacity of the school bus. For secondary routes, the rider count is kept at or below two-thirds of the stated bus capacity.

GUESTS

Students are not allowed to bring guests onto the school bus unless:

• Prior approval from the Transportation Department and their school is requested and received by 12:00PM on day of request.
• Guest has bus riding privileges.
• The guest is a student in West Fargo Public Schools.
• Bus has available capacity.

Multiple guests for birthday parties and sleepovers will not be allowed. The term "guests" encompasses parents/guardians.

TARDY STUDENTS

Students tardy to school will be excused if their delay is the result of bus service problems or circumstances beyond the control of the student. A student will not be excused when arriving late if they have created a discipline issue or were late at the bus stop.

PERSONAL ARTICLES

Students are not allowed to bring on the bus any articles that the driver or para considers to be dangerous or that may cause injury. Items such as baseball bats, golf clubs, tennis rackets, rollerblades, skateboards, and umbrellas are not allowed on route buses.

Food, drinks, and cell phones must be stored at all times.

The Transportation Department is not responsible for any items lost on the bus.

Band instruments are welcome on the bus if there is room to store the item in a seat and it does not displace another student.

STUDENT CONDUCT

All bus riders are expected to behave in a respectful and courteous manner. Bus riders must maintain a low volume of their voice and remain in their seats at all times. WFPS maintains a standardized discipline policy for all students who ride regular education buses.

VIDEO RECORDING

The Transportation Department monitors behavior on school buses that it deems necessary through the use of video cameras. Video is not archived unless it is considered to be useful for the school district or law enforcement. Access to bus video is limited to appropriate school district staff and law enforcement. Students and parents may have access to still images when deemed necessary by the Transportation Director or Superintendent.

CLOTHING

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that their child is appropriately dressed to maintain reasonable comfort in the event that a bus breaks down. The Transportation Department is concerned about children who utilize the bus services who are not dressed appropriately for harsh winter conditions. If the transportation staff notes a pattern of a child not being dressed appropriately for the weather, a child's bus riding privileges may be suspended until the parent/guardian can ensure the child is dressed appropriately. The Transportation Department or the child's school will notify the parent/guardian prior to the suspension. During after-school busing, a child who is not dressed appropriately for harsh weather conditions may be instructed to go into the school office. The child's parent will be responsible to pick up the student as soon as possible.