Dear Parents:
The purpose of this letter is to introduce you to our new student management program for bus transportation entitled the “The Safe Rider Program.” As you know, the safety of your children is our number one concern and we have been hard at work developing a plan to address some growing concerns about bus safety such as:
- Safety issues concerning a small percentage of students that jeopardize the safety for all.
- Safety issues concerning proper behavior at railroad crossings (over 50% of our buses cross a railroad track).
- Address student failure to cooperate or comply with Drivers and address an increasing profanity problem.
- Discipline strategies for throwing objects at, in or out of the bus (huge safety issue).
- This program is designed to be used as an effective tool to keep students from acting up on the bus more specifically on the afternoon ride home. Our goal is to transport our students safely to and from your home.
Some School Bus Facts:
• The school bus industry operates by a set of safety, security, health and driver qualification guidelines that meet, and in some cases exceed, federal and state laws, and ensure that school buses are the safest mode of transportation for our nation's schoolchildren.
• School bus drivers are highly trained professionals who have your child's safety in mind. They receive specialized training in student behavior management, loading and unloading, security and emergency medical procedures.
• Drivers participate in pre-employment and random drug/alcohol testing, as well as frequent driving record checks, and submit to background checks and periodic medical exams to keep their Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with a School Bus Endorsement.
With the above being said, we need your partnership as we move forward in making Cobb’s buses a safer and more enjoyable part of the student’s day. Please review the Safe Rider Program on the next page. Also, please review and sign the Safe Rider contract with your child on page three.
Thank you for your support.
Safe Rider Program Components:
- A Hierarchy of the Discipline structure starting with the driver
- A Safe Rider Contract signed by parents and students.
- Safe Rider Class during non-instructional time.
- School (ASP) personnel available at school from 2:30-6:00 (or beyond if required) to accept students who need to be removed from the bus for safety reasons (see below) and parents called to pick them up. (ASP registration fee is $10 plus $7/day and any late charges after 6:00 pm)
How the Program Works
The program promotes instant accountability for unsafe behavior as shown below.
Unsafe Behavior on the Ride Home:
· If unsafe behavior occurs before the bus leaves school, the student will be provided with two options: (1) Correct the behavior and continue home (behavior documented) or (2) be removed from the bus and remain in ASP at the parent’s expense until a parent or guardian can pick the student up.
· If unsafe behavior occurs after the bus leaves the school, the driver would call their field coordinator. The field coordinator will then meet the bus and assess the situation. If necessary, the field coordinator will then remove the student from the bus and return the student to school (behavior documented).The student will be checked into ASP at the parent’s expense until a parent or guardian can pick the student up.
· If either of the above instances occurs, the graduated discipline plan will be in affect.
The program also includes a defined and graduated discipline plan to encourage the student to make better behavior choices.
Graduated Discipline Plan (Elementary):
- 1st Offense – Driver Student Conference & Parent Contacted (Courtesy Notice.) Student on probation and re-assigned to the front of Bus for 1 week.
- 2nd Offense – Driver Student Conference & Parent Contacted. (Courtesy Notice.) Student on probation and re-assigned to the front of Bus for 2 weeks.
- 3rd Offense* – Referral submitted, 1 Day Afternoon Bus Suspension. Parents will pick up their child after school, or pay for ASP care. Upon return student placed on probation and re-assigned to the front of Bus for 1 week.
*Safe Rider Class and Behavior Contract Required.
- 4th Offense – Referral submitted, 3 Days Afternoon Bus Suspension. Parents will pick up their child after school, or pay for ASP care. Upon return student placed on probation and re-assigned to the front of Bus for 2 weeks.
- 5th Offense* - Referral submitted, 5 Days Bus Suspension. *Conference with Parent, Student, Transportation Staff and School Administrator to discuss possible Bus suspension for the remainder of the year.
Please do not hestitate to contact me with any comments or questions.
Kelly Luscre
