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School Bus Safety Procedures and Rules

Transportation Contact Information

 

General Transportation Phone Number:

(435) 792-7640

Questions Regarding Bus Safety:

Jaren Gunnell (435) 792-7628

Dear Patrons,
 
We in the Cache County and Logan City School Districts share the concern of parents regarding the safe transportation of children to and from school. Our drivers are carefully trained, and our safety record is outstanding. We wish to do everything possible to provide a safe and respectful environment.
 
Our drivers are trained in student management methods for creating an atmosphere of respect on the bus. We would appreciate your help in our effort to keep students safe and ensure a respectful ride by being aware of the bus safety rules and helping your children understand them.
 
Most fatalities occur outside the school bus. Utah State Code states that when the yellow loading/unloading lights are flashing, a 20 MPH speed zone is created. It is important that when the school bus amber lights are flashing, approaching vehicle operators must slow to 20 MPH and prepare to stop for the flashing red loading/unloading lights. The only exception is when you are traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway with five lanes or more. 
 
The flashing red lights may also be used in an emergency. 
 
On the following pages, you will find standards, policies, procedures, and rules related to riding the school buses. These guidelines come from state laws. A special committee, consisting of concerned parents, bus drivers, teachers, students, and administrators, has adopted them. It is important for the safety and well-being of your children that they understand and follow these guidelines. We can serve you and your children better if you support the bus drivers as they implement them. This effort will help make the school bus a safe and respectful environment for all who ride, as we strive to make the ride a pleasant experience so that students arrive at school in a good frame of mind, ready and eager to learn.
 
Please support your child’s bus driver in this important responsibility. Driving a school bus means focusing on the road, keeping students safe, and ensuring order on the bus—all at the same time. We welcome all that you can do to help make their job easier and ensure a pleasant and safe ride for your child.
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
Cache County & Logan City School Districts'
PROCEDURES
REGARDING RIDING SCHOOL BUSES
  • Punctuality: Students shall be on time for the bus both morning and afternoon. In the morning, they should be at the stop five (5) minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Buses will leave the school in the afternoon no sooner than seven (7) minutes after the last bell. If buses are late getting home (Fifteen (15) minutes or more), parents should call the Service Center at (435) 792-7640.
     
  • Inclement Weather: If the bus is more than 15 minutes late, students should go back home or to another prearranged home closer to the bus stop and watch for the bus. Bus drivers will eventually make their run while driving safely and watching for students who come running out of their homes. If parents want to drive their children to school in these situations, they may do so. These kinds of delays should only take place when the bus is disabled or stuck.
     
  • Loading and Unloading Procedures:
     
    • Loading: Students shall stand back at least 12 feet from the edge of the road, where possible, and wait until they are signaled by the bus driver to load. If it is necessary to cross the road, they must wait as described above until signaled to cross by the driver, then walk at least 12 feet in front of the bus.
       
    • Unloading: Students shall remain in their seats until the bus comes to a complete stop and the brakes are set. The bus driver will check traffic in both directions and then allow students to disembark to a point 12 feet from the right side of the bus. If it is necessary to cross the road, students must proceed 12 feet in front of the bus and wait for the driver’s signal to cross. Students will then proceed to the left side of the bus, STOP at the center of the roadway, and wait until it is safe to continue. Students are never to cross behind the bus.
       
  • Walking Safety: If there are no sidewalks available, students should walk on the left side of the road facing traffic when coming to meet the bus.
     
  • Items on the Bus: For everyone's safety, no item shall be carried onto the bus that could create a hazard to any passenger. Such items include, but are not limited to: live animals, skis, glass objects, etc. The transportation of school projects, certain band instruments, skateboards, and similar items that can be secured properly will be left to the professional discretion of the driver.
     
  • Bus Care: Students shall keep the bus clean and refrain from damaging it. By law, any costs associated with damage caused by a student or students will be borne by their parents or legal guardian.
     
  • Respect: Students shall treat the driver, adults, and fellow students with courtesy, kindness, and respect.
     
  • Obedience: Students who refuse to promptly obey the directions of the driver or the bus rules and regulations may forfeit their privilege to ride the bus.
     
  • Policies: Bus students are required to adhere to all Policies and Procedures found in the Board of Education Cache/Logan School Districts Policy Manuals.
     

  • Permission: Prior written permission from a parent, teacher, or administrator is required for students to ride buses to which they are not normally assigned or to disembark at a point other than their normal stop.

BUS DISCIPLINE POLICY

Bus Rules
  1. The bus driver is in charge of the bus. Follow all driver instructions.
  2. Remain seated on your pockets, facing forward within the seat compartment while the bus is moving and until the bus is stopped, unless otherwise stated in an IEP.
  3. Treat others with courtesy, kindness, and respect.
  4. Communicate quietly without using profanity or inappropriate gestures.
  5. Keep your head, hands, and objects to yourself and inside the bus.
Discipline Steps
Once the driver has exhausted all of the resources provided to create a safe environment, the following steps will be initiated:
  • First Offense: Verbal warning, which may include a seat reassignment.
  • Second Offense: Second verbal warning; parents may be called.
  • Third Offense: Written bus conduct warning report.
    • Parents will be notified by the driver.
    • Parents, Principal, and Driver must sign the warning report.
    • The warning report is kept on file.
  • Fourth Offense: Second written bus conduct probationary report.
    • Parents will be notified by the driver.
    • Parents, Principal, and Driver must sign the probationary report.
    • The probationary report is kept on file.
  • Fifth Offense: Third written bus conduct suspension report, which will also require:
    • A conference call involving the parent, student, and principal.
    • Terms of the suspension report will be discussed.
    • The principal will notify the driver when the student may return to the bus.
Severe Clause
The severe clause includes disorderly conduct, harassment, assault, arson, vandalism, defiance, fighting, using illegal substances, and/or any other endangering behavior.
 
  • The driver will stop the bus as soon as possible, assess the incident, and gain control.
  • When it is safe to proceed, the driver will continue. If the incident cannot be brought under control, the driver will notify the district office using the fastest means possible.
  • The district will send an administrator to the bus location.
  • When delays are longer than thirty minutes, the appropriate school will be notified and will begin contacting parents.
  • Once the incident has been brought under control, the driver will complete an incident report for the school.
  • The school administrator will follow up with appropriate action.
  • When the incident threatens the safety of students and/or others, the student may be immediately suspended from the bus without going through all of the steps listed above.

Legal References:

Utah Code 53F-2-403 — Eligibility for State-Supported Transportation — Approved Bus Routes

Establishes the state transportation eligibility requirements, including the 2-mile threshold for students attending middle school.

Utah Administrative Rule R277-600 — Student Transportation Standards and Procedures

Addresses transportation eligibility, route requirements, hazardous walking conditions, bus stops, and space-available transportation.

Utah Administrative Rule R277-601 — Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations

Addresses standards governing school buses and their operation.