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Plan aims to improve behavior on buses
Douglas County school bus drivers have had their share of unruly students on their buses, as do most school bus drivers.
But a new, unified plan that the local district has instituted seems to be improving the behavior of students on buses.
By By: Tom Herman
Douglas County school bus drivers have had their share of unruly students on their buses, as do most school bus drivers.
But a new, unified plan that the local district has instituted seems to be improving the behavior of students on buses.
"We have seen a dramatic decline in behavior referrals," said Area Transportation Manager Paul Balon.
He has worked with assistant principals to develop the new approach.
In the coming year, elementary and middle school students will be asked to sign a new behavior contract. Any high school student who misbehaves will be asked to sign a similar contract before getting back on a bus.
In the past, there were three forms of contracts. They have been rewritten as one in a language students can understand. The new contract for kindergarten through eighth grade reads:
q I promise to ride my bus safely - DO stay seated. DO talk softly. DO stop talking at railroad crossings. DO NOT distract the driver. DO NOT put any part of your body or any objects outside the bus. DO NOT put anything in the aisle.
q I promise to follow all bus rules - DO keep hands and feet to yourself. DO NOT possess weapons or threaten others. DO respect bus property. DO respect personal property. DO NOT possess alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs. DO NOT tamper with emergency door or equipment.
q I promise to treat the bus and its passengers with respect - DO obey directions from your bus driver. DO NOT leave trash, food, etc. on the bus. DO respect the driver and other passengers. DO talk kindly to others. DO NOT throw, spit, kick or hit. DO NOT use foul language, inappropriate gestures or tease others.
Copies of the rules soon will be posted on all buses to remind students.
The new program has all bus riders in grades seven through 12 showing their name badges on the bus. The drivers eventually learn all the students' names after seeing the badges daily.
"This program fosters a positive relationship with drivers, who now have an easy way to get to know the students," said Steve Morrison, executive director of support services.
A student who does not have the proper name tag matching the driver's list won't be allowed on the bus.
"In the past, a student who was in trouble on one driver's bus could walk a few blocks and catch another bus," Morrison said. "Now they have to ride their assigned bus."
Morrison said the bus drivers also are being given training on how to communicate with parents and students.
"We show them how to approach parents about a disruptive student so they can develop a good relationship with them," Morrison said. "The drivers are encouraged to meet as many parents as possible, if only by phone, so they can communicate with them better."
When students disobey the rules, the drivers are instructed to first confront the student to discuss the infraction. If the student disobeys again, the driver can move to step two and contact parents. The third step is disciplinary action through school principals. Step four is the most serious for continued infractions and could involve suspension from riding the bus or any bus.
High school students do not have to sign the contract unless they have been disruptive or disobeyed the rules. Their parents are then contacted and both parents and students must sign a different form of the behavior contract and return it within three days after receipt.
By By: Tom Herman
Douglas County school bus drivers have had their share of unruly students on their buses, as do most school bus drivers.
But a new, unified plan that the local district has instituted seems to be improving the behavior of students on buses.
"We have seen a dramatic decline in behavior referrals," said Area Transportation Manager Paul Balon.
He has worked with assistant principals to develop the new approach.
In the coming year, elementary and middle school students will be asked to sign a new behavior contract. Any high school student who misbehaves will be asked to sign a similar contract before getting back on a bus.
In the past, there were three forms of contracts. They have been rewritten as one in a language students can understand. The new contract for kindergarten through eighth grade reads:
q I promise to ride my bus safely - DO stay seated. DO talk softly. DO stop talking at railroad crossings. DO NOT distract the driver. DO NOT put any part of your body or any objects outside the bus. DO NOT put anything in the aisle.
q I promise to follow all bus rules - DO keep hands and feet to yourself. DO NOT possess weapons or threaten others. DO respect bus property. DO respect personal property. DO NOT possess alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs. DO NOT tamper with emergency door or equipment.
q I promise to treat the bus and its passengers with respect - DO obey directions from your bus driver. DO NOT leave trash, food, etc. on the bus. DO respect the driver and other passengers. DO talk kindly to others. DO NOT throw, spit, kick or hit. DO NOT use foul language, inappropriate gestures or tease others.
Copies of the rules soon will be posted on all buses to remind students.
The new program has all bus riders in grades seven through 12 showing their name badges on the bus. The drivers eventually learn all the students' names after seeing the badges daily.
"This program fosters a positive relationship with drivers, who now have an easy way to get to know the students," said Steve Morrison, executive director of support services.
A student who does not have the proper name tag matching the driver's list won't be allowed on the bus.
"In the past, a student who was in trouble on one driver's bus could walk a few blocks and catch another bus," Morrison said. "Now they have to ride their assigned bus."
Morrison said the bus drivers also are being given training on how to communicate with parents and students.
"We show them how to approach parents about a disruptive student so they can develop a good relationship with them," Morrison said. "The drivers are encouraged to meet as many parents as possible, if only by phone, so they can communicate with them better."
When students disobey the rules, the drivers are instructed to first confront the student to discuss the infraction. If the student disobeys again, the driver can move to step two and contact parents. The third step is disciplinary action through school principals. Step four is the most serious for continued infractions and could involve suspension from riding the bus or any bus.
High school students do not have to sign the contract unless they have been disruptive or disobeyed the rules. Their parents are then contacted and both parents and students must sign a different form of the behavior contract and return it within three days after receipt.
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