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Bus Safety and Guidelines

Overview: 

Red Deer Public Schools transports approximately 4000 students between yellow charter bus, City transit, and Action bus. First and foremost, our obligation is to provide a safe environment for the students and drivers involved in daily school transportation. To achieve this goal, we must all work together and adhere to certain expectations. 

Below is a guideline for Students and parents to follow to make bus transportation safe and enjoyable.

Student Expectations:

  • Listen to the bus driver's instructions and show respect
  • Students are expected to be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the designated leave times. The bus will depart on time and cannot wait for late arrivals.
  • Know the bus safety zones and always be aware of where the bus is and other hazards.
  • Wait for bus to be safely gone before leaving the bus stop. 
  • Stay on sidewalks and show respect for private property.
  • Enter/Exit the bus in an orderly fashion and go to assigned seat. 
  • Always stay seated in your assigned seat while on the bus.
  • Refrain from noisy and disruptive behavior. Show respect for fellow riders.
  • No Bullying, teasing, or fighting permitted.
  • There is a strict no food or drink policy on school buses.
  • If a student is acting inappropriately, the driver is instructed to fill out a misconduct form and send it to the school for action. The school is responsible for any discipline that might be required.
  • Most of these expectations will also apply to students utilizing City bus or Action bus.

Parent Expectations:

  • Review student expectations with child to ensure they understand the importance of the rules.
  • Be sure your child is at the stop at least 5 minutes prior to bus arrival time.
  • Make sure your child is dressed appropriately in the case of cold or wet weather.
  • Encourage child to obey all traffic rules and bus regulations.
  • Communicate with the driver any concerns regarding the child or issues with other students. Driver will typically work with school staff to administer an appropriate seating plan if there are student conflicts.
  • Have alternate plans for child in the event the bus is late or canceled

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Student Misconduct Procedure:

  • Warning (depending on incident) from driver if student misbehaves.
  • If driver submits misconduct report to school; Principal has meeting with student to discuss behavior.
  • If behavior continues and another misconduct is submitted for that student, the Principal will contact parent or guardian for support.
  • If there are continuous issues, the Principal has the authority to suspend or revoke transportation.

Other Guidelines:

  • Specific registered student bus information is found on the Powerschool Parent Portal
  • School Messenger is used to relay messages regarding late buses, bus route and time changes, or any other important transportation messages. Please have current contact information in Powerschool so the messages go out accurately
  • Kindergarten and Grade 1 students are required to be accompanied at the stop by a parent, older responsible sibling, or guardian (if not a family member, a name must be provided to the driver in form of a letter or transportation department in an email)
  • We will no longer be allowing students to take friends home with them on a bus regardless if they are registered to another bus or not.
  • It is up to the driver to determine if an object being brought on the bus is safe to store, and has the authority to deny the request. Please check with the driver before trying to bring an object on the bus. Below are some examples.
    • Skates- Stored in a bag or have skate guards
    • Instrument- Must fit under seat and not obstruct aisle
    • Skateboards-Kept in a backpack only 
    • Hockey Sticks/ Skis/ Lacrosse/Curling Broom- Not allowed
  • Absolutely no dangerous items on the bus. Below are examples
    • Firearms
    • Explosives
    • Flammable devices or smoking items such as tobacco, lighters, or e-cigarettes
    • Animals
    • Anything that could be deemed to put the safety of persons on the bus at risk
  • Schools are responsible for fee collection. Parents are encouraged to pay fees online through the Powerschool parent portal. If you require a different method of payment, contact the school directly for options
  • Inclement weather: Schools are rarely closed due to inclement weather. However, if extreme weather conditions cause power outages , plumbing issues, structural issues, or roads and sidewalks become impassable due to snow or other conditions, the schools may be closed. Buses will remain running as long as the roads remain passable and schools are open. School Messenger will be used to convey any important messages regarding bus status.
  • If you might be moving and need transportation from a new address, please give the school as much notice as possible to ensure there is a stop available
  • Please know the bus loading/unloading zones at your child's school. It is very important to stay out of these zones for the safety of the students. Also, the buses are on tight schedules and do not have time to be waiting for parents dropping off/picking up students in these zones.
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