At the Bus Stop and Boarding the Bus

1. Parents are responsible for getting students to and from the bus in a safe and timely manner, and for students while at the bus stop.

2. Students should be at the bus stop 10 minutes before scheduled stop times.

3. If students need to cross the road, they should wait until the bus is stopped, and the red stop lights are flashing. Students should always cross the road in front of the bus where the driver can see them. Be cautious when crossing any roadway.

4. As the bus approaches please stand back 10 feet from the bus for the safety of yourself and others. There are many factors for this including icy roads causing the bus to go into a slide.

5. Students should wait off the road until the doors of the bus are open before approaching.

6. Students may not ride a bus they are not assigned to, nor ride to/from a stop that they are not assigned to.

Riding the Bus

1. Follow instructions given by the bus driver or aide the first time they are given.

2. Remain seated, facing forward, and out of the aisle while the bus is in motion; personal belongings should be kept in your lap or on the floor under your feet; no personal items should be left in the aisle.

3. The driver is authorized to assign seats; remain in your assigned seat.

4. Be respectful: use indoor voices; do not use profanity; do not harass, intimidate, threaten or bully others; do not use abusive or rude language or behavior.

5. Be responsible with electronic devices; use headphones or turn the volume off; do not share your device with others; do not record video.

6. Keep your hands to yourself: No hitting, spitting, or fighting.

7. No eating or drinking.

8. Do not use aerosol sprays, cologne, perfume, or other substances with a strong odor.

9. Keep head, hands, and feet inside the bus at all times. Windows may only be opened with permission from the bus driver or aide.

10. Do not throw objects, whether on or out of the bus.

11. Possession of tobacco, alcohol, vapor products or devices, illegal substances, or weapons is prohibited.

12. Do not damage or tamper with anything on the bus; you will be charged for any damages.

Failure to comply with bus rules will result in loss of bus privileges for the remainder of the school year.

All Shelby Public  school buses are equipped with video and audio surveillance, which may be used to ensure passenger safety and compliance with rules.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding transportation, feel free to email us at dfris@shelby.k12.mi.us or call us at 231-861-5171. 

School bus transportation plays a critical role in the education of our nation's students, and is the direct link between a neighborhood and the classroom. More than 25 million children ride the yellow bus every school day, so it is important for students, parents, teachers, and the community to keep school bus safety in the forefront. Here are some tips to keep our children safe at the bus stop.

Getting Ready for School

• Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won’t drop things along the way.

• Encourage them to wear bright, contrasting colors so they will be more easily seen by drivers.

• Make sure children leave home on time so they can arrive at the bus stop ten minutes before it is due. Running after or in front of a bus is dangerous, as is having children walk up from a car stopped behind the bus.

• Children should be aware of the weather and dress appropriately, bundling up when it is cold outside and preparing for rain and snow.

Walking to the Bus Stop

• Walk young children to the bus stop or encourage children to walk in groups. There is safety in numbers; groups are easier for drivers to see.

• Practice good pedestrian behavior: walk on the sidewalk, and if there is no sidewalk stay out of the street. If you must walk in the street, walk single file, face traffic and stay as close to the edge of the road as you can.

• Stop and look left, right and then left again if you must cross the street. Do the same thing at drive -ways and alleys. Exaggerate your head turns and narrate your actions so your child knows you are looking left, right and left.

At the Bus Stop

• Have children wait in a safe location away from the flow of traffic (6 feet away from the curb is advised), where the driver can see them while driving down the street. Do not wait in a house or car.

• Make sure children wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before approaching the bus or standing up on the bus.

• Do not let children play in the street. Playing with balls or other toys that could roll into the street is also dangerous.

Getting On and Off the Bus

• Warn children that if they drop something getting on and off the bus, they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver’s instructions.

• Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus.

• If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can be so excited to see you after school that they dash across the street and forget the safety rules.

Mobile Devices - Cell phones and other electronic devices are often permitted on the school bus as long as:

• They are in backpacks or other holders, keeping hands free to use handrails while boarding and departing the bus.

• Sound is muted or headphones, ear buds or similar devices are used.

• Content does not violate the law or school district policy and procedures.

• No pictures or video is taken of any other person.

• Use does not create a distraction for the driver.