BUSING : REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Westmount Charter School’s bus transportation system was established to provide parents with an alternative for transporting their child to and from the school.  As schools of choice, charter schools are not obliged to provide transportation under the School Act.  This notwithstanding, Westmount recognizes that busing is an essential service for our families and is committed to the operation of a cost-effective, efficient and safe bus service for its students.   As such, parents have a choice as to using this optional service for their children.

The general terms under which transportation is provided are as follows:

• Busing is a voluntary, fee-based transportation alternative offered to Westmount students who reside more than 2.4 km from the school, within Calgary city limits, and outside bus restricted zones.
• Routing and stops are congregated in nature and are designed to serve more than one family or community.  Families are assigned to stops centrally located in their, or a neighboring, community.
• Routes and stops are created jointly by the school and the bus carrier with a focus on safety, efficiency and cost, followed by the convenience of families using the service.

• Busing is administered on a break-even basis, funded by grants from Alberta Education and user fees.
• The bus is considered to be an extension of the school and the Charter Board’s policies respecting student conduct and student discipline accordingly apply.

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY

The responsibility for the safe, efficient, effective transportation of school students is shared by Westmount Charter School, our carrier Southland Transportation Ltd., the bus drivers and our parents.

STREET SAFETY

School zones are in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. while school is in session.  The school bus loading zone at Van Horne is directly in front of the school on Uxbridge Drive. The school bus loading zone at Parkdale Elementary is along 5th Avenue along the side of the school. Both of the school bus loading zones are clearly marked with bus signs in the morning and afternoon. Parents dropping their children off at either school location should refrain from parking in either of these school bus loading zones.

All parents should review with their children the many elements of road safety, which include, but are not limited to, their education about the use of crosswalks and hand signals, the need for attentiveness and care when in traffic, and the dangers of jay-walking and running in traffic.

Children using the bus should review proper crossing procedures when disembarking at the end of the day. 

They should:

• Stand back at a safe distance from the bus.

• Wait until the bus leaves the stop.

• Walk to the closest intersection.

• Cross the street only when they have a clear view of the traffic in both directions and it is safe to do so.

• Attend to traffic and exercise caution.

BUS SAFETY

Both Westmount and Southland Transportation want to ensure your children are safe and that their experience on the bus is a positive one.  The start of each school year is a hectic time.  Southland operates hundreds of routes through the city.  With stops that are shared by different schools and the many new students and drivers each year, please ensure your child gets on the correct bus by looking for the Westmount Charter window sign and/or by asking the driver.  Until the children and drivers are familiar with each other and their route, and throughout the year, please help your route run smoothly for both your child and your driver by:

• Arranging to have someone meet your child(ren) at their bus stop.
• Ensuring your ECS and grade one child wears his/her bus tag on their outer clothing or backpack.  The information on the tag will help get your child safely home.
• Ensuring your ECS child knows his/her telephone number in case no one is at the stop to greet him/her at the end of the day. 
• Ensuring you have a well-communicated back-up plan for bus delays. 
• Encouraging your children to talk to the bus driver if they feel something is wrong, that they may have gotten on the wrong bus or a stop was missed.  They should not get off the bus at an unfamiliar stop or with an unfamiliar attendant.
• School bus drivers are in continuous contact with their dispatcher.  Finding the home of a child who is on the bus is easier than finding a child who got off at the wrong stop.  If your child stays on the bus, the driver will ensure your child is looked after.
• Review and discuss the safety-related items of this Transportation Handbook.

Southland Transportation also has two evacuation drills in a school year.  Parents will be advised when this is scheduled to occur if we are notified in advance by Southland.

WINTER SAFETY

Students and parents are reminded that extra caution should be taken during the winter months.  Please take a moment and review this important information with your children.

• Children should be dressed appropriately for the colder weather. Unexpected mechanical problems with the bus occur more frequently at this time of year. Children must be prepared for this as buses cool off very quickly.
• Unusually cold or stormy weather can result in bus schedules being delayed. We encourage parents to use extra caution with children on those days. Children should be accompanied to the bus stop or have very clear instructions on what to do if the bus does not arrive. Never leave children at a stop without backup arrangements for an emergency.
• A build-up of ice and snow can create a safety hazard for children waiting at the bus stop. Ensure that your child understands the importance of standing back from the curb as the bus approaches the bus stop.
• Children will find it easier to walk snow and ice-covered roads when their school books and lunches are carried in a back pack. It is also much safer for them to board the bus with their hands free to use the bus handrail.
• Assume that school is open unless you learn otherwise through the local media.

