Proper student behavior is necessary to help maintain safety in bus ridership. If a student does not behave on the school bus by not adhering to the state rules, appropriate disciplinary measures will be administered.

The right of all pupils to ride a school bus is based on good behavior and observance of the following rules and regulations. Any pupil who violates any of these will be reported to the school principal and may lose transportation privileges.

1. The driver is in full charge of the bus and the pupils. Pupils shall obey the driver promptly.
2. Pupils shall occupy the seat designated for them by the driver.
3. Pupils shall be on time at the point of pickup. The bus cannot wait for those who are not on time. If a pupil misses the bus, it is the parent’s responsibility to transport the student to school.
4. Children living outside the walking limits to school are granted the privilege of riding the school buses to and from school.
5. In an effort to make your school day on the bus both enjoyable and safe, it will be necessary for bus pupils and parents to cooperate with the bus driver and the school in adhering to the rules and regulations given below.
1. While waiting for the bus to arrive at the bus stop, please stand 6 feet from the road edge. All youngsters shall line up at bus stop with the oldest children in the front of the line. As you load the bus, go to the appropriate seats.

APPROVED: May 6, 1986

REVISED: October 4, 1994

2. Approach the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the red lights are flashing.
3. Walk onto the bus with care and sit down. There shall be no more than 2-3 people to a seat, depending on the size of the student.
4. Feet shall be on the floor and out of the aisle.
5. Hands and arms shall be kept out of the aisle and inside windows.
6. Musical instrument cases must be placed in area designated by the bus driver.
7. Standing in aisles or jumping on seat areas is prohibited at all times.
8. Students are to remain seated until the bus reaches school, your home or other designated area and the bus comes to a complete stop.
9. Physical abuse and/or use of abusive language to others or bus drivers will not be tolerated.
10. Talking should be limited to those in your seat. Please refrain from loud talking, whistling, shouting, or singing. Remember - unnecessary noise is distracting to the driver, and his/her concern is your safety.
11. Once the bus is stopped, please depart in an orderly and polite manner.

Drivers will review the rules of the bus with the students. If students violate any of the rules of the bus the following will occur.

The school district has a bus coordinator to handle problems related to busing. If you have any concerns regarding the buses, you are requested to contact the bus coordinator, Dail Transportation, Inc. at 736-9682.

Notwithstanding the provision of RSA 189:6-9, the Superintendent, or his representative as designated in writing, is authorized to suspend the right of pupils from riding in a school bus when said pupils fail to conform to the reasonable rules and regulations as may be approved by the School Board.

Said suspension shall not begin until the next school day following the day notification of suspension is sent to the pupil’s parent or legal guardian.

1. If a pupil has been denied the right to ride a school bus for disciplinary reasons, the parent or guardian of the pupil has a right to appeal within ten (10) days of suspension to the authority that suspended this pupil’s right.
2. Until the appeal is heard, or if the suspension of pupil’s right to ride the school bus is upheld, it shall be the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to provide transportation to and from school for that pupil for the period of the suspension.

The following guidelines suggest the role for pupils and parents as then relate to pupil transportation:

1. Riding the school bus is a privilege. This privilege may be temporarily denied or permanently revoked if misconduct of your child jeopardizes the safe operations of the school bus or the safety of the children riding this bus.
2. Parents are responsible for the safety of their children from the time they leave home in the morning until the time they board the school bus; and at the end of the school day from the time the school bus departs the loading/unloading area and the children reach home. Once the child enters the school bus, the authority lies with the bus driver and the school administration.
3. Children should leave home early enough so that they arrive at the designated school bus stop point five (5) minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the school bus.
4. Parents should be aware of their responsibility not only for their child’s behavior while on the school bus, but also their responsibility for damage caused by their children to the property of others, including the school bus. When a child walks to and from the bus stop or school while he waits at the school bus stop, and when he walks home from the school bus stop at the end of the school day, he must show consideration and respect for the property of those citizens whose homes and places of business are located along these routes.
5. Parents, together with the child, should develop a route to and from the school bus stop or school, which minimizes the exposure of the child to vehicular traffic. Shortcuts through isolated fields, and woods, or across streams or railroad tracks can often be dangerous. Entering of abandoned houses or deserted buildings by children on their way to or from school should not be condoned. Injuries incurred as a result of deviation from the normal route of travel may not be covered by school insurance companies. The route should be direct and uninterrupted.
6. Parents should walk with younger children to and from the school bus stop, using this opportunity to teach the children proper pedestrian practices. If the parents cannot accompany their children, arrangements should be made, if possible, for older children (brother, sister, or neighbor to escort the younger children to and from the school bus stop or school).
7. Parents should develop in their children an awareness of the molestation (personal harassment) problem. Encourage your child not to accept candy, soft drinks, money, toys or rides from strangers or to associate with anyone they do not know. If your child is confronted with these problems on his way to or from school, he should tell you or his teacher as soon as possible. This is a situation that should be referred to the police.
8. Parents should realize that weather determines how a child is to be dressed. Encourage your child to wear the type clothing that will not only keep him warm and enable him to see where he is going, but also permit him to be seen. If children cannot be seen by the drivers of vehicles, they are in danger. For example, white clothing is difficult to see in snow, but makes one clearly visible at night. If the weather is inclement, the child should be dressed for the occasion and leave a few minutes earlier than his normal starting time in order to reach the school bus stop or school safely and on time.
9. In inclement weather announcements regarding the closing of schools or delayed opening being at approximately 6:00 A.M. During severe weather conditions, pertinent information concerning the transportation program will be announced on the radio.
10. The application of common sense is the best method of determining the role of the parents regarding the safety of children traveling to and from school, either as a passenger on a school bus or as a pedestrian.

