Student Bus Handbook

Transportation Service is a privilege, but it is not the right of every student. AMBE reserves the decision-making authority to determine which students qualify within the terms established by the Board, based on both safety and distance. 

Student Walking Distance

Any elementary or secondary school student may be expected to walk up to 0.8km. (1/2 mile) to a bus stop, turning point or school location. For our younger students in K4 and K5, every attempt will be made to reduce this expected walking distance to 0.4 km. (1/4 mile).

Time on the Bus

Every attempt will be made to transport students to school within one hour and twenty minutes. Certain exceptions may be necessary due to distances to program locations and traffic conditions beyonf our control.

Accommodating Alternate Pick-up and Drop-off

The Board, through its Transportation Manager, will endeavor, where possible, to accommodate requests for Monday - Friday in one-week blocks, alternate pick-up and drop-off locations for court ordered custodial agreements only. Specific exemptions may be made by the Transportation Manager on account of assessment of hardship, safety or other unforeseen circumstances.

Please note: All requests need to be in writing; signed and dated with a confirmation phone call to the school for extenuating circumstances only.

Appeals

Appeals on transportation issues may be made to the Transportation Manager. All grievances related to transportation will be reviewed in accordance with the Grievance Resolution Chart, and such appeals may only relate to policy matters and not issues covered under the Education Act.

[INSERT GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION CHART]

Parents/Guardians can support our efforts to maintain high standards of safety and acceptable behavior while traveling on school buses.

Parents/Guardians

• Must accept that school bus transportation is a privilege. Bus riding privileges may be withdrawn for serious misconduct by students.
• May expect transportation from a designated bus stop to school and return only.
• Shall advise their child(ren) of the rules and regulations of riding a school bus.
• Must have their child(ren) at their bus stop prior to the arrival of the bus. (Students wait for the school bus, the school bus does not wait for the students).
• Are responsible for their child(ren)'s safety and conduct at the bus stops daily prior to pick-up and drop-off.
• Are expected to cooperate with the principal, the bus driver and the monitor.
• Are expected to be at the drop-off point at the end of each school day to receive their child(ren). No exceptions will be made without a signed waiver for students in Grade 5 or older. If there is no responsible adult to meet the bus, the student will be brought back to their school and a parent meeting will be required. Also, after the third time, Akwesásne Child and Family Services or the Children's Aid Society will be notified and all of the incidents will be on record.
• Must report to the Principal or the Transportation Department any problems about the arrivals, departures or problems on the bus in writing.
• Must notify the School Principal or the Transportation Department of any change of address and any emergency and home phone numbers.
• Are advised that the schools will not accept any bus transfer notes or phone calls for the purpose of birthdays, sleep-overs, homework projects, etc. The mandate of the Board and the Transportation Department is to provide safe and efficient transportation for students to and from their designated pick-up points and school only.
• Are financially responsible for any willful damage done to the school bus by their child(ren).
• Are not permitted to ride the school bus, unless while accompanying a class on a trip or to a special presentation or for special circumstances that require parental supervision.
• Should notify the school if their child(ren) is/are subject to severe allergies and/or any life threatening reactions during transportation to and from school.

NO CARS OR TRUCKS ARE ALLOWED IN THR SCHOOL BUS LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONE FROM 7:30 AM - 9:15 AM AND 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM OR WHEN BUSES ARE IN THE LOADING ZONES.

