Rules and Regulations for School Bus Riders

The School Bus Driver is in full charge of the bus and its passengers. On the bus, the driver has the same authority a teacher has in the classroom — the school bus is an extension of the classroom. When a student doesn't follow these rules, the response can include written reflection, loss of bus riding privileges, or additional discipline under the district's student conduct policies, as determined by the building Principal and/or the Transportation Supervisor.

The rules below are not exhaustive. The Bus Driver and Transportation Supervisor may set additional expectations as needed for safety.

The rules

  1. Cooperate with the driver. Students shall cooperate with and obey the Bus Driver promptly and willingly at all times. Student misconduct is sufficient reason for suspending transportation privileges.
  2. Seat assignments. Bus Drivers have the authority to assign seats on the bus, as needed.
  3. Orderly boarding. Students shall enter the bus in an orderly fashion, go directly to an available or assigned seat, and remain seated at all times unless permission to change seats is granted by the Bus Driver.
  4. Stay seated and forward-facing. Feet, hands, and possessions stay with the student and out of the aisle at all times.
  5. Nothing out the windows. Students shall never put objects, substances, or body parts out the bus windows. Bus windows will not be lowered or raised without permission from the Bus Driver.
  6. Be at the stop early. Students shall be at the bus stop ready to load 5 minutes prior to the scheduled bus time.
  7. How to cross. Students must always cross 10 feet in front of the bus, in full view of the driver. Never cross behind the bus. Wait for the driver's instructions to cross, and look all ways before crossing.
  8. Don't tamper with the emergency equipment. Students shall not tamper with the emergency doors or any safety equipment on the bus. Any damage to a bus shall be reported to the Bus Driver immediately. Students who cause damage or vandalism to school property will be held responsible for the cost of repair or replacement.
  9. Classroom-type conduct. Students shall act in a safe and courteous manner at all times — inside voices and the same behavior expected in the classroom.
  10. Silent at railroad crossings. Students shall be absolutely quiet — no noises, no talking — at railroad crossings, until the bus is completely across the tracks.
  11. Stay on your assigned route. Students shall ride only their assigned bus route and depart the bus only at their assigned stop in the afternoon, unless written permission has been granted by school officials and a bus pass has been received by the Bus Driver.
  12. No food, gum, or drinks. No gum chewing, food, or beverages on the bus. Water only, in a clear plastic bottle with a cap, may be consumed at the Bus Driver's discretion and only while the bus is parked on school grounds.
  13. Weapons, tobacco, drugs, alcohol — never. Weapons, tobacco products, illegal drugs, alcohol, or any related paraphernalia — or anything that purports to be these — are strictly prohibited.
  14. No harassment, fighting, bullying, or vulgar behavior. Student harassment, fighting, bullying, vulgar or profane language or gestures (including on cell phones), excessive noise, loud behavior, spitting, and throwing things will not be tolerated.
  15. No items that could injure or distract. Students will not bring items on the bus that could cause injury to others or distract the driver, such as inflatable balloons, large musical instruments, skateboards, scooters, sticks or bats, breakable containers, plants or vegetation, or straps or pins extending from clothing. All personal possessions must be small enough to be held on the student's lap.
  16. No animals on the bus (with one exception). Except for certified assist animals, no animals, reptiles, insects, fish, or fowl are permitted on the bus.
  17. Hoods and hats back from the face. If jacket hoods or hats are worn on the bus, they must be back away from the face so the student can be identified by the driver and on video.
  18. No strong scents. For the health of riders who may have allergies, students are not allowed to wear, use, or spray strong colognes, perfumes, deodorant, or anything similar on the bus. No aerosols may be sprayed on the bus.
  19. Personal electronics with headphones only. With the driver's permission, students may play any iPod, MP3 player, CD player, or other entertainment device quietly on the bus. Headphones are required, and one ear must remain uncovered at all times so the student can hear the driver. These devices must stay in the student's possession and are not to be shared with other students. A device that becomes a disruption may be temporarily confiscated by the Driver.

When a rule is broken

Depending on the rule and the situation, the response may include:

  • A verbal warning from the driver.
  • A written reflection or "rule writing" assignment for the student.
  • A bus referral to the building Principal.
  • Temporary suspension of bus riding privileges (one or more days).
  • Longer-term suspension of bus riding privileges.
  • Additional discipline under the district's student conduct policies (Policy 3241 and related procedures).

For safety-critical violations — weapons, drug or alcohol possession, fighting, or interfering with the driver — the response is immediate and typically includes building administrator involvement. For minor issues — quiet voice violations, occasionally turning around in the seat — drivers usually start with a reminder and a seat change before escalating.

If your student has had a bus referral and you'd like to talk through what happened, call the building Principal first. If the concern is about how the bus rule was applied rather than what your student did, the Transportation Supervisor at (360) 249-5454 is the right next call, and the formal complaint path is published at /citizen-complaint.

Items left on the bus

The Montesano School District is not responsible for personal items that are lost, damaged, or stolen on the school bus. Drivers do a walkthrough after each route and any items found are returned to the bus garage (411 E. Wynooche Avenue). Call (360) 249-5454 to ask about a missing item before the next school day starts.

The bus rules are part of the district's broader student conduct expectations. Families review them in two places:

  • This page, which is the canonical source maintained by the Transportation Department.
  • The district Family & Student Handbook at /handbook, which links here.

There is no separate signature page. Acknowledging the family handbook at registration covers acknowledgment of the bus rules; you don't need to send back a paper slip.

Bus routes, schedules, and route changes

This page covers conduct expectations only. For route maps, stop times, the route finder, and how to request a route change, see /departments/transportation.

Need this in another language?

If you'd like these rules in another language, or if you need an interpreter to talk through a bus referral, contact:

Phone: (360) 249-3942 Email: community@monteschools.org

Interpretation is arranged at no cost to families.

How this page is updated

The Transportation Director (Samantha Green) maintains this page. Rule changes are reviewed once a year before the start of school, typically in the August Board meeting cycle. If a rule on this page no longer reflects current practice — a number that doesn't reach the right office, a building reference that's out of date — please email community@monteschools.org so we can fix it within one business day.