School Bus Safety

Student Rights, Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook

We understand that the safety of every student who uses the school bus or activity bus is of the utmost importance to you. Therefore, please communicate to your child the importance of following the rules and obeying the bus driver. Please take the time to review these rules and responsibilities with your child, which can be found in the Student Rights, Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook. To confirm that you have reviewed these rules with your child, please sign the form in the handbook and send it back to your child's school. Please do so within ten (10) school days to avoid the loss of bus-riding privileges as determined by the principal.

Please note that any violations of the Code of Student Conduct, or any behavior that distracts the driver and causes or has the potential to cause a safety hazard on the bus, may result in suspension or expulsion from school and/or bus-riding privileges. Additionally, unauthorized individuals, including parents and guardians, are not allowed on the buses without permission from the principal. North Carolina law considers entering a school bus without permission unlawful and may result in a trespassing charge. It is important to remember that the school bus rules and the bus drivers' actions are in place to ensure the safety of our children.

School Bus Maintenance and Safety Inspections

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Transportation inspects all buses every 30 days and adheres to a maintenance plan that includes routine maintenance at specific mileage intervals. To ensure proper procedures, a quality assurance administrator and five maintenance supervisors perform spot-check inspections.

Our buses travel nearly 120,000 miles daily and over 21 million miles each school year. North Carolina regulations require buses to be in service for at least 20 years or 250,000 miles, whichever comes first. After this, the buses are moved to a substitute or spare bus status.

Although any school bus incident requires investigation and follow-up, we are taking all necessary steps to investigate and determine the cause of the incident. This includes inspections by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the bus manufacturer (Thomas Built Buses), and an independent inspector.

All drivers will receive additional training and ongoing refresher courses on emergency evacuations. Additionally, all buses will undergo extra inspections during the summer in addition to their regular 30-day inspections.

Duties and Responsibilities of Students on Buses and Bus Stops
Repeated violations will result in out-of-school suspension and permanent removal of transportation privileges. Video cameras have been installed on some buses, so students may be filmed while on the bus.
- Obey the bus driver promptly concerning conduct on the bus.
- Observe classroom conduct, except for ordinary conversation with students in the same seat while getting on or off and riding on the school bus.
- Except with prior written permission from the principal, objects prohibited in school, as listed in the Students' Rights, Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook, are also not allowed on the school bus.
- Be at the place designated both morning and afternoon, ready to board the bus before the time shown on the posted schedule. The driver is responsible for maintaining this schedule and will not wait for tardy students.
- Help keep the bus clean, sanitary and orderly and not damage or abuse the cushions or other bus equipment. Students will be required to pay for damages. In addition, for the child's safety, eating is not permitted on the school bus.
- In case of an emergency, ask the driver to stop the bus.
- Do not use drugs, alcohol, tobacco or profane language on the bus.
- Students are not permitted to use recording devices or radios on the buses.
- Stand off the roadway while waiting for the bus.
- Be at the bus stop at least ten (10) minutes before the scheduled stop time.
- Cross the roadway several steps in front of the bus.
- Ride only on the assigned bus.
- Board and depart only at the assigned bus stop.
- Act appropriately while waiting for the bus.
- Give your proper name when requested by the bus operator or monitor.
- Remain seated at all times when the bus is moving.
- Remain silent when the dome lights are on.
- Remain silent at railroad crossings.
- Refrain from bringing food or drink on the bus.
- Refrain from displaying signs from the bus.
- Refrain from using profane language or gestures.
- Refrain from acts of vandalism.
- Refrain from throwing objects from the windows of the bus.
- Refrain from conduct or behavior that interferes with bus riders' orderly, safe and expeditious transportation.
- Refrain from using cellular telephones and other electronic devices while on the bus.
The Principal May Prosecute a Student Under General Statute 115c-399
Which includes the following:
- Willfully trespassing upon or damaging a school bus.
- Entering a school bus or school activity bus after being forbidden to do so.
- Refusing to leave a bus upon request.
The Principal May Prosecute a Student Under General Statute 115c-245
Misconduct On The Bus or Violating the Instructions of the Driver, see examples below.
- Fighting, smoking, drinking, using or possessing drugs, using profanity or refusing to obey the driver.
- Entering or leaving the bus without the permission of the driver.
- Refusing to be seated or not allowing others to be seated.
- Using the emergency exit when there is no emergency.
- Not leaving the bus at the right time or place.
- Delaying the bus schedule.
- Distracting the bus driver.
- Participating in any inappropriate behavior while riding the bus.

School Bus Safety

Duties and Responsibilities of Students on Buses and Bus Stops

The Principal May Prosecute a Student Under General Statute 115c-399

The Principal May Prosecute a Student Under General Statute 115c-245