FILE: JCDAD
STUDENT CONDUCT ON BUSES
The Catahoula Parish School Board believes that the purpose for maintaining and operating school bus transportation as a part of the general school program shall be to provide safe and adequate transportation to and from school for those students identified as legal riders and on such auxiliary trips as the School Board shall approve.
The School Board shall provide school bus transportation to students who are identified by their home school as legal riders and who possess appropriate bus passes signed by the principal/designee.
The School Board directs that the bus operator, together with the principal, shall assume full responsibility for appropriate behavior and discipline of students riding buses. It is the duty of the operator, in case of any infraction of rules by any students, including dress code violations, to promptly 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 the appropriate action to be taken, including disciplinary consequences for students violating the student code of conduct.
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 Superintendent, who shall conduct a hearing on the merits of the bus suspension.
A student damaging a school bus shall be subject to suspension from school. Any student suspended for damages to any school bus shall not be readmitted until payment in full has been made for such damage or until his/her readmittance is directed by the Superintendent.
At no time shall the bus operator assume authority for suspending bus privileges or taking disciplinary action.
The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to conflict with any federal or state rules or regulations or other guidelines affecting students with disabilities as defined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (20 USC 1401 et seq.), La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:1941 et seq., and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794).
REGULATIONS
Students shall be notified of all bus regulations pertaining to students riding school buses. Students and their parents shall be required to sign and return to school officials a form signifying familiarity with all bus regulations.
Regulations governing students riding school buses shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Students shall observe all rules and regulations regarding proper conduct and safety while riding the bus, including the student dress code.
Should any student persist in violating any of these regulations or any single incident warrant immediate attention, it shall be the duty of the operator to complete a Louisiana Department of Education School Bus Behavior Report and submit it to the appropriate administrator for action. The principal/administrator shall then forbid such disobedient student the privilege of riding the bus until permission to ride again has been given by the School Board. Written notice of the action of the principal shall be furnished the parent through the use of the standard Louisiana Department of Education School Bus Behavior Report Form, but such notice need not precede action by the principal. In all cases, where possible, a conference between parent, bus operator, and principal should be conducted in an effort to eliminate repeat offenses/address the problem.
Any complaints of operators, students, or parents, shall be reported promptly to the principal or Superintendent.
Should the conduct of a student on the bus endanger the lives, morals, or dignity of the student or other people and the offending student fails to cease such conduct when requested by the bus operator to do so, it shall be the duty of the operator to remove the offender from the bus or take other appropriate action and report his/her action to the principal. This should be done only in extreme cases and as a last resort to protect the safety of other students.
Revised: December 3, 2013
Revised: September 2, 2014
Revised: June 5, 2018
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:223, 17:416
Louisiana School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, Bulletin 119, Louisiana Department of Education
Board minutes, 12-3-13, 9-2-14, 6-5-18
Catahoula Parish School Board