In order for the Board to provide the safest possible transportation in an efficient and economical manner, students are requested to observe the following rules:

The Student

• Must respect the bus driver and the bus monitors at all times.
• Must be at pick-up points prior to arrival of the bus.
• May expect transportation from a designated bus stop to school, and return only.
• Follow the recommended procedures when crossing the roadway.
• Stand in an orderly line until the approaching bus comes to a full stop.
• Follow directions of the monitor while boarding on and departing the bus.
• Refrain from pushing or shoving when boarding or leaving the bus.
• Remain seated and do not distract the driver while the bus is in motion or during loading and unloading of other students.
• Keep feet under the seats and lunch bags, etc., out of the aisle.
• Open the window only with the driver's permission.
• Refrain from throwing anything in, out or at the bus at any time.
• Is prohibited from smoking, vaping, using smokeless tobacco, cannabis, and cannabis products, using non-prescribed drugs or alcohol or consuming any food or beverage on all school buses at any time.
• Refrain from fighting or using obscene language on the bus.
• Maintain a clean bus by using the container provided for any debris.
• Refrain from bringing firearms, ammunition, explosives and all other dangerous, disturbing and annoying objects on the buses.
• Will be held responsible for any willful damage to the bus.
• Realize that the bus driver is in complete charge or the bus and will report any misconduct or refusal to listen to the Transportation Manager.
• May be denied the privilege of riding the bus for not observing regulations and instructions.
• However, any student who commits a violent act while on the bus will be suspended immediately.
• Refrain from any and all cell phone usage. Cell phones on the bus will be confiscated and turned in to their school principal. 

Regulation 262: Elementary and Secondary Schools

Sections 23 (4) © that every pupil is responsible to the principal of the school that he/she attends for his/her conduct on the school premises or while traveling on a school bus that is owned by or under contract to the Board.

The Principal

Prescribes those standards of behavior set in the school which shall carry out onto the school bus.

• Is responsible for the supervision of loading and unloading procedures at the school.
• Investigates all reported disciplinary problems on the bus.
• Disciplines students for breaches of unacceptable behavior/conduct on the bus.
• Informs parents/guardians and Transportation Supervisor of problems and the disciplinary action that has been taken.
• Supports the driver and monitor of the bus in solving problems.
• Notifies the Transportation Department of any problems with routes, arrivals, departures, driver/monitor behavior, etc.

• Receives concerns, identifies and resolves operational problems.
• Ensures bus safety in the transportation of students.
• Develops annual bus routes.
• Provides direction, leadership, advice and assistance to Drivers and Monitors in the execution of their responsibilties.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements across all aspects of the Transportation Department.
• Develops, updates and implements program policies and procedures.
• Works to provide an efficient and safe student transportation system for the community.

• By accepting the responsibility for transporting students to their respective schools, drivers have also assumed responsibility for their safety.
• Any driver of a school Board vehicle shall not cross any temporary road(s) unless authorization has been given by the Transportation Manager or Director of Education. Any bus driver who crosses over on ice-covered waterway (river, streams, etc.) will be terminated immediately from their employment position as a school bus driver with the Board.
• Drivers have a responsibility to report to the proper authorities any student believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and have the right to deny transport of said student(s).
• Drivers have a legal obligation to report forthwith to a child protection agency if there are reasonable grounds to suspect a child(ren) may need protection.
• Pick-up procedure for bus drivers: School Bus drivers must as they approach a school bus pick-up point: activate their lights, come to a compete stop, open the doors, wait for 10 - 15 seconds, if the student is not visible the driver will close the door, deactivate the lights and leave the bus stop. BUS DRIVERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO HONK BUS HORN.

Drivers shall not:

Suspend a student's bus riding privileges.

Put a student off anywhere but his or her designated home or school stop.

Administer any form of physical punishment.

Routes

• Routes management requires consideration of many different factors.
• Revision of assigned routes may be only with the authority of the Transportation Department. Emergency situations requiring a detour are accepted, but should be reported immediately.
• Dangerous situations such as difficult turnarounds, washouts, narrow roads, etc. should be reported immediately by the driver to the Transportation Manager.
• The driver shall adjust the speed of the bus when encountering hazardous road conditions and inclement weather.
• To avoid crossing busy streets or roads, students should be picked up and dropped off on the right side of the road, where possible.
• Overloaded buses shall be reported immediately to the Transportation Manager.

