Code of Conduct

Message to Parents and Students:
The bus riding privilege is granted to your child as a service of the Mitchell County School System. Transportation service is provided to/from an assigned bus stop ONLY.  To maintain a safe environment, students are expected to follow the rules set forth in the Code of Conduct and the School Bus Safety Rules while walking to or from the school bus stop, waiting at the school bus stop and riding on the school bus. Students are expected to be safe, orderly, and respectful at all times to the bus driver and fellow passengers. Failure to act accordingly may result in suspension or expulsion from the bus.  

 

On school buses, Georgia law specifically prohibits acts of physical violence, physical assault or battery, bullying, verbal assault, disrespectful conduct toward the bus driver or any other person, the use of mirrors, lasers, flash cameras, or any other lights or reflective devices in a manner that may interfere with the driver’s operation of the bus and engaging in any other unruly behavior.

 

Use of School Bus Video Cameras:  The Mitchell County Board of Education supports the use of video cameras as a means to monitor and provide for a safe environment for students and employees.  Accordingly, Mitchell County School Buses are equipped with Silent Witness Camera Systems.  These cameras record at all times: transportation to and from school, field trips, and/or curricular and extracurricular events/activities.  The contents of the videotapes may be used as needed to settle misbehavior problems on the bus or as evidence in a student disciplinary hearing.  

Driver Authority: The bus driver is authorized to give directions, assign seats, and prohibit any item from the bus that may threaten the safety or welfare of any person. The driver’s actions are subject to review by the Transportation Director.

School Bus Safety Rules: 
1.    Students will follow the directions of the driver and monitor.
2.    Students should be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus arrives, waiting in a safe place, clear of traffic and12 feet from where the bus stops.  Do not approach a moving bus. Students will wait in an orderly line and avoid playing.
3.    Students will cross the roadway in front of the bus after the bus has stopped, they have looked at the driver for a hand signal, and they have looked in both directions for traffic. (Left, right, left)
4.    Students will signal the driver with a waving motion if something is dropped and wait for driver to give a signal before picking up object.
5.    Students will use the handrail going up or down the steps. 
6.    Students will go directly to an available or assigned seat when entering the bus. Keep aisles and exits clear.
7.    Students will remain properly seated, back against the back of seat, bottom against the bottom of seat, and keep hands to themselves.
8.    Students will not transport items, which may endanger the health or safety of any other passengers.  Example:  animals, glass objects, nuisance items, hazardous materials, fireworks, balloons, large band instruments, or weapons.
a.    Audible electronic music playing devices such as radios, iPad, tablets, etc. may be used with the permission of the driver and must be used with headphones.  
b.    Electronic communication devices, including cell phones, pocket pagers, etc., may be transported on a school bus if not prohibited by the school, but they must be kept in the OFF mode and concealed in a book bag, purse or similar carrying device. Most cellphones and other electronic devices have the ability to take pictures and videos, which can inadvertently put the safety and privacy of our students at risk if these pictures are made public via social networking outlets, e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogs, etc.  In the event that a student makes pictures and/or videos public, administrative action will be taken. 
c.    Exception: Some items prohibited in another section of the Code of Conduct may be permitted on a bus during field trips, athletic trips, etc., if approved in advance by the principal and the teacher/coach in charge (Example: baseball bats may be transported to a baseball game, radio with headphones may be used with permission on a field trip, etc.). Ref. O.C.G.A.§16-11-127.1
9.    Students will not eat, drink, chew gum, or bring tobacco, alcohol or drugs on the bus. Students may bring approved objects (for school projects) that can be held on their lap.
10.    Students will refrain from using loud voices, profanity, inappropriate language and/or obscene gestures.  
11.    Students will  respect the rights and safety of others. Students shall not be abusive or aggressive  as follows:  it is unacceptable to fight, mistreat, misuse, demean, insult, intimidate, extort, mock, ridicule, bully, threaten or use excessive force. 
12.    Students will not extend head, arms, or objects out of the bus windows.
13.    Students will be totally silent at railroad crossings. The driver will turn off all radios, fans, heaters, etc. and illuminated the dome light to aware students to be quiet.  This is a requirement of the State of GA, Pupil Transportation Division and Mitchell County School Bus System.  
14.    Students will stay seated until time to get off the bus. The open bus door is the signal to get up from the seat.  Students must stay clear of and must not tamper with the emergency door nor any other emergency equipment. 
15.    Students must provide a written note, signed by a parent or guardian to the school officials for a note with the school logo on it, giving permission to ride a different bus or get off the bus at a different bus stop location. 
16.    Students will complete a student information and/or bus registration form in order to utilize the bus transportation provided by MCSS.
17.     Students must conduct themselves in an orderly manner and follow all the bus rules to be transported. Students who disobey the driver may not be allowed to continue to ride. A student who threatens, verbally  assaults, or physically assaults a school bus driver in any manner will be immediately suspended from the bus and may be referred to the Student Hearing Tribunal for possible out of school suspension (Georgia code 20-2-7515). Suspension may be permanent.
18.    Students will comply with any and/or all other policies and regulations as stipulated by the Mitchell County Board of Education and Mitchell County Schools.  
19.    Students must treat the bus as an extension of the classroom/school and the bus driver as the classroom teacher.   
20.    Students will follow the dress code set forth by their schools.  
21.    Any vandalism to the interior or the exterior of the bus is prohibited and will require payments for the amount of damage,  along with bus suspension. 

Consequences for disciplinary infractions will be determined by the school administrator/Transportation Director. Consequences range from verbal warning to suspension/expulsion from riding the bus. Misbehavior may also result in the same range of consequences of violations as outlined in the system Code of Conduct.