The Rolling River School Division Administration monitors winter weather conditions and makes decisions to run or cancel school bus service on a daily basis when required. This process includes the analysis of local forecasts, wind chill values, road conditions and information available from area contact persons. The School Division has adopted a wind chill value of -47 degrees Celsius as a reference point that corresponds closely with the former 2300 watts. Although serious consideration is given to the cancellation of buses at this wind chill value, it doesn't always mean they will be cancelled. Actual outside temperature and the day's forecast is also considered prior to declaring a bus cancellation because of temperature.When the Division deems that weather conditions are not favourable for school bus transportation, school buses will be cancelled and communicated to Parents and Students as follows:

1. Division wide cancellation of bus service will be announced on local Radio Stations by 7:30 AM. Parents will not be personally contacted in the event of a Division wide shut down.

2. If bus service is cancelled in specific areas but not for all routes in the Division, Bus Drivers will contact each parent to advise them of the cancellation for their specific route.

3. Buses cancelled in the morning due to weather conditions will not operate in the afternoon.Parents are encouraged to ensure their children are properly dressed for winter travel conditions and are ready to board the bus when it arrives. Rolling River School Division will respect a Parent's decision to keep their children off the bus on days that they feel weather or road conditions are in question.For more information contact Daryl Tesarowski, Transportation Supervisor at 867-2754 extension 1 or refer to the Division Storm Policy and Regulation EBCD located under the POlicy Manual link on the HOME PAGE.

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Student Guidelines for Travel on Buses

Expected Behaviour

• Students are expected to follow the school code of conduct while travelling on a school bus
• A School Bus Driver will ensure that all students adhere strictly to the rules posted at the front of the bus
• Bus Drivers are to deal with behaviour problems in a manner set by the Division

Student Discipline

A School Bus Driver will deal directly with students and parents as a first resort when problems are minor in nature and they feel resolution can be achieved.

1. School Bus Drivers shall keep the School Principal and Transportation Supervisor regularly informed of situations they deal with on their bus.

2. For more serious and repetitive problems, School Bus Drivers will complete a Misconduct form and meet with the School Principal.

3. The Principal is responsible for a student's behaviour from the time they board the bus in the morning until they return home in the evening.

4. The Principal, in almost all cases will address the problem the same day it is reported to them.

5. The Misconduct form is to provide a written record of misbehaviour to keep on file by the Principal to track a student's behaviour pattern on the bus.

6. A School Bus Driver does not have authority to remove a student from a bus without first consulting with the School Principal.

7. A School Bus Driver will report to the Principal, any students that have consumed or are suspected of consuming alcohol or drugs.

8. A Spare School Bus Driver that has encountered discipline problems with a student may find it beneficial to speak to the regular Driver or to the School Principal about the incident.

9. A School Bus Driver is responsible for the safe storage of any equipment (e.g. hockey sticks, skates, band equipment etc.) carried by students on the school bus either on route or extra-curricular travel. Refer to the Guidelines below.

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Carry on Items on School Buses

Below are guidelines to be used for carry on items on School Buses for both regular routes and extra-curricular trips.

1. The center aisle of buses must be kept clear of people, articles and debris at all times.

2.
(a) Items being carried on by students are limited to small articles that can be easily carried on the lap or stored under the seat occupied by the students.

(b) Skates will be allowed if they have guards or are enclosed in a proper skate or gym bag. Hockey equipment is allowed provided that it is packed securely in a duffle bag. The duffle bag is to packed on and between the seats but no higher than the seat backs. The aisle must be clear of all equipment. The packing of hockey and other carry on equipment must be done to the satisfaction of the Transportation Supervisor and the Bus Driver. Students are not to occupy a seat containing hockey equipment.

(c) Skis, poles, hockey sticks and other sports equipment with sharp or protruding edges are not to be transported on the School Bus unless bundled and packed on the bus to the satisfaction of the Transportation Supervisor and the Bus Driver.

(d) Musical instruments are limited to those that can be easily carried on the lap or stored under the seat occupied by the student.

3. Schools and students are to make alternate arrangements for the transportation of large musical instruments, large physical education equipment, or large quantities of carry on items.

4. The driver has the responsibilty and right to reject any item(s) felt to be unsafe or inappropriate for school bus travel. The driver also has the right to reject any or all equipment transported via a route bus for activities originating at the school if items are considered to crowd passengers or to be unsafe on the bus.

5. At no time are carry on items to extend into the aisle, be packed higher than a seat back, be packed in a fashion that will allow them to become a projectile or cause damage to the bus in any way.

Any questions or concerns are to be directed to the Transportation Supervisor for clarification if required.

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IT'S THE LAW

School Buses Loading or Unloading Children

A school bus displaying alternating YELLOW flashing lights on the front and rear is indicating it is preparing to stop to either load or unload children. You, as a driver of a motor vehicle must also prepare to stop on the YELLOW warning. Once the bus is stopped for the children, a set of alternating RED LOADING LIGHTS and a STOP SIGN will be set in operation by the bus driver.

Vehicles are prohibited from passing or approaching within five (5) metres of a school bus when the alternating RED LOADING LIGHTS are flashing and the STOP SIGN is extended. It doesn't matter if the bus is in a school yard, on a public road or highway; you must STOP until the RED LOADING LIGHTS and STOP SIGN are no longer operational.

The only exception to the NO PASS LAW is if a motor vehicle is meeting a School Bus that is separated from traffic by a physical means like a divided highway.

Drivers who do not obey the NO PASS LAW put the children at risk while they load or unload from the bus. Also, the driver of the vehicle or the registered owner of the vehicle is subject to a fine in excess of $500.00 and two (2) demerit points on his/her drivers' license

Please STOP for the children's sake.

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