School Bus Discipline Code

School Bus Discipline Code

Punxsutawney Area School District
Punxsutawney, PA
 

The School Laws (24-2541) of Pennsylvania permit School Boards to provide transportation for elementary students living more than one and one half (1 1/2) miles from school and for secondary students residing more than two (2) miles from the school they attend.  To facilitate the proper use of this privilege the Board of Education has prepared and approved these rules:

1. The driver of a school bus, who is in charge of maintaining discipline on the bus, has the right to verbally reprimand any student who misbehaves.
2. Immediately after any act of misconduct such as failing to follow reasonable instructions of a driver, fighting on a bus, using tobacco in any form, destroying bus property, swearing, throwing any object, lighting matches, refusing to remain seated while the bus is in motion, or engaging in any other action that impairs or endangers his/her life or the life of any other student, driver, or any vehicle or person in the vicinity of the bus, a school bus driver must file with the appropriate school principal a written “Notice of Unsatisfactory Conduct on the School Bus” so that disciplinary action can be taken.
3. If the area of misconduct encompasses any of the above behaviors the school Principal shall have the authority to enforce the possibility of a minimum of three (3) days to a maximum of ten (10) days suspension of riding privileges.
4. In the instance where intentional damages to a bus occurs, the parents of the students involved will be required to reimburse the contractor for the full amount of the damage repairs/replacement costs.
5. Parents will be responsible for their child’s attendance during a bus suspension.
6. The appropriate Principal shall inform the student’s parents of the act of misconduct and the extent of the student’s suspension and may request the parents to meet with the administration, bus driver, and principal to discuss the student’s misconduct before the bus privileges are restored.
7. In the event of continual and persistent misconduct by a student riding a bus, the Board may, after a proper hearing, suspend that student, during which time the student and his/her parents shall be required to furnish transportation.  Such hearing or suspensions may be delegated to a duly authorized committee of the Board.