School bus transportation is the safest ground transportation there is. In a continuing effort to provide the safest ride possible for your child / children, we have enclosed a copy of the safety rules that students must follow at the bus stop and while riding the bus. Please go over these rules with your child/children. To the school bus driver, any distraction is a safety hazard. With this in mind, we have developed an assertive discipline program for the students that ride the school buses in the Coeur d'Alene School District.

The following steps will be followed to maintain a safe environment on the buses.

1st Infraction - Driver gives the student a citation (warning only). The student must take the citation home to a parent /guardian. The parent /guardian must sign the citation (let's driver know that you have seen it). The student must then return the citation to the driver the next morning. (Students WILL NOT be allowed on the bus without a signed citation.)

2nd Infraction - Driver gives the student a citation to take to a parent/guardian. A copy of the citation will also be mailed to parents/guardians. The student will be denied bus privileges until a parent/guardian, student, transportation director and principal have a conference. The parent/guardian will be responsible to call the transportation department to schedule a conference. Amount of time off the bus will be decided during the conference.

3rd Infraction - Driver gives the student a citation to take to a parent/guardian. A copy of the citation will also be mailed to parents/guardians. The student will be denied bus privileges for 10 days. Parent/guardian, student, transportation director, and principal conference must take place before the student can ride. The parent/guardian will be responsible to call the transportation department to schedule a conference.

4th Infraction - Driver gives the student a citation. The student will be denied bus privileges for the remainder of the school year. A copy of the citation will also be mailed to parents/guardians.Parent/guardian, student, transportation director, and principal conference must take place before student can regain riding privileges the following year. The parent/guardian will need to call the transportation department to schedule a conference.(Student may petition Board of Trustees for reinstatement of bus privileges)

Severe Infraction - Students receiving a severe infraction of bus rules will be denied bus privileges WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGS. A severe infraction includes, but is not limited to, the following:

l.  Fighting.

2. Physical harm or threat of physical harm to the bus driver.

3. Physical harm or threat of physical harm to another student.

4. Destruction of Property.

5. Total disruption on the bus.

When a student’s bus riding privileges have been suspended, the student may not ride any District #271 bus including activities, field trips, and after school program buses until a conference is held with the parent/guardian, student, driver, principal and Director of Transportation. Citations are kept on file for one calendar year.

This discipline plan is to help ensure that your children have the safest ride possible to and from school. We would appreciate any support in helping your children understand the importance of following the safety rules on the bus.

Sincerely,

Donda Walsh

Director of Transportation

208-667-3451

donda.walsh@cdaschools.org