The purpose of the transportation is to provide efficient, safe transport for those school district students entitled to transportation service to and from school and for school approved functions.

1. The transportation program will comply with all applicable RSA’s.
2. The transportation program will comply with policies and procedures of the NH Department of Transportation.

1. Bus routes/stops shall be established by the Transportation Coordinator in conjunction with school and SAU administration and subject to approval by the School Board. Routes will be over the most direct roads practicable for bus travel to serve those entitled to transportation service. Where an alternate route may be selected without sacrifice to efficiency or economy, preference will be given to that route serving the larger number of pupils more directly. Routes will be designed to employ as nearly as practicable the full carrying capacity of each bus trip. New routes will be established only when full capacity of the trips on existing routes has been reached or imminent.
2. Bus schedules shall be established by the Transportation Coordinator and school administration under the direction of the Superintendent and subject to Board approval. The purpose of bus scheduling shall be to achieve maximum service with a minimum fleet of buses consistent with rendering reasonably equal service to all patrons. The measure of service rendered shall be the total time between leaving a bus stop in the morning and returning thereto in the afternoon on a regular bus trip. To the greatest extent possible, routes will minimize and balance the time students spend on buses.
3. Bus stops shall be established by the Transportation Coordinator and school administration under the direction of the Superintendent and subject to Board approval. The operator may not permit drivers to load or unload pupils at other than authorized bus stops. Priority in distance to stops will be given to younger children to the greatest extent possible.
4. Authorized bus stops shall be located at convenient intervals in places where pupils can be loaded or unloaded, cross highways and await arrival of buses with the utmost safety permitted based upon highway conditions, terrain, and visibility. The number of bus stops on each trip shall be limited, consistent with the policy, so as to enable buses to maintain a reasonable time table and schedule.
5. The process of establishing routes/stops is as follows:

1. Bus Coordinator obtains student enrollment list - early July.
2. Coordinator and drivers meet, evaluate past year’s routes and stops, find houses of new students, and draft a route/stop proposal.
3. Proposal is reviewed with Superintendent and/or Principal.
4. In August, final draft is reviewed at school board meeting, recommended by Coordinator, Superintendent and Principal. Action to approve a roster of Routes/Stops is taken by Epsom School Board.
5. Routes and stops are published in local newspapers.
6. Late registrations and other factors may necessitate alteration of newly established and publicized routes and stops.
7. The Coordinator reviews routes/stops and requests with Principal. Approval of any changes requested at the September or October board meeting.

6. Students entitled to transportation service will be assigned to a school bus and will be expected to adhere to the assignment. Parent requests for changes in their child’s regular bus assignment should be sent to the bus coordinator. Bus assignment changes will be made based on the following criteria:
1. Request must be written by parent or guardian.
2. Space must be available.
3. Change in a student’s regular bus assignment may be approved for the year, the half-year or the quarter. Changes for shorter periods will not be honored by the coordinator.
4. Emergency situations or one-day changes may be authorized on a case-by-case basis by the Principal. Any such one-time change must be requested in writing and in advance by the parent/guardian. The Principal will coordinate the change directly.
7. Conflict Resolution Process
1. Conflicts, requests, questions are presented to the Coordinator for review.
2. If the Coordinator perceives a safety concern or if there is agreement that a change or addition to the route/stop is justified, the Coordinator will immediately make the change on a temporary basis. Changes will be brought to the Board for confirmation at its next scheduled meeting through communication with the Superintendent.
1. If the Coordinator does not approve the request, and the petitioner wishes to appeal this decision:
1. The Coordinator compiles all appropriate data from his/her investigation for Board review.
1. The Coordinator may request a meeting with the petitioner and the Principal to seek resolution.
2. The Coordinator may seek the advice/review of state officials.
2. The petitioner writes an appeal to the School Board, submitted to the Superintendent.
3. The Board hears the appeal as part of its next available agenda.
4. The Board makes a decision on the route/stop question after hearing all appropriate information.

The Board recognizes the need for some school employees and parents to use their own automobiles for school purposes on occasion. To safeguard the district, employees, parents and students in matters of liability, particularly as this relates to an employee or parent transporting a student or students, the following policy shall be observed:

1. To use a private vehicle for school purposes, the employee or parent must have the approval of the Superintendent or his/her designee and must adhere to the following:
1. Employees and parents requesting to use their cars for school business purposes shall show evidence of minimum $100,000/$300,000 liability coverage. Photocopy of the coverage shall be kept on file at the Epsom Central School.
2. The district shall assume no responsibility in case of accident unless the employee has the authorization described above.
2. The Board specifically forbids any employee to transport students for school purposes without prior authorization as outlined above.