School bus transportation is offered to any student that lives beyond two miles of the attending school at the secondary level and beyond one and half miles of the attending school at the elementary level. There are considerations regarding hazardous walking routes when planning school bus transportation. 

School bus transportation is a privilege.  It can be denied to any student who jeopardizes anyone, damages property or commits any offenses described under Behavior Violations.  Parents will be expected to provide transportation for any student whose privileges have been suspended. Loss of the bus riding privilege is not an approved absence.

Generally, students must obey and cooperate with the bus driver, teachers, or any other persons assigned to supervise any part of the school transportation system.  Assigned seats will be mandatory for Elementary and Middle School students and optional for High School students.  Students will be required to sit in their assigned seats unless otherwise directed by the driver.

Student Guidelines

Obey the bus driver at all times.
Be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to pickup.
Enter the bus and take your seat without disturbing others.
Talk in a normal voice, no shouting.
Keep all body parts in the bus at all times.
Littering on the bus or from the bus is not allowed.
Remain in seats while the bus is in motion.
Missing the bus is not a reason for an approved absence.
Eating or drinking on the bus is prohibited.
Ride only your assigned bus.
Use of any type of media device is only permitted with headphones.
Items which cannot fit on the student’s lap are prohibited.
Smoking, vaping or use of any tobacco product is prohibited.

School Procedures for Misconduct

The school bus driver is expected to be in complete control of the bus and its passengers at all times.  When serious misconduct occurs or when misconduct is repeated, the school bus driver is expected to report such action to the school principal.  Forms are provided on each bus for this purpose.  The school principal will take appropriate actions they deem necessary to correct the situation.  This action will be consistent with the guidelines set forth in policy.  Parents will be advised by the building principal when reports of misconduct are made to the school office.  The building administrators are the only ones with the authority to suspend transportation privileges.

Behavior Violations

The following are examples of offenses which may result in disciplinary actions and/or suspension of transportation privileges.

Fighting
Smoking, vaping, chewing tobacco or possession of tobacco
Eating or drinking
Damaging property
Standing, walking or refusing to remain seated
Throwing objects in or out of the bus
Hanging any body part out of the windows
Unnecessary or Excessive noise
Profanity or unacceptable language
Tampering with bus equipment (emergency doors, etc.)
 Refusing to ride an assigned bus or riding on an unassigned bus without prior permission (see Student Handbook)
Boarding a bus at an unassigned stop
Leaving a bus at an unassigned stop
Refusing to obey the driver
Refusing to sit in an assigned seat
Any violation of the student discipline codes
Other misbehavior related to safety or well-being

USE OF CELL PHONES ARE PERMITTED ON THE SCHOOL BUS, BUT LIMITED TO PERSONAL USE. PICTURES/VIDEOS ARE PROHIBITED.

Conduct at the Bus Stop

Students are expected to arrive at the school bus stop at least five minutes prior to pick up time.  They should wait off of the street or roadway and conduct themselves in a responsible, respectful manner. Property damage at a bus stop could result in the loss of bus riding privileges.

Discipline Guidelines

The following are general guidelines for assigning discipline for transportation violations.  The suggested disciplinary action may be modified in accordance with the mitigating or aggravating circumstances of any particular incident:

• Warning Phase: The first and second offense may result in a verbal warning and a seat change.  Parents may be contacted.  (If the violation is severe, the warning phase may be skipped.)
• School administrators may suspend bus privileges for any other subsequent disciplinary offense.  Parent conference (in person or by phone) required.

Large Articles on Buses

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation mandates in 67 PA Code 171.58, that the interior of a school bus must be free of objects which could cause injury.  Objects must be secured and the aisles and emergency exits open and free of blockage.  The following must be adhered to at all times:

• Large band instruments or school project items are not permitted on the bus unless they can be held on the student’s lap.
• Items may not be placed under seats, they become projectiles upon impact.
• Nothing can be carried on the bus that will endanger others, i.e. glass objects, hockey sticks, skateboards, large metal objects, etc.
•  Animals are not permitted on the bus.
•  Nothing can be placed in the driver’s compartment, doorway or aisle.  Emergency exits cannot be blocked.

Guidelines for Alternative Transportation

It is Hamburg Area School District policy to provide transportation for educational purposes only. When approving alternative stops, the safety of our students is our priority. Alternative stops will not be approved if there is a problem with overcrowding on the bus. The following must occur:

• Must be in writing.Telephone calls will not be accepted.
• There will only be ONE alternate stop approved for grades K through 8th grade.
• It must be a set schedule and not changing.
• Requests for a single day will not be accepted unless in the case of an emergency.
• The requested change could take up to two weeks to take effect. Especially for the start of a new school year. Other times, requests can be processed within 2 days.
• The requested alternative transportation must be along an existing route and an existing stop and within the Hamburg Area School District.
• Requests will not be honored for social activities (such as individual lessons, scouts and sleepovers) or employment. While Hamburg Area School District feels these activities are all important, they are not the School Districts' responsibility to provide the transportation.

Hamburg School Buses Travel 3,066 Miles a Day!!

What are the requirements for driving a school bus?

1.      14 Hours of Classroom Instruction

2.      6 Hours of Behind the Wheel Instruction

3.      Physical (Annually)

4.      Police Clearance

5.      Child Abuse Clearance

6.      FBI Clearance

7.      Commercial Driver’s License

• 4 knowledge tests
•  Vision test

An additional 10 hours of training is required every four years to maintain a School Bus License.

Use of Audio/Video Monitoring on school vehicles may be used to improve Safety and Security. Act 9 of 2014 ("Act 9"), an amendment to the Pennsylvania Wiretap and Electronic Surveillance Control Act, was signed into law.

Requirements:

1) The school board must adopt an audio/video surveillance policy.

2) Each year the parents or guardian must be notified.

3) Notice must be clearly visible on each vehicle that is furnished with audio-recording equipment.