Transportation and Safety

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures  

*Please send written notification to the teacher if there is a change in the way your child will get home.*

To assure the safety of students arriving at and departing from school, we ask the cooperation of all drivers, walkers, and bike riders in following all signs pertaining to the orderly flow of traffic.

Car Driver:

1. Always observe one-way signs when entering and leaving the school grounds.  Do not drive through the parking area unless you park in a designated parking place and accompany your child into the school building.
2. Children must get out of cars on the school side of the car, and directly against the curb.
3. At dismissal time, children must enter the car directly from the curb.
4. No Patrol member or safety helper will permit students to leave the curb and cross in front of cars to enter their car.
5. We must have one line of traffic entering the school grounds to pick up children.  Please observe possible moving traffic before pulling away from the curb.
6. Make a single line in the lane closest to the sidewalk.
7. Pull down as far as possible.
8. Do not park.
9. Do not leave your car.

Bike Riders:

Bike racks are provided at the school.  Bike riders must walk their bikes from the street to the bike racks when arriving, and from the bike rack to the street when leaving.

School Bus Transportation:

The School District of Greenville County must ensure that the bus ride to and from school is a safe one.  All bus riders are required to follow bus safety rules at all times.  Failure to do so will result in disciplinary sanctions, possibly including exclusion from the bus.  Usual school disciplinary sanctions, such as out-of-school suspension and expulsion may be imposed. If a bus rider is denied the privilege of riding the bus , it will be the responsibility of the parent or guardian to see that the student is transported to school during this time.  

Each rider is expected to:

• follow the driver’s directions
• sit in the assigned seat
• keep hands, arms, legs, and objects to himself and inside the bus
• refrain from cursing, name calling, gestures, or loud talking
• refrain from pushing, shoving, or annoying other students
• refrain from eating, drinking, chewing gum or littering
• obey all points of the Discipline Code

The following behaviors are not permitted:

• Riding the bus when the student has been suspended
• Riding a bus other than that assigned
• Disobeying the instructions of the driver
• Physical or verbal abuse of the driver or displays of disrespect
• Physical or verbal abuse of another student
• Possession of weapons or other dangerous objects
• Possession of drubs, alcohol, lighters or other ignitables
• Possession of pagers, telephones or other telecommunication devices
• Leaving a seat while the bus is in motion
• Failure to sit properly in seat
• Failure to sit in assigned seat
• Throwing objects on the bus or out of the windows
• Yelling out of the winds
• Fighting
• Eating or drinking
• Selling items
• Horseplay
• Spitting
• Using Profanity
• Making obscene gestures
• Making excessive noise or engaging in disruptive behavior

What is Expected of Students Who Ride the Bus?  

To ensure the safety of students who ride school buses, The School District of Greenville County has trained bus drivers in the Assertive Discipline Program.  This program is based on bus riders’ adherence to rules for appropriate conduct and certain consequences that will follow if these rules are not followed.

Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken for incidents which involve severe offenses, such as: fighting, possession of weapons, drugs or alcohol, use of tobacco products, any action which endangers the safety of the driver and other students, or damage to the bus.  Such action could involve a longer suspension from the bus or other sanction.

The bus supervisor and transportation officials have the authority to remove a student from the bus if the student becomes uncontrollable while on the bus.  The student may not board the bus again until granted permission by the principal.

If a student damages a school bus, the student will be charge the assessed repair rate set by the State Department of Education.  The student responsible for the damage will be suspended from riding the bus until restitution is made.  The principal may set up a payment plan for students who are not able to pay the entire amount at one time.  Total restitution must be made or the bus privilege will be lost.  Appropriate action for disabled students who violate bus rules will be taken by the principal and may involve other intervention as indicated by the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) Committee or as required by law.

Students and parents should not attempt to discuss bus rule violations or suspension matters with the bus driver at a bus stop.  Students who attempt to board the bus while suspended or adults who attempt to board or interfere with the operation of the bus, may be prosecuted under applicable South Carolina law.

Last Modified: 08/13/2009