Loading and Unloading

Parents please review with your child safe practices for boarding and departing the bus. The time of greatest danger for the students is when the bus is stopped for loading and unloading.

Responsibilities of the Bus Monitors are:

• Collaborating with the bus driver and school staff.
• Monitoring the behavior of children at different spots on the bus.
• Taking appropriate disciplinary action when needed.
• Assisting children with disabilities.
• Making sure all passengers are properly seated while riding the bus.
• Ensuring that students are aware of and following the rules of the bus.
• Ensuring that the child(ren) get off at the correct bus stop and that the child(ren) has an adult present before leaving the stop.
• Assisting with documentation of incident, inspection and other reports.
• Establishing and maintaining good relationships with students and parents.
• Teaching children social lessons, help solve problems and disputes, and must remain alert for any issues.
• Teaching children proper vehicle safety lessons, including to wear a seatbelt and stay seated while driving.

The Bus Monitor should and must communicate with the bus driver and discuss problems and possible solutions on a daily basis.

AMBE takes every precaution to avoid mechanical issues by performing all preventative maintenance suggested by the bus manufacturer. Even so, we must be prepared for incidents to occur.

In case of a transportation interruption the driver/monitor will:

• Remain calm.
• Make sure students are safe and as comfortable as possible.
• If students must leave the bus, keep them together a safe distance from the road and vehicles.
• Under no circumstances allow students to proceed home by begging rides or walking long distances.
• If necessary, send a responsible student(s) for help. If the bus is so equipped, use the radio to report the assistance required.
• Notify the Transportation Manager.
• Call for assistance from emergency services if required.
• Submit a written Report tot he Transportation Manager.

The Parent/Guardian

• It is the Parent's responsibility to advise the Transportation Manager of any special needs and issues that may impact transportation.
• The Parent is responsible to deliver ant medication to the school themselves - the bus driver/monitor cannot accept liability for this.
• Must be aware that transportation is provided from home to school to home only.
• Shall ensure that the child is at the bus stop prior to the arrival of the bus and must supervise their child until the bus arrives. The parent must also be at the bus stop at the end of the day for the child's drop-off.

Decisions on whether to transport sporting equipment will be made by the Transportation Manager. Special arrangements must be made in advance between principal (or designate) and the Transportation Manager to transport skis, poles, skateboards. hockey equipment, lacrosse sticks and equipment and program related items, and may be subject to certain conditions and restrictions.

Skates must be tied together and blades must be properly protected by skate guards or other suitable covering. Skates are to be carried by the students while on the bus or placed in another safe location, as specifically designated by the driver/monitor of the bus.

NOTE: AISLES AND EXITS MUST BE KEPT CLEAR AT ALL TIMES.

During the winter months, the decision to cancel transportation and delay or close schools is made based on information from other Boards, the local police, road crews, and weather alerts monitored by our Transportation Supervisor. As soon as a decision is made, local media is contacted.

Announcements regarding the cancellation of school buses and special vehicle transportation will be broadcast starting at 6:00 AM on the local radio station. Winter weather conditions can change rapidly. For that reason, in case of inclement weather, you are requested to listen to your local radio station. (CKON 97.3 FM). Cancellations or delays will also be broadcasted through the SMS/Text sharing application.

(Text "JOIN" to (209)-502-2847 to join the AMBE text list)

Our Website will also be updated, and for those who have provided the schools with a current cell number, an automated text message or phone call will be sent with the details of the delay/closure.

For those who choose to follow us on Facebook, updates will be posted there as well.

On days when bus transportation has been canceled, but the schools remain open, parents will be responsible for transporting their children to and from school.

When picking up at the end of the day, parents are required to come to the school office to sign out their child. Students will not be allowed to leave with anyone other than their parent or guardian or those designated on the emergency list, unless a written note by the parent is received that day. A student may be released to either parent unless a custodial parent supplies the Principal with a copy of a court order.