The Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District provides Transportation for Eligible Students living 2 or more miles from School under a program which is jointly financed from State and Local Funds. 

Texas Education Agency Rules and Regulations require that a school district operate its school buses on an economical and safe manner. Therefore, the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District adopted the following rules and regulations for the safety of students and for efficient operations of the Transportation program. 

All Students riding buses are considered to be " in the classroom " and subject to District supervision upon entering the bus on the morning route to school and until they leave the bus on the afternoon route which returns the student to their pick-up points. 

I. RESPONSIBILITY OF STUDENTS

It is the responsibility of the student to become thoroughly familiar with the rider's rules and Regulations and to abide by them.

A. BEFORE LOADING (At the bus stop and at School)

• All Secondary students must have on file in the bus they ride or in their possession an I.D. card and be to show this card when required by the bus driver or any school official.

• All elementary students who ride the school bus must have been approved for eligibility by their school principal.

• Students must be at designated pick-up points 10 minutes prior to a.m. pick up time. Students must be on time at the Designated school loading area. Promptness helps keep the bus on schedule.

• Student should conduct themselves in a safe manner while waiting for the bus. Stay off the road or driveways. Be careful while bus is approaching.

• Do not move toward the bus or start loading until the bus has come to a complete stop. Students can get on much quicker if they will line up and move in a single file.

• A student is not allowed to carry any equipment on the bus which would have to be placed in the passageway or entrance, or which would interfere with the driver or the movement of any passenger in any emergency. In this respect safety is the prime factor.

B. WHILE ON THE BUS

• Upon entering the bus, students should load from the front first and be seated. Students are not permitted to move around on the bus while in motion. Be seated throughout the trip.

• Students will not be permitted to stand while riding on the bus. It is law. Stay in your assigned seat, facing forward.

• No food or drinks are allowed on the bus at any time.

• Students must keep hands and head inside the bus. Do not throw, hand, or dangle anything out the windows on the bus.

• Help keep the bus clean by not throwing things on the floor. Do not litter on the bus.

• Rowdiness, loud talking, pushing, shoving, bad language, destruction of property, and general discourtesies toward fellow students or the bus driver will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary actions.

• No physical or verbal altercations, no fighting.

• No weapons, alcohol, drugs, vaping or tobacco.

• The principal will take disciplinary action deemed by the student code of conduct.

• A bus Disciplinary Referral from Transportation will be submitted by the driver to the principal to handle misconduct on the bus.

• Students and parents will be required to pay for any damages to the bus or other property resulting from misbehavior on the bus.

• Students will be dropped off only at their approved stop unless proper authorization has been received from their principal.

• In case of an emergency, children are to remain in the bus unless otherwise directed by the driver.

• Pre-k or Kinder students will not be dropped off without parent or approved guardian present at the stop.

C. AFTER LEAVING THE BUS

• Check before leaving to see that you have your books, clothing, lunches, etc.

• Be alert to the danger signals and instructions of the bus driver, especially when you need to cross the road in front of the bus.

• Students not crossing the street must step back from the bus a safe distance so that the bus driver may proceed. Students must not run after or alongside the bus because of the danger of personal injury.

II. FALSIFICATION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING BUS ELIGIBILTY

• Falsification of information concerning bus eligibility or boarding a bus when the student knows he/she is ineligible, shall be treated as general misconduct, The bus driver will report any student who falsifies information.

   

III. MISCONDUCT ON SCHOOL BUSES

Consequences for Violations

• Bus drivers shall report disciplinary problems to the school principal concerned on the Disciplinary Referral Transportation form, with a copy to the Transportation Office. The principal will take disciplinary action deemed appropriate. The Transportation Office is to be notified of action taken. 

• On the second report of misconduct, the parents (guardian) will be notified.

• The third report of misconduct of the same student may result in his/her suspension from riding the bus for three days. The Transportation Office is to be notified of the dates of suspension from riding the bus.

• Any subsequent report of misconduct of the same student will result in his/her suspension from riding the bus

• Parents have the right to appeal a suspension.

• The above procedures for minor misconduct would not apply in the event that a secondary or elementary student behaves in a malicious manner or displays gross misconduct on the school bus. Disciplinary action taken by the principal could result in suspension from riding the bus for an indefinite period of time pending further administrative action.

• Students under suspension are not to be allowed to board a school bus until the principal has authorized the lifting of the suspension. When a student is suspended from riding a school bus, he/she should be permitted to return home on the bus before the suspension becomes effective, unless the conduct is so flagrant that other steps must be taken. In such a case the student is to be taken to the principal and the principal is to notify the parents to pick up the student at school. If the parents cannot pick up the student, he/she are to be taken home by means other than the school bus. the parent / guardian is to be notified immediately when a student is suspended from school or suspended from riding a school bus.

• If a student and/or a parent wish to express a grievance involving the actions of a bus driver, it should be discussed with the local school campus principal. Every effort should be made to resolve the problem at the individual school campus level. If the problem is unresolved at this level. the grievance should then be referred to the Office of the Director of Transportation. Any additional appeals beyond the Office of Transportation will be made to the Superintendent of the School in accordance with Board Policy 9.11.