• Excerpt from Page 19 & 20 of the 2019-2020 Student & Family Handbook and Code of Student Conduct

    The privilege of students to ride a school bus is contingent upon following the expectations outlined in this handbook. The driver of the school bus shall be in complete charge of the bus during the ride and while students are entering or leaving the vehicle. Students shall be required to conform to all regulations concerning discipline, safety, and behavior while riding on the school bus. The driver shall notify appropriate authorities if a student persists in violating the established rules of conduct. After due warning has been given to the student and/or families, the privilege of riding the bus may be withheld from the student. Violation of district policies and regulations while on the school bus may result in student discipline up to and including suspension or expulsion, in accordance with district policy.

    The Clay County School System has jurisdiction over students who are on the school bus or at the school bus stop when the bus is present at the bus stop. [F.S. 1006.10 (3)] Therefore it is the parent’s responsibility to take any action with local law enforcement to correct a problem during the time students are waiting at the bus stop or when students are in route to or from the school bus stop.

  • Other responsibilities of parents of transported students includes (exserpt from F.A.C. 6A-3.0121):

    • To ensure the safe travel of students to and from school and home when students are not under the custody and control of the district, including to and from home and the assigned bus stop.
    • To ensure that students ride only in their assigned school buses and get off only at assigned bus stops, except when alternative buses or arrangements have been made.
    • To ensure students are aware of and follow the expected rules of behavior while they are at the bus stops and to provide the necessary supervision during times when the bus is not present.
    • To provide the necessary assistance for students to get on and off at the bus stop when the physical disability of the student renders them unable to get on and off the bus without assistance (as required by district policy or the student’s individual education plan).

  • Large Objects on the School Bus: Oversized objects, including, but not limited to, large band instruments or cases, school projects or athletic equipment which cannot be held in the seat, are prohibited, unless prior approval is obtained from the bus driver and the school administration.

    Cameras: School buses are equipped with video cameras for the purposes of ensuring the health, welfare and safety of all staff, students, and drivers.

    NOTE: Bicycle riders under the age of 16 must wear properly fitted, safety-related helmets when riding a bicycle. Law enforcement officers may issue a traffic citation and assess fines to riders who do not comply.

  • We believe that all pupils can behave appropriately and safely while riding the school bus, and as such we will not tolerate behavior that is disruptive to the driver or which inhibits or interferes with the safe operation of the bus. In order to guarantee your child and other children who ride buses the safe and efficient transportation they deserve, the following has been established:

    • Arrive at the bus stop ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled pick up time.
    • Take responsibility for their behavior and conduct themselves in a respectful, orderly manner while waiting at the bus stop for the bus to arrive.
    • Wait until the bus comes to a stop before attempting to get on or off the bus.
    • Enter and leave the bus only at the front door after it has come to a stop, except in the case of an emergency as directed by the driver.
    • Leave the bus only with the consent of the driver.
    • Be silent when approaching or crossing railroad tracks.
    • Keep the aisle and stepwell clear at all times.
    • Do not tamper with door handles, windows, and other safety equipment at any time.
    • Do not use wireless communication devices, or electronic devices. Exception: Field trips in which the school administration approves the use of these devices or as a planned intervention for special needs students.
    • Do not use wireless communication devices except in an emergency concerning safety-to-life issues (defined as a bus accident, mechanical breakdown which delays the normal route, and/or thirty (30) minutes or more in a route delay).