Fort Bragg Schools

Safety is of paramount concern in providing student transportation services. Providing safe transportation requires the cooperation of students, parents and other government agencies.

To ensure the safety of all students, School Bus Discipline Procedures have been implemented and will be enforced.

DETAILED GUIDANCE: (top of page)

Any conduct or activities that threaten the health, safety or welfare of the bus driver, other students or any other riders in any manner shall be grounds to terminate indefinitely all bus riding privileges.

Bus drivers will report all incidents of student misbehavior to the respective School Principal or designee.

Attached Standard Operating Procedures provide guidelines Principals or designee will follow as a means of determining corrective actions for students engaged in incident or prohibited behavior as defined in School Bus Procedures (SOPs).

EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN BUS DISCIPLINE: (top of page)

Disciplinary action for students identified as Exceptional Children, according to North Carolina guidelines, will conform to PROCEDURES GOVERNING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS as adopted by the State Board of Education. If the Procedures Manual does not fully address a particular issue, the Director of Exceptional Children will develop protocols consistent with state and federal laws.

SOP for School Bus Discipline
(top of page)

FORT BRAGG SCHOOLS' BUS DISCIPLINE POLICY STATEMENT:

Students are expected to behave properly on all school buses. Students must understand that while being transported, the School Bus Driver is in charge of the bus and responsible for maintaining order on the School Bus.

Safety must be practiced at ALL TIMES when loading, unloading and riding the school bus.

DETAILED GUIDANCE:

•	A Bus Incident Report will be completed if a student misbehaves on the School Bus to document the misbehavior.
•	The completed form will be submitted to the Principal/Designee within 24 hours. The Principal determines the most appropriate action based on the severity of the infraction, other incident reports, etc. Whatever the discipline action taken must be recorded on the Bus Incident Report.
•	A copy of the Bus Incident Report will be submitted to the Bus Driver by the Principal/Designee with action taken recorded.
c	The Bus Driver will provide a copy of the Bus Incident Report to the Bus Company.

APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS - BASIC GUIDELINES: (top of page)

First Offense	Counsel Student	Counsel student and notify Parents
**A serious first offense may result in a suspension of transportation privileges for a period of time to be determined by the Principal/Designee. Parents must be notified of Bus Suspension
Second Offense		Parents notified of second offense
Second offense may result in a one to three (1-3) day suspension of transportation privileges. **A longer suspension period could be the result of a serious second offense.
Third Offense		Parents notified of Suspension
A possible suspension of transportation privileges - length of suspension to depend on seriousness of incident, number of prior incidents, etc.

POSSIBLE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS:
•	The Principal/Designee may determine that counseling the student reported is sufficient to obtaining self-improvement behavior, resulting in the prevention of inappropriate behavior and further disciplinary actions;
•	*The Principal/Designee may suspend a student for any period of time, including the remainder of the school year if the infraction is severe.*
•	If the student's behavior did or could have endangered or compromised the safety, health or well-being of others on the bus, the student may be suspended or barred from buss transportation - even if it is a "First Offense".

APPEAL RIGHTS OF PARENTS: (top of page)
Parents may appeal a School Bus Suspension of more than ten (10) days by:
•	Notifying the Principal/Designee of their appeal;
•	Meet with the Principal/Designee
•	Appeal Decision of Principal by meeting with Resource Management Officer
•	Appeal Decision of RMO to the Superintendent of Schools
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SPECIAL NEEDS BUS INCIDENTS: (top of page)
Incident Reports on Special Needs Children will be reviewed and handled on a case-by-case basis by Principal/Designee - but any action must remain in compliance with the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP).


April 17, 2007