NCSD - Transportation

05.24.13

Transportation Department

Our day starts at 5:30 a.m. here at the transportation center with good weather, during bad weather days between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. We have 20 large bus routes, 2 wheel chair routes, 3 - 20 passenger routes, 2 - seven passenger routes, traveling to Masonville Boces and Bainbridge - Guilford schools with 3 jeeps traveling to Rome, Binghamton, Unadilla Valley CSD and the Gilbertsville-Mt Upton CSD. With a total of 32 units double tripping. Total miles traveled last year was 485,394 miles. Each day we transport 2078 stutents to and from school.

We also supply transportation for Holy Family and Valley Heights Christian Academy, The Place, YMCA, Plymouth, Preston and Norwich youth groups.

New bus drivers must pass the criminal history check, health physial, have a vaild Class BPS drivers License and attend a pre-service class and a 30 hour class within one year of driving.


	Bus Rules

Norwich City School District

Transportation Department

The Norwich City School District transports over 2,000 students daily to four public schools, BOCES Occupational and Special Education, and various private and parochial schools. Students who do not follow transportation rules and regulations are subject to loss of transportation privileges.

The rules and regulations for students riding the school buses are as follows:

1. The bus driver has complete authority over all school bus students and the power to enforce all rules and regulations on the bus.

2. Students shall be ready when the bus arrives and shall enter promptly and students shall not board or leave the bus while it is in motion.

3. There shall be no unusual loudness in the way of talking or unnecessary confusion that will interfere with the effectiveness of the bus driver.

4. Shoving, pushing, profane and obscene language is prohibited on the bus.

5. Students shall keep heads, arms and hands inside the bus at all times.

6. There shall be no smoking or eating on the bus.

7. Students shall keep the bus clean and sanitary.

8. Students shall keep the seat assigned by the driver unless they have permission to move.

9. Students shall pass through the aisle to and from the seat assigned without disturbing or crowding other pupils.

10. Students shall remain seated and facing forward while the bus is in motion.

11. Students shall obey the driver promptly.

12. Students should realize that the driver has a serious responsibility and that it is everyone's duty to help.

13. Students must always look at the driver and wait for the signal before crossing, which is done approximately 15 feet in front of the bus.

14. Principals may suspend a student from transportation privileges if his/her conduct interferes with bus safety or rules.

15. Supervision to, from and at the bus stop is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Parents are urged to assist children across roadways at or near the bus stop.

16. Seat belts are installed in all new buses. Wearing of belts is mandatory in vehicles with a capacity of 7 or fewer students and optional on larger vehicles.

17. Students shall not eat or drink on the bus. This includes chewing gum.


	Safety

Student Safety

Our first priority is the safety of our students. All district personnel have been trained to handle bus emergencies. In accordance with the State Education Department regulations, three bus safety drills will be conducted each school year. The first drill will be held within the first seven days of school.

School buses are the safest mode of transportation for your children and are designed to protect them in the event of a crash. To take full advantage of the safety features a bus has to offer, it is important that your child is seated within the confines of the bus seat. Unruly behavior on the bus is a safety concern and a distraction to the driver. The bus driver and/or school administrator has the authority to assign seats at any time during the school year. Please reinforce the importance of bus safety with our children throughout the school year.

Clothing/Book bags - For safety reasons, please provide a book bag for your child's belongings. Loose items can cause injuries and tempt students to reach under the bus to retrieve things. Please choose jackets and coats without draw strings and please avoid the "yellow raincoat" which may not be visible to the bus driver alongside the bus.

All objects including musical instruments must fit on the child's lap. Absolutely no animals, fish, or sharp objects are allowed. Also any sports equipment such as hockey sticks or baseball bats must be carried in equipment bags.

Bus Stop Pickup Procedure - It is important that drivers observe students as they approach the bus stop in the