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Debusguy
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
 Posted - 10/16/2001 : 07:49:35 AM
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In the afternoon our vocational buses, coming in from a site about eight miles away, arrive too late to allow 10th and 12th grade students to go home on the regular high school routes. As a result, these students are assigned an afternoon elementary bus to go home. While this has been an ongoing procedure for many years, this year there has been a strong objection voiced by parents of elementary-aged students. Can anyone offer a perspective on the issue of high school students riding on elementary buses? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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MamaLoca
Advanced Member
USA
400 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2001 : 09:29:48 AM
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We have two Vocational buses. In the PM they split the kids north side, south side and deliver them home or to the highschool to ride the after school buses home.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to. |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2001 : 09:55:46 AM
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I really can't offer the parents or you any magic answer. However, when they are explained the costs of an additional bus and driver and how it affects their state and local taxes the parents usually come around. If they think it will cost THEM more $$ those problems and issues seem to fade away. I'd try to keep them separated as much as possible, but the high schoolers will probably do that for you.
The district is trying to be efficient, and they should be encouraged. Too many don't try hard enough.
Joe
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JK
Top Member
USA
7307 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2001 : 12:00:23 PM
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quote:
"... this year there has been a strong objection voiced by parents of elementary-aged students. Can anyone offer a perspective on the issue of high school students riding on elementary buses? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!"
Debusguy,
Sounds like the parents involved have went into a protective mode. This can happen when an event or repeated events were perceived to have been mishandled and violated the parents trust.
Parents must be able to trust that the bus drivers are keeping the school bus environment safe, and that school staff and parents are kept informed.
K-12 can work quite well on a school bus where student behavior expectations are high and the consequences for misbehavior -- especially harrassment or refusing to follow directions -- are met with swift consequences.
You have to be straight-faced to pull this off: Early on I've called the high schoolers aside, explained that the little kids see them as gods, that they will mimic you, and for this reason it is expected that you maintain a great example to our young passengers.
Then, rather than state, I ask, "What do you think will happen with any student on this bus choosing to ignore this expectation?"
Kicked off the bus is the likely response.
"Yes, that is probably what will happen."
Answer the arrogant response with, "What will happen is that student will be escorted off this bus for further discussion in the school office while the rest of us go home. Or, we can work together and help maintain a safe environment on this bus."
Identify and remove from the bus any child violating safe practices -- including refusing to follow directions or harassing other students or the driver -- and a k-12 bus can do well on the route.
Decency is what virtually all bus drivers, parents and kids expect. Failure of school staff to follow through in this one area violates every ones trust. (jk)
School Transportation Policy Recommendation:
http://www.geocities.com/2safeschools/kic_tpol.htm
Edited by - jk on 10/16/2001 12:46:56 PM |
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thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2001 : 12:27:52 PM
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We have K-12 on all of our regular runs, and it has been that way since day 1, it's because we are a small district.
On my bus it goes by senority, the oldest students in the back, and the younger ones nearest the front. I have always kept them seperated, and continue to follow that procedure. Usually if I have a problem on the bus where it is a group of kids it is either a group of elementary kids, or a group of highschoolers. I never really have a problem between the two. If the bus driver is keeping them seperate, then there shouldn't be a problem. I have had a few students over the years that like to get the elementary students going, but I make it clear to them that it isn't allowed.
86-A It will go in circles around your bus.
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Bus Boy 39
Top Member
USA
1315 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2001 : 12:37:07 PM
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We have one run for high/middle school students and one run for elementary students.
For vocational, we have two 72 pass. buses. They both have a run in the morning for just vocational students and the same in the afternoon.
 "Gotta Love Those Birdies!" |
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Bus #3 Jim
Active Member
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2001 : 10:50:56 PM
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Our busses carry all age groups too. The high schoolers generally sit in the back, although I have never formally separated them.
I can't remember any time that one of the older kids caused a problem by picking on the younger kids. My High Schoolers are great, and have even been very helpful to me in dealing with the younger kids.
The kids act a lot like they are all brothers and sisters in one big (generally) happy family, with the older kids watching out for the younger ones.
If I was "King For a Day", I'd tell those parents complaining about High School mixed with Elementary to take a flying leap!
Jim
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BusBoss
Senior Member
105 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2001 : 3:33:32 PM
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My buses have K-12 as well. Certainly, the oldest kids, as others have said tend to occupy the rear of the bus. They also tend to be rather protective of the younger ones and are jewels during school bus evacuation drills when they have an opportunity to exert their maturity and knowledge.
No problems/negatives I can report.
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High School Students on Elementary Buses
