Transportation

Bus Service Policy

Bus Stop Rules

Bus stops are created to accommodate a large group of students within a geographic location.  Riding the bus is a privilege, not a requirement.  Students who choose not to follow the rules, bus privileges may be suspended or revoked.  (See additional bus stop rules in the Student Code of Conduct Book on pg 11).

• Follow the bus drivers instructions/rules
• Arrive at the assigned bus stop 10 minutes before bus arrival time ready to board, not waiting in a vehicle or the house.  Due to many different variables, the bus may run up to 10 minutes early, or 10 minutes late. 
• Keep the bus aisles and emergency exits clear at all times.
• Yelling, loud voices and horseplay is prohibited on the bus.
• Use of personal communication devices are at the driver's discretion...Volumes should be minimal, or used with ear buds.  The use of recording devices is prohibited.
• Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco is prohibited.
• Do not throw any items out the bus windows. 
• Students are required to enter and exit the bus at their designated stop location
• If your student fails to exit the bus at their assigned bus stop, parents will be notified and offered to meet the student at the routes next school, or the student will be returned once the bus has completed its full route. Please make sure your student is paying attention. 

• Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop. 
• Drive with caution when yellow hazard warning lights are flashing on the bus. 

• Students are loading or unloading when red lights are flashing. 
• State law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet from the front and rear of a school bus when red lights are flashing. 
• It is illegal to pass a school bus with flashing red lights.
• Unlawfully driving around a bus with flashing red lights will result in fines, court costs and possibly jail time.
• Watch for children walking in the street, playing and gathering near bus stops especially where sidewalks are not present. 
• Motorists should watch for children walking or biking to school when backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage. 
• Slow down and obey all traffic laws and speed limits. 

New Michigan Law

Head Start (PreK) and transportation

45 CFR 1303.73

A program must also ensure:

(1) The time a child is in transit to and from the program must not exceed one hour unless there is no shorter route available or any alternative shorter route is either unsafe or impractical.

(2) Vehicles are not loaded beyond maximum passenger capacity at any time.

(3) Drivers do not back up or make U-turns, except when necessary for safety reasons or because of physical barriers.

(4) Stops are located to minimize traffic disruptions and to afford the driver a good field of view in front of and behind the vehicle.

(5) When possible, stops are located to eliminate the need for children to cross the street or highway to board or leave the vehicle.

(6) Either a bus monitor or another adult escorts children across the street to board or leave the vehicle if curbside pick-up or drop off is impossible.

(7) Drivers use alternate routes in the case of hazardous conditions that could affect the safety of the children who are being transported, such as ice or water build up, natural gas line breaks, or emergency road closing.

1. Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers – Part 4 Transportation Provisions Rules R 400.8701 – R 400.8770 are strongly recommended to be reviewed and complied with. 
2.  When preschool children arrive at school, home, or other designated drop off point they should be received by a staff member, parent, or another responsible person as designated by the parent. 
3.  Preschool children shall enter or leave the school bus from the curbside unless the vehicle is in a protected parking area or driveway or be assisted by a responsible adult. 
4.  Preschool children shall be physically assisted when entering or leaving the school bus. 
5.  Preschool children shall never be left unattended at any drop off point. 
6.  Procedures should be developed which identify actions school bus drivers should take if there is not an appropriate person to receive a preschool child at the drop off point. 
7.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Child Safety Restraint Systems on School Buses, indicates school bus compartmentalization does not provide adequate protection for preschool children. NHTSA recommends pre-school children riding on school buses be restrained in appropriate age, height, and weight Child Safety Restraint Systems.

General Information Section 

Pupil Transportation Act of 1990(Sections 25.7181-257.1877) 

- Isn't the school district required to transport my child?

School districts are NOT required by law to transport regular education children. Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 380.1321 outlines the obligations of the school district IF its board of education elects to provide transportation. Under Article 3 of the Revised School Code, the school district is obligated to provide for the transportation of a special education student if the Individualized Educational Planning Committee (IEPC) has determined that the transportation is a specialized service which is included within and necessary to carry out the student's IEP.

- My child is starting kindergarten. Will the bus pick my child up in front of my house?

There are no special laws or regulations for transporting regular education students enrolled in kindergarten. If your district provides transportation, it will be provided in accordance with the requirements of MCL 380.1321, Section 55 of the Pupil Transportation Act, and local district policy with regard to the placement of the bus stop.

- Is there a law about how far my child has to walk to the bus stop?

No law specifies the maximum distance a student may walk to the bus stop.

Pontiac School District policy provides a 1.0 mile walk distance for secondary (grades 6th-12th ) students and a .5 mile walking distance for Pre K and elementary (K-5) students to a bus stop.  

- What other factors are involved in establishing where the school bus stops?

There are many factors which should be taken into consideration when school administrators establish the placement of school bus stops. The basic legal factors are spelled out in MCL 257.1855, but the primary concern is visibility of the bus to other traffic and the consideration of stopping distances necessary for other motor vehicles in order to accomplish safe loading and unloading of the children. In general, state law requires 400 feet of clear and continuous visibility on a highway or roadway where the speed limit is more than 35 miles per hour, and 200 feet where the speed limit is less than 35 miles per hour.  

- Is there a specified distance that must exist between school bus stops?

The lights on a school bus which are used to notify other traffic of an upcoming stop must, by law, be activated 200 feet from the stop. Thus, bus stops must be at least 200 feet apart.

- What about the safety of my child getting to and from the bus stop? There are no sidewalks where we live and it's not very safe walking on the busy road we live on.

It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to see that a child gets safely to and from the bus stop. The school district provides transportation as a non-mandated service and establishes placement of the bus stops in accordance with the requirements of the law.

- My child spends over two hours a day just riding the bus to and from school. Is there a maximum riding time in the law?

There is no maximum riding time in the law for children in kindergarten through grade twelve. Child care licensing regulations establish a maximum riding time of 60 continuous minutes for the transportation of preschool children.

Pupil Transportation Act of 1990(Sections 25.7181-257.1877)  General Information Section

SE parents must notify transportation when your student will be absent more than 3 consecutive days.  If transportation is not notified, transportation services will be suspended until the parent calls.