FILE: JCDAD
SCHOOL BUS CONDUCT
The Orleans Parish School Board recognizes the operator of a school bus to be in authority with regard to student behavior in or about the vehicle which he/she operates. School Board regulations regarding proper conduct on school buses shall be provided in writing to students and parents/legal guardians at the start of school each year. The bus operator shall report disorderly or unmanageable student conduct to the principal of the school in which the student is enrolled. Such conduct by a student shall be good cause for the principal to suspend the privilege of riding any school bus; however, bus operators may not administer disciplinary action and shall continue, except in extreme emergencies, to transport a student until disciplinary action is administered by the school. It shall be the responsibility of the parents of students, in such cases, to provide transportation to and from school during the period of any suspension/expulsion of bus riding privileges.
In all cases of suspension of bus riding privileges, the parent, bus operator, Special Education Department, and the Supervisor of Transportation shall be notified by the principal in writing, within forty-eight (48) hours of such decision, of the facts concerning each suspension, including reasons and term of suspension.
If the principal recommends the expulsion of bus riding privileges for a student, a hearing shall be conducted by the Superintendent or his/her designee and thereby informing the student and parent as to why bus riding privileges are being recommended for expulsion. The student, at that time, shall be given an opportunity to explain his/her version of the incident(s) to the Superintendent or his/her designee. The decision of the Superintendent/designee shall be final.
A student who causes damage to a school bus shall be subject to suspension from school and shall not be readmitted until acceptable provisions for restitution have been made for such damage or until readmittance is directed by the Superintendent.
PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING BUS CONDUCT
All schools shall be provided with the School Bus Behavior Report Form, which shall be completed on any occasion when a student's conduct on a bus is unsatisfactory.
One copy of the School Bus Behavior Report Form shall be signed by the parent and returned to the school principal. In all such cases a student shall be permitted to continue to ride the bus until transportation privileges have been denied by action taken by the appropriate school administrator.
In cases of severe misconduct, the principal or designee may temporarily suspend the student's bus privilege until appropriate disciplinary action is taken. The student's parents should be immediately notified of the temporary suspension.
Immediately after taking disciplinary action, the principal, or designee, shall sign and shall indicate the disciplinary action taken on the School Bus Behavior Report Form. Copies of the report shall be distributed to the student's file; to the parent; and to the bus operator. A copy of the report may also be sent to the Superintendent or designee.
In the event of an appeal of the principal's decision by parents, a hearing may be scheduled by the Superintendent or designee.
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:223, 17:416, 17:416.1
Louisiana School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, Bulletin 119, Louisiana Department of Education
Orleans Parish School Board