BUS RULES AND REGULATIONS

In accordance with the Charter Board’s policies, the following are the expectations for Westmount students while on the school bus or while waiting at the bus stop.  These rules have been established to ensure that a safe, clean and comfortable environment is maintained for all riders.

• Students are responsible for their conduct to the bus driver and ultimately to the Principal.  Serious or continued violation of these rules may lead to the loss of riding privileges and possible suspension from school.
• The driver is in full charge of the bus and the drivers’ directions must be obeyed.
• The driver may, upon his/her so choosing, assign specific seats to students at any time.
• Students must conduct themselves in a quiet and courteous manner, showing consideration for the comfort and safety of others.
• Eating is not permitted on any regularly scheduled school bus.  Drinking of water is permitted.
• While the bus is in motion, students must not extend arms or heads out of windows, try to get on or off the bus, or move about within it.
• Students must not throw waste or other materials on the floor or out of the windows.
• Students must not yell, scream or use offensive language.
• Students must not push, shove or otherwise engage in rowdy behavior.
• Students may play portable music devices using personal headphones only.
• Students will be held accountable for wilful damage to a bus.
• When necessary, in accordance with Provincial Standards, students in grades ECS through six may be required to sit three to a seat, students in grades seven through twelve will sit two to a seat.
• All items brought aboard the bus must be of adequate size to sit on the students lap. Students must be able to hold all items on their laps.  No loose items or unsecured sporting equipment are permitted, including skis, skateboards, skates and balls.
• The driver reserves the right to report any misconduct to a Principal or designate.

PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Completing the Transportation agreement on the school's secure website and ensuring that an accurate and current address, phone number, and email address are provided.
2. Ensuring children are punctual and arrive at the designated pick-up location five minutes prior to the scheduled stop time.
3. Ensuring children are respectful of property owners, and do not use private property as a gathering point at their pick up/drop off location.
4. Ensuring children are properly dressed for inclement weather.
5. Paying for any willful damage caused by their child while riding to and from school.
6. Ensuring their child knows how to recognize their bus stop and find their way home safely.
7. Ensuring that Kindergarten and first-time riders have their name, address and telephone numbers attached to their clothing, especially for the first few weeks of school.
8. Escorting and meeting their young child at the bus stop and ensuring their child’s safety while traveling to and from their bus.
9. Ensuring children have appropriate medication, if required, and understand what to do if they need to use the medication.
10. Establishing emergency procedures for students, so that they know what to do if:
    • The bus is late or does not arrive
    • No one is home, or
    • There is an emergency school closure.

The safety of our riders and the efficiency of Westmount’s busing service is greatly enhanced by the knowledge and respect of the policies and procedures of this Handbook.  Please become familiar with its contents.  In addition to the adherence to our transportation policies and procedures, we ask our parents to:

• Report any behavioral difficulties your child has experienced with fellow riders to school administration, as listed here. Westmount will not tolerate bullying or misconduct and must be advised of any potential difficulties.
• Report any difficulties you experience with your driver to Southland Transportation.
• Copy Transportation Services on any service correspondence you have with Southland.  It is critical that Westmount be kept abreast of activity occurring on your route. 
• Likewise, our drivers are asked to report to Westmount their observation of any parent who approaches a driver with a request to alter a route, tries to stop the bus at an unscheduled stop, pulls in front of the bus, or otherwise endangers the safety of the bus and/or its riders.  The safety of your children is our number one priority.  Any of these actions could result in possible suspension of busing for your child.

COMMUNICATION

Email is the primary way in which Transportation Services communicates with its bus riding families (i.e. individual requests and questions, changed route sheets, specific route updates and wider audience news on items such as updated policy or procedures).  If you are not receiving emails on busing and your student is registered for the bus, please send an email to schoolbus@westmountcharter.com or telephone Transportation Services to ensure that we have a valid email address on file.   We ask that families provide email addresses other than hotmail accounts.  Hotmail accounts are unreliable and we are not notified of their transmission errors.

Route changes that impact only a rider’s status (new rider, cancelled rider, change to full time from part time, move to different stop, etc.) will be communicated only to the driver and the family concerned.  Updated passenger lists are sent to all families as needed.

Route changes that impact stop locations or times will be communicated to all affected riders a minimum of 48 business hours before the effective start date.  Drivers and SLT will be provided with a revised copy.

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