If I move during the school year, how do I change my child's bus stop?
You should contact Margaretta Board of Education at the earliest notice. They can be reached at (419)684-5322.
If the bus is late, will my child be marked tardy?
No. Students are not marked tardy if their school bus arrives to school late.
Do buses have radios so the driver can be contacted or call for help?
Yes, all school buses are equipped with two way radios that contact the transportation office, and the local police department.
Whom should I call if my child is having a problem with the driver or a student on the bus?
You can contact the Margaretta Transportation Office at (419) 684-7714.
Do school buses have bus assistants?
Bus assistants are provided for students with disabilities based on individualized education requirements.
What responsibilities does the bus driver have while transporting children?
The driver is responsible for transporting students to and from school, safely and on time. This responsibility includes: operation of the vehicle, supervision of boarding and discharge, supervision of students while they ride the bus, reporting safety and behavior incidents to the principal, and, if applicable, being sure that seat belts, child restraint systems, or wheelchair securement systems are in place.
Is the driver allowed to leave small children at a bus stop if no adult is there to meet the child?
Currently, as a general rule, students in kindergarten through grade 12 can exit the school bus if no adult is there to meet them. Pre-school (3-4 year old) students cannot be left at a bus stop if there is no adult there to meet them. If the parent desires, they can be responsible for someone to meet the child every day. Parents are asked and encouraged to wait with students at bus stops and meet students at drop off.
If a student appears afraid or unwilling to be left at the stop, the student should communicate this to the driver and the driver will keep the student on the bus and continue on the route until a parent can be contacted. Parents should make sure their children are familiar with the surroundings at their bus stop and know the safest route to walk home if no one is there to meet them.
How many students are allowed on each bus?
This varies according to the size of the school bus. Full-size buses can accommodate up to 65-72 students. Everyone must be seated and there is no standing in the aisle allowed.
Transportation Department Responsibilities:
- Route, schedule and tier school buses in adherence with Federal,
State and local guidelines so that all students eligible for
transportation are given access to safe, adequate and economical bus
transportation.
- Establish bus stop locations in adherence with State and local policies.
- Address
concerns from parents, school administrators, bus drivers, contractors
and the motoring public regarding the operation of Margaretta Local
Schools.
- Provide screening and training to ensure Margaretta Local School bus drivers and assistants are highly qualified.
- Establish and enforce transportation procedures, regulations and rules.
- Inspect all buses in accordance with Federal, State and Local statutes and regulations.
- Provide data regarding school bus number and general route information to parents through schools and local newspapers. This data is provided in mid August every year. Pick up and drop off times are estimates only and are subject to change.
Driver Responsibilities:
- Follow the designated route time and schedule.
- Pick up and discharge students at approved stops only.
- Ensure the bus is in safe operating condition.
- Maintain a safe and orderly environment on the school bus.
- Inform students of behavioral expectations.
- Report unacceptable school bus behavioral violations to the school administrator as necessary.
- Drive the bus in a safe, professional manner.
Student Responsibilities:
- Arrive at the bus stop five minutes before pick-up time.
- Walk safely to the bus stop and wait in a safe manner away from traffic.
- Respect the right of property owners while walking to or waiting at the bus stop.
- Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop prior to approaching the bus.
Watch your step and use the handrail when getting on and off the bus. - Board in an orderly manner, without pushing or shoving, at your stop or at school.
- Take your assigned seat promptly and remain seated for your ride to and from school.
- Sit in the seat facing front; keep your feet, books and other articles out of the aisle.
- Keep your hands and head inside the bus.
Speak quiet and respectfully to your bus driver and other students.
- Do not damage any part of the bus and report any damage that you see to the driver.
- Do not eat, drink, smoke or use vulgar language.
- Do not tamper with any of the bus' equipment or controls.
- Remain quiet and orderly so the driver is not distracted from the important job of driving.
- Do not throw any object on the bus or outside the bus.
Listen to the bus driver's instructions.
- Wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before leaving your seat.
- Cross ten feet in front of the bus with the warning lights when crossing in front of the bus.\
- Always look left, right, left to check for traffic before crossing any street, even when crossing in front of the bus with its red warning lights activated.
Parent Responsibilities:
Each parent has a definite role in the safe and efficient operation
of a school's transportation system. If the transportation program, as
a whole, is to function effectively, the parents must assume their
responsibilities to the program and extend cooperation and support to
the people charged with its operation.
Parents should be aware
that the privilege to ride a school bus may be temporarily or
permanently revoked if the "Transportation Rules for Students" are
violated.
Parents are responsible for the safety of their
children from the time they leave home in the morning until the time
they board the school bus and, at the end of the school day, from the
time the school bus departs the bus stop and the children reach home.
Once the child enters the school bus, the responsibility lies with the
bus driver and the school administration.
In order to ensure the
safe and efficient operation of the student transportation program,
parents must also accept the responsibilities to:
- Cooperate with the school authorities and the school bus driver in promoting safe and efficient services for all passengers.
- Insist upon good behavior on the part of their children while riding the school bus.
- Insist that their children occupy the seats which have been assigned to them.
- Instruct their children as to their responsibility for damages caused to the property of others, including the school bus.
- Inform
their children that they should arrive at the designated school bus
stop five (5) minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the school
bus.
- Make suggestions to the school principal or to the Director of Transportation for improvements in the transportation program.
- Walk
with younger children to and from the school bus stop, using this
opportunity to teach the children proper pedestrian practices. If the
parents cannot accompany their children, arrangements should be made, if
possible, for older children (brothers, sisters, or neighbors) to
escort the younger children to and from the school bus stop or school.
- Encourage their children to obey all traffic rules, signs, and signals.
- Set an example for their children by their own safety practices.
- Parents are not allowed to board the school bus under any circumstances