Bus Transportation

   

School Bus Transportation Information

CHANGE TO TRANSPORTATION POLICY 

Parent Letter  | School Bus Service Eligibility Enroute to Bus Stop | At the Bus Stop | Boarding the Bus |  | Driver Authority |Passenger Conduct Accidents / Breakdown |

 

 Parents and Guardians:

 Your child should understand the important part he/she plays in accomplishing SAFE and EFFICIENT school bus transportation.

Riding a school bus is a privilege based on appropriate, safe, and respectful behavior. Unruly conduct on the bus is a very real risk to the safe operation of a school bus.

Your cooperation in communicating this very important message to your child is appreciated.

School Bus Service Eligibility:

School bus service is provided to all school age children within the Greensburg Community School district. However school bus transportation is a privilege. It is not mandated by Indiana law that children be provided transportation to and from school except in certain very specific circumstances. 
Students who ignore safety rules or engage in disrespectful activities may lose their riding privileges. In the event a student is suspended from riding the bus, the parent or guardian shall be responsible for transporting the child to and from school.

Enroute to Bus Stop

Parents/guardians are encouraged to review their child’s walking route to and from the bus stop. Students need to be prompt and should arrive at the bus stop no sooner then five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

 At the Bus Stop:

 While at the bus stop, students are expected to stand a safe distance from the street and avoid activities that could injure themselves or others. Students are expected to respect others’ property. It is suggested that parents/guardians supervise their child at the bus stop whenever possible. 

 Boarding the Bus:

 When the bus approaches and while on the bus, students must observe the instructions of the driver. It may be necessary to cross the road to board a school bus. Students should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door is open and the driver gives the student the signal to cross in front of the bus. Always cross in front of the bus with the aid of the flashing stop sign lights and cross arm. Never go under or reach for anything under the bus. If anything goes underneath the bus, inform the bus driver.

 Driver Authority:

 The driver has full authority over the passengers on the school bus. Seating assignments may be necessary to assure passenger safety. If inappropriate behavior is demonstrated by a student, the parent and/or guardian will be contacted to assist the student to modify the behavior of concern.    
Please note: No adult, including parents or guardians are allowed to board a school bus for any reason. 
If you have a concern, please contact your child’s bus driver at a later time, building administrator or the Greensburg Community School Administration Office.


Passenger Conduct:

Safe, respectful conduct is expected of all passengers to insure safety. Listed below are the rules for the Greensburg Community School buses:

Stay in your seat, with hands to yourself.
A
lways respect others, the bus, and yourself.
F
ollow the directions of your bus driver all the time.
E
ating and drinking are not allowed on the bus.
T
alk quietly: Please do not shout; No hurtful words.
Y
our safety is our #1 concern; you are responsible for your actions. 

Always remember to keep aisle ways and doorway clear of feet, books, etc. Never open windows without the driver’s permission. Windows shall be only half way down when given permission to be opened. Remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop and the driver opens the door. Students will be quiet at railroad crossings. 

Serious or persistent violations offensive to, or endangering the safety of others will result in progressive discipline. A student may receive a verbal warning, receive a written warning, be suspended from riding the bus, or be denied their bus riding privileges. Certain activities may result in immediate suspension from bus riding privileges and possible criminal charges. These include but are not limited to: 

  • Fighting on the bus
  • Throwing objects in or out of the bus
  • Possession of dangerous weapons or like articles
  • Destroying or defacing school district or private property
  • Smoking, or use/possession of drugs, alcohol or any form of tobacco
  • Obscene gestures or profanity directed at the bus drivers or others
  • Any part of the body extended outside of the bus
  • Assault on a bus driver

Accidents / Breakdown:
Bus drivers are thoroughly trained in defensive driving techniques and buses are carefully maintained. Yet, given the thousands of miles traveled annually, accidents and breakdowns can happen. All the buses have radio communications and help is just minutes away. One of the most important things to a bus driver in the event of an accident or breakdown is passenger cooperation. 
 

 

Two-Hour Delay and School Closings:

 The decision to delay the opening of school or ultimately cancel is based upon the safety and well being of our students, parents and staff.  

When the weather requires the district administration to delay the start of school by 2 hours because of fog, snow, ice or other conditions, it is important that parents, students and staff understand what a “2-hour delay” means.

The decision to delay the opening of schools or ultimately cancel is based upon the safety and well-being of our students, the conditions of roads and highways used by parents and staff, and the weather forecast.  The county authorities are consulted regarding safety issues and street conditions, and Mr. Hunter personally drives city streets and county roads before a decision is made.   We will try to make a decision as early as possible to allow parents time to make alternate arrangements

 In the event of a 2-hour delay, there will be no Pre-School.

Buses will pick students up at their regular bus stop 2 hours after their normal, scheduled time.  For example, if a child normally catches the bus at 6:45 a.m., pick-up will be at 8:45 a.m. on days when a 2-hour delay is called.

Likewise, school will start 2 hours after the normal start time, so high school students will begin classes at 9:55 a.m. (students should report to their first block class), and all morning practices and club meetings will be cancelled; middle school students will begin classes at 9:50 a.m.; Greensburg Elementary students will begin classes at 10:20 a.m.

If the start of school is delayed, breakfast will not be served, but lunch will be available as usual.  Dismissal time will remain the same.

Safety remains the primary focus when the determination is made to close school or delay the start of school by 2 hours.  From time to time it may be predicted that a 2-hour delay will allow morning fog to lift or roads to be cleared.  If the weather has not cleared after the 2-hour delay, school will be cancelled for the day and that decision will be broadcast via local media and the one-call automated parent connect system. The automatic messaging system is linked to the school’s computer, and it uses the number listed for the home phone in relaying important information. Because of this parents/guardians should advise the school of changes in demographic information, particularly new phone number.  Please remember that parents always have the right to make the final decision if they feel it is not safe to send children during inclement weather.

It is generally district policy that once the school day has begun, students are not released early.  However, if there is a situation that would call for early dismissal, the same procedure would apply.

It is the policy of Greensburg Community Schools for all elementary and middle school extra-curricular activities to be postponed when schools are closed or dismissed early for inclement weather.  The high school shall make the most informed decision in each particular case as to whether athletic events shall be played.  We will make every attempt to post on the school web site the status of each athletic event affected and notify the local media when possible.


 

Greensburg Community Schools

Meet our School Bus Drivers

Driver Bus #
Pat Thornburg 1
Rose Hartman 2
Earl Mozingo 3
Doug Hawkins 4
Bill Stewart 5
Travis Scudder 7
Bob Hubbard 8
Jim Schoettmer 9
Kenny Millburn 10
Larry Weber 11
Susan Meyerrose 12
Don Black 14
Tim Blasdel 15
Mike Sefton 16
Mike Cunnington 17
Ronda Thompson 18
Doug Preston 19
Carol Rathburn 20
Amy Clark 21
Maureen Blodgett 23
Karen Vollmar 25
Missi Anderson 26
Phil Hatton 27
Larry Lecher 28
Bill Pratt 30
Transportation Director
Leon Johnson
Substitute Drivers
Scott Dennett
Marc Meyerrose
Joe Springmeyer
Jim Baltus
Ashley Green
Ron Lecher
Ed Hodson
Cindy Sasher

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