Bus Rider Safety
The goal of the Bus Rider’s Safety Handbook is to help provide safe transportation for students who ride the school buses. Parents should take time to read and discuss the material in this handbook with their child. Riding the school bus is a privilege provided by the school district and should be treated as such.
Transportation service is offered to students who live more than ½ mile from home to school or in an area declared hazardous. The River Trails School District provides this service only to students who have paid the yearly transportation fee.
To guarantee transportation for your child on the first day of school, all transportation fees must be paid in full by July 10 or a payment plan set up with Melinda Plizga. Late requests for transportation will be added to existing routes/stops after Labor Day.
Safety is the highest priority of the transportation department. We ask your cooperation with school personnel in implementing proper behavior patterns for those students who ride the bus. Failure to follow the rules in this handbook may result in disciplinary action or suspension of the privilege to ride the school bus.
Please note that whole body listening rules apply to bus riders. Listen to the bus driver as you would your teacher. In addition, bus riders need to follow the following rules:
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School bus riders, while in transit, are under the jurisdiction of the school bus driver.
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Students must be on time at the designated bus stop and make sure the driver can see you while you are waiting. Stay at a safe distance from the road while waiting for the bus.
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Follow safety rules and wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before boarding.
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Once you are seated, remain in that seat for the entire ride.
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In the event of an emergency, remain on the bus and follow the driver’s instructions.
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Students must keep their body inside the bus at all times.
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The noise level on the bus must not distract the driver; keep your voice at a level 2 or lower, only talk to friends around you.
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Keep safe hands and body on the bus.
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Eating, drinking, Chromebook use, and gum chewing are not permitted on the bus.
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Keep the aisles clear.
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Bus drivers will only stop at designated bus stops for the safety of all.
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Students must observe safety precautions when leaving the bus. After exiting, move directly away from the bus. If it is necessary to cross the street, proceed to a point at least 10 feet beyond the stop arm in front of the bus and wait for a signal from the driver permitting you to cross. If you can’t see the driver, they can’t see you.
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For safety purposes, students are not permitted to ride a bus other than the one to which they have been assigned.
- A bus audio/video surveillance system is used to help keep everyone safe.
- The bus company partners with school administration to review videos.
- Students who are not respectful, responsible, and ready to ride may receive consequences at school and may have assigned seats on the bus.
- Bus drivers will alert building administration of behavioral incidences and consequences may include:
- The parent will be notified by a school administrator of the student’s behavior.
- Students may lose bus-riding privileges
- There will be NO refund of transportation fees when bus-riding privileges have been revoked.
- School IDs/bus passes are only activated for students after the transportation fee has been paid. A student who has not been assigned to a designated bus stop/route may not ride the bus.
- School IDs/bus passes are required to be scanned when boarding and exiting the school bus.
- If a school ID/bus pass is lost, it must immediately be reported by the student to the school principal’s office so a new school ID/bus pass can be provided to the authorized rider for the return trip home.
- There is a $5 replacement fee for school IDs/bus passes. The fee will be charged to your pushcoin account and does not need to be paid prior to recieveing the replacement.
- Reinforce the expectation that students are respectful, responsible and ready to ride the bus.
- Have their children at their bus stop 10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival of the bus. Buses are considered on time if they arrive up to 5 minutes before or 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup time.
- Are responsible for their child’s safety and conduct prior to boarding and after drop off at the designated stop.
- Are required to meet the bus at the designated stop, be visible to the bus driver or have a responsible caregiver available when Preschool and or Kindergarten students are being picked up and dropped off. If no adult is at the bus stop, Preschool and or Kindergarten students will be kept on the bus and returned to school while the parent is notified.
- Partner with the school administrator and bus driver.
- Understand that bus drivers are not authorized to change bus stops or routes. All change requests must be sent to the Transportation Department. Requested changes are not guaranteed to be approved.
- Notify the child’s school and the Transportation Department of any change of address.
- Are financially responsible for any willful damage done to the bus by their children.
- Parents/Guardians are not permitted to ride the school bus.
- Must realize that in order to ensure safe transportation, objects that may hinder the safe operation of the vehicle or the safety of the students will not be permitted on the school bus.
To view your child’s bus activity—including scan-in/out times, bus location, and notifications if the bus is running late—download the My Ride K-12 app.
How to Get Started
- Download My Ride K-12 from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Open the app and search for “River Trails District 26.”
- At the login page:
- If you don’t already have an account, click Register.
- Enter your email address, password, and name.
- Confirm your registration via the email you receive.
- Log in and add your student(s):
- Go to My Students → +
- Enter the unique information required by the district (five digit student ID number)
- Repeat for additional students.
- Tap your child’s profile to view transportation information.
- Keep the app updated and stay logged in to receive district notifications.