Welcome to the 2006-2007 school year. Please read the following information thoroughly. Each family will receive individual notification of bus route and pick-up times. Please feel free to contact the Transportation Director Dennis Cox at 335-4070 with any questions. The first day of school is Wednesday, September 6. The start and dismissal times for each school are as follows:

The district will utilize the 3/4 mile walking policy for students in grades six through twelve. This includes students within the village who have access to sidewalks. Students within the 3/4 mile distance but outside the village will not be impacted by this policy and will receive transportation services. Families receiving transportation services will receive a letter home. If you have any questions, please contact Transportation Director Dennis Cox at 335-4070.

All bus routes and stops have been reviewed and modified to offer the most efficient trips for all students. Bus arrival times, routing and stops will become final several days into the school year. Bus arrival times, routing and stops will become final several days into the school year. Bus arrival times are subject to change. The bus routes are always slower for the first few days of school. Bus drivers use extra care to be sure all students are picked up and to reassure young students their first day on the bus. Please be patient, as your child may be picked up or arrive later than originally scheduled. Regular times will quickly become established as both the drivers and students become familiar with the bus procedures.

To ensure safety, cameras are placed on the buses to assist with student safety. The bus driver and the principals may use the tapes to refer to in necessary situations. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the bus garage at 335-4070.

Dansville central School needs your help as parents in educating children about bus safety. The district will conduct three safety drills during the year on September 13, 2006, December 15, 2006 and April 5, 2007. All students will learn the importance of bus safety rules, both for regular transportation and field trips. Also, bus drivers may assign seats to some or all students at their discretion to insure the safety of all students. In preparation for the opening of school, please review with your child the rules listed below:

Prior to getting on the bus:

• Arrive at the bus stop about five minutes before the bus arrives;

• Respect the property at the bus stop;

• Stay back from the road while waiting for the bus;

• As the bus arrives, students should line up in an orderly fashion. Please be aware of peers and younger students by providing an example as a good role model. Be careful not to push or shove younger students.

• Before crossing in front of the bus, be sure you can see the driver and the driver can see you.

• Wait for the driver’s signal to cross the road.

• Remember to use the good citizenship and respectful behavior skills you learn in school. Show respect to other students at the bus stop with appropriate behavior and actions that are safety conscious. Remember that fighting or throwing snowballs is not a respectful way to treat your classmates.

While on the bus:

• The school bus is like the classroom. Utilize the safety, good neighbor and respectful skills you use in school. Be courteous, use appropriate language and respect school bus property;

• Remain in your seat at all times. Changing seats while the bus is in motion can be dangerous and disruptive;

• Keep all carry-on items (e.g. books, lunch boxes, etc.) on your lap. keep aisles free obstacles;

• Snacks and drinks are not appropriate on the bus. All students re asked to keep such items in their bags until they reach school or home;

• Help keep your bus clean by removing any debris, garbage, etc. as you exit the bus.

• Students need to keep cell phones and other technology in their backpacks;

• Students should refrain from the use of cell phones for communications or other  purposes including photography or text messaging;

• Students should refrain from the use of any kind of camera or recording equipment;

• The Transportation Department requests that all games and toys be kept in student bags to avoid distraction. The bus driver may collect such items as trading cards and hand-held digital games, if safety issues arrive. Parents will be asked to retrieve toys from the garage within 30 days;

• Students are asked to leave umbrellas with the bus driver as they board the bus to increase the safety of students as they travel;

• Emergency doors are for use during emergency situations only. Students should respect their use during regular travel.

• Please be aware that large objects can obstruct the view of other students and the driver and can cause an unsafe condition. Please be aware of such safety items. If you are unsure, please speak with your bus driver about a particular item prior to boarding the bus. Examples include skis, ski poles, sleds, skateboards, rollerblades, golf clubs, snowboards, lacrosse rackets and hockey sticks;

• Health and safety rules do not permit students to transport animals of any kind or size on the buses. This includes small animals like mice and hamsters that are in cages. If you are using an animal for a class project, please make other arrangements for getting the animal to and from school.

• Students will remain respectful for their peers during the travel on buses whether to school, athletic events or special field trips. The expectation of the Code of Conduct applies to student behavior on the bus. Students must refrain from the following behaviors:

Bus transportation is regarded as an extension of the regular school day. It is also a situation in which strict observance of rules is necessary to ensure the safety of those who ride the bus. Standards of behavior and respect for others, which are expected in school, are also expected on all buses at all times.

Bus drivers will make every effort to see that children behave on the bus. when a behavior incident arises on the bus, the driver will attempt to handle the problem with the student. Under normal circumstances correction of student misbehavior can be accomplished by the driver pointing out the problem to the student or assigning a specific seat on the bus. When all other means fail, and in the interest of the safety of other people on the bus, the building principal may determine it to be necessary to suspend the privilege of bus transportation for offending students.

The following guidelines will be used in dealing with student misbehavior on buses:

Level 1: These are actions that are not likely to endanger the safety of others and/or cause damage to property, therefore the driver will make every attempt to resolve this situation (e.g. talk to the student, attempt to contact a parent/guardian, etc.) before a conduct report is written.

Repeat Offense(s): The driver will file a bus incident referral form with the principal/designee. A copy will be sent to the parent/guardian. The principal/designee will meet with the student and, if appropriate, the parent to discuss consequences of the misbehavior. Punishment including a warning, detention, or in/out of school suspension may be imposed. If necessary, suspension of riding privileges may be imposed. * Level 1 repeat offenses become Level 3 offenses and will be dealt with as such.

