Bus Routes, Rules & Regulations

Published July 23, 2014

Individual bus routes for the 2014-15 school year are posted on the Williamson County Schools website. Parents can CLICK HERE to access WebQuery and obtain bus route and school zone information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We encourage parents to locate their child’s route information as early as possible,” said WCS Planning and Zoning Manager Allison Nunley. “Bus information will change very little between now and August 8. We do have a walk policy of up to .25 miles for students of all ages living inside subdivisions. Parents should email or call us if they live on a main or rural road and need a bus stop. Please be at the stop at least five minutes prior to the published time.”

The Williamson County Schools Transportation Department provides bus transportation to all eligible WCS students who travel to and from their attendance-zoned school each day. The district employs approximately 270 bus drivers and attendants.

Safety, both on and off the bus, is the transportation department’s top priority. All buses are inspected before the school year begins and throughout the school year, and drivers are trained throughout the year. All buses are equipped with digital cameras to ensure students are transported in a safe environment ready to learn.

In addition, parents will receive a pamphlet with WCS School Transportation Safety and Discipline Guidelines. Because the bus is an extension of the school day, the school code of conduct also applies to behavior on the bus. Eligibility to ride the bus may be revoked if students violate school bus conduct policy. This pamphlet explains the rules, regulations and policies of Williamson County Schools regarding student conduct while traveling on school system buses.

Rules & Regulations

The rules and regulations regarding acceptable student conduct are developed by the cooperative effort of the WCS Transportation Director, school principals, bus drivers and administrators. School children being transported on a school bus are under the supervision, direction and control of the school bus driver and shall be subject to the discipline of the bus driver and student’s principal. The bus driver will be competent and fair in dealing with students and will be responsible to the principal for the conduct of students on the bus.

Drivers will provide all students the safest, most comfortable journey to and from school.

In order to assure safe transportation while traveling on a bus, certain rules for pupils have been established by the Transportation Director.

• Students shall obey the driver. The driver must be totally in charge. Students shall respond promptly to instructions given.
• Each student will be given an assigned seat. Upon entering the bus, take their seats promptly and stay in their seat while the bus is in motion. No windows or doors will be opened or closed except by permission of the bus driver.
• Bullying is prohibited on the bus and at the bus stop. Students shall report incidents to the driver. Behavior that is found to be in violation shall be subject to discipline up to and including suspension. Students are not allowed to tease, scuffle, trip, hold and hit or use their hand, feet or body in any objectionable manner.
• The use of electronic devices or other items in a manner that might interfere with the school bus communication equipment or the driver’s operation of the school bus is prohibited. This may include but is not limited to cell phones, audible radios, tape or compact disc players, mirrors, lasers, flash cameras or other reflective devices.
• The use of alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, eating, chewing gum or soda drinks on the bus is prohibited.
• Students must observe classroom conduct. Ordinary conversation is permitted. Loud, profane, boisterous language and obscene gestures or indecent conduct will not be tolerated.
• Students must keep the aisles clear of items such as musical instruments, books, backpacks, etc. If students must carry such items student shall hold the object and it MUST NOT EXTEND above the seat back. Animals (alive or dead), oversized objects as well as glass containers are not permitted on the bus at any time.
• At no time will a student put hands, head or other body parts out the window.
• Students must treat bus equipment as they would the furniture in their homes. Any damage to bus seats, windows, equipment, etc., will be charged to responsible student(s).
• Students must have a bus permit to ride any bus other than their assigned bus or to exit at a different location on their assigned bus. Parents must send written notice in advance to school principal with appropriate Principal or their designee will approve and issue a Bus
• Permit. Upon boarding the bus, student will immediately give bus permit to driver.
• Students will not ask the driver to let them off at such places as a store, job, etc.
• Students are asked to use the hand rail when getting on and off the school bus.
• If students must cross the street or road to board the bus, they must wait for the driver’s signal and must cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
• Students are expected to do the following:
  
  1. Be at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to scheduled pickup time.
  2. Never run to catch the bus.
  3. While waiting for bus – stay clear of the roadway and wait in an orderly line.
  4. Never exit using rear door unless an emergency and directed by bus driver.

Failure to follow the Rules & Regulations may result in the following disciplinary action:

• 1st Offense – Driver completes Bus Behavior Referral Form & submits to Principal
• 2nd Offense – Principal notifies Parent
• 3rd Offense – Suspension from school bus

Extreme or zero-tolerance offenses may bypass the above steps for immediate bus suspension.

Parents must assume responsibility for the behavior of their children while their children are riding the bus. If permission to ride the bus is revoked, the parent must provide transportation to and from school for the student until such time as reinstatement is made.