The wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round… According to the Federal Department of Transportation, the school bus is one of the safest means of transportation around, even safer than the family car. Several factors combine to give school buses their reputation for safety. Chief among them are the extensive licensing and education credentials required of school bus drivers. Another is the fact that school buses themselves are sturdy vehicles.
Mohonasen bus drivers do their best to maintain order and ensure a safe trip for all students. But they cannot do the job alone–it takes the cooperation of parents and children. So what can parents do to make their children’s bus ride a safe experience? Read our “rules of the road” to find out.
Late bus information
If your son or daughter is catching one of the after school “late buses” home, make sure he/she pays attention to the route number that corresponds to the letter of the bus they will ride. View the link below for a list of stops the late bus will make.
Please note that late buses will only stop at the locations listed on the schedule.
Late buses are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the high school and middle school. They are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Pinewood.
Drivers have a responsibility to help maintain the safety of children. When approaching a school bus, you must:
- Slow down: Flashing yellow lights warn that the bus is about to stop. You should begin to slow your vehicle and prepare to stop.
- Stop: From either direction, even on divided highways – when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing.
- Proceed: Only when the red lights are turned off and bus is again moving, or when waved on by driver or police officer.
- Be aware: Children may be approaching a stopped school bus from any direction.
- Remember: School buses may not turn right on red while transporting students.
It is illegal to pass a school bus displaying its flashing red lights – both on and off school property. If convicted of passing a stopped school bus, the minimum fine is $250 – 400 and/or 30 days in jail for the first offense. Drivers convicted of passing a stopped school bus will also receive a 5-point infraction on their license for each violation. This law is strictly enforced, and all violators will be fully prosecuted.
Please make sure you are signed up for School News Notifier. By doing this, you will receive an e-mail and/or text message in the event school is closed or delayed due to inclement weather. Please note that due to the volume of closing notifications sent over SNN, and precautions put in place by the recipient’s email server, these notifications may not be received immediately. It is best to rely on more than one source of information when it comes to weather-related announcements. Closing and delay information can also be found on local television or radio stations.
Unplanned early dismissals are communicated via an automated phone messaging system to all phone numbers parents have provided. It is essential that parents keep their phone contact numbers current for this purpose.
In addition, the elementary PTO also maintains a “phone tree” to contact parents of K-5 students in the event of an unplanned early dismissal.
There may be times when the phone lists cannot be activated (loss of phone service, not enough time, etc.). No matter what grade level your child is in, please make sure they know what to do if they arrive home unexpectedly and you’re not there. For safety’s sake, now is the time to create a plan!!