Level 2: These are actions that can endanger the safety or welfare of riders, the driver and other school personnel. In each instance, the driver will immediately file a bus incident referral form with the principal/designee. A copy will be sent to the parent. The principal/designee will meet immediately with the student and, the possible suspension of riding privileges. If suspended form bus riding privileges, a meeting with the parent/guardian and principal/designee is required prior to the resumption of riding privileges.

Level 3: In each instance, the driver will immediately file a bus incident referral form with the principal/designee. A copy will be sent to the parent. A minimum suspension of three days of riding privileges will be automatic. Any repeat offense of these misbehaviors will result in no less than five days of suspension of riding privileges and possible loss of full year riding privileges. Further, punishment may include in and out of school suspension. A meeting with the parents/guardians and the principal/designee is required to prior to resumption.

All middle school students who wish to use the school transportation home should arrive at the Main Street Campus on the transfer bus provided each day. (This does not include student who live within the 3/4 mile radius from the middle school. These students will need to walk to and from school.) Walking students may use the transfer bus for athletics or other school-related activities taking place at the north campus. Students walking or receiving rides to the north campus by other means will not be allowed to ride on the school bus to get home. This rule will be strictly enforced for the 2006-2007 school year. Only students who are connecting with a bus to go home or attending an event at the high school as outlined in the Code of Conduce should ride the transfer bus. Students should not ride the transfer bus in order to get a ride from an older sibling or friend at the Main Street campus.

If children need to be picked up or dropped off at a place other than their residence, the request must be made on a permanent basis. All alternate sites must be established by contacting the Transportation Department. Because of the volume of requests that are made, the District is unable to accept daily changes to students’ transportation schedules. The District is aware that emergencies may arise and will work with families to accommodate these times. Please contact the appropriate building for each child when such situations arise.

Crossing guards stationed near the Holy Family Catholic School and the corner of Main and Clara Barton streets, and signs warning motorists to slow down for school zones help provide safety for walking students. The village provides a crossing guard to help children safely cross at intersections. Parents, you can help by showing your children the safest routes to school and by teaching children how to use guarded crossings and to respect crossing guards.

Ask your child to keep in mind the hazards created by bad weather, which makes the going slippery for walkers and drivers alike and impairs everyone’s visibility. Students should take care not to stand where the could slip and fall into the road and should not push or shove other students.

It is important for students to know that the area within ten feet of the bus in any direction is in a particular "danger zone." Drivers can’t see all areas around the bus, despite side and rearview mirrors. Anyone walking or driving near a bus should give the vehicle plenty of leeway. Students who have to cross in front of the bus should cross at least 20 feet away, after receiving the driver’s signal.

The district asks for special cooperation from parents who transport their children to school. If your child will not be riding his/her own bus (i.e., drives own car, parent transports), please notify the transportation office.

Dropping off and picking up students in the bus loop is not allowed at any building. Primary School families will drop off children for grades PreK through second in the district office parking lot, north of the Main Street Campus parking lot. If you need clarification as to where is safe and designated area to drop off or pick-up your child, please feel free to contact the transportation Department. It is also illegal to park in the designated fire lanes at any time. Illegally parked cars will be ticketed.

Motorists should not drive or park in the bus loop at any time during the school day. Motorists who drive through any of the bus loops pose a serious threat to students. If a car is parked in the bus loop when the busses arrive, it must remain there until all of the buses depart. REMEMBER: It is illegal to pass a school bus which has its red lights flashing, whether on a public road or in the school bus loops/parking lots. Drivers face a $250 fine plus points on the license for the first offense.

Schools are closed at the direction of the Superintendent of Schools. If the closing occurs before the start of the day, radio stations will be informed approximately 6:30 am. When weather conditions are threatening, tune your radio to WDNY, WHAM, WYSL, and TV Channel 10 for official school closing information. Please, DO NOT telephone the schools or transportation department. The phone lines must be kept open and available for any emergency situations that could arise from the inclement weather.

When schools are closed prior to the opening of the school day, all activities and events for that day and evening are cancelled for the balance of that day. The status of scheduled athletic events will be determined as early as possible. If the school closing occurs during the day, the radio stations will be informed immediately. Bus riders will be picked up at the schools in the sequence followed on a normal day.

Special instructions from parents such as phone numbers for working parents, babysitter directions or emergency telephone numbers should be made known to the school office. A note to this effect sent into the school during the opening week of school would be most helpful. Children should also be familiar with alternate sites near home where they may go if they arrive home to an empty house. Please be certain to have an established procedure to follow if no one is home when they arrive.

The transportation office will remain open on days of early closing until all school buses have returned from take-home runs. The District’s primary concern at all times is the safety and welfare of the children. When weather conditions are threatening, parents are advised to stay tuned to one of the above radio stations. Please do not call the school or the transportation office so that the lines will remain open for emergencies.

The Transportation Advisory Group was formed in the fall of 1995 for the purpose of making recommendations to the Superintendent of Schools that will result in the safest, most orderly and most educationally sound transportation system. The primary focus of the committee is student management issues. Parents, school transportation personnel, administrators, teachers and school board members meet about two hours every six weeks during the school year.