Page 37 - School Bus Operators and Attendants Handbook

Profanity: Drivers and Attendants should never use profane, gross, or impolite language on a school bus or
directed at students, District employees or others under any circumstances.

Students Bringing Items onto the School Bus: Use discretion to permit students to board with items that can
be held securely in the student’s laps, and are of limited size and quantity so as not to distract or obstruct
the vision of the driver. Some prohibited items include balloons, sharp objects, large musical instruments,
live animals, or athletic equipment. Check School Board Policy 5.186 for a more extensive list. Dispatch
should be notified if there are concerns.

Students Illness or Medical Concerns: Call Dispatch for assistance in the event that a student becomes
seriously ill or injured while in route to the school or home. Do not attempt to move the school bus with a
seriously ill or injured student aboard. In the morning, do not attempt to take a student back home unless
authorized by Dispatch.

Student Misconduct on a School Bus

The Bus Driver or Attendant does not have the authority to deny a student riding the bus. Only the
school principal or designee may suspend a student from riding the school bus.

 The Bus Driver and Attendant may talk to students individually or as a group regarding the
behavior expected of them. Misconduct incidents should be reported immediately to the school
principal or designee.
 Do not reprimand students in front of their peers. Students should be treated with respect even
when it is not returned.
 Verbally report all misconduct to the School Principal or designee upon arrival at the school.
 Immediately upon your return to the facility, submit the Student Discipline Referral Form PBSD #
0279 (see appendix) to Dispatch for processing.
 Student Bullying, Harassment, and Teen Dating Violence activity should be reported on PBSD
form # 2508 (appendix)

Pursuant to Section 232.23 of the Florida State Statutes,

“School Bus Drivers shall not be required to operate a bus under conditions in which one or more
students pose a clear and present danger to the safety of the driver or other students, or safety of
the bus while in operation. In the case of a student having engaged in violent or blatantly unsafe
actions while riding the bus, the school district shall take corrective measures to ensure, to the
extent feasible, that such actions are not repeated prior to reassigning the student to the bus.”

And

Florida Statutes 1006.10 Authority of school Bus Drivers and district school boards relating to
student discipline and student safety on school buses.

School Bus Drivers shall not be required to operate a bus under conditions in which one or more
students pose a clear and present danger to the safety of the driver or other students, or the safety

Page 37 of 149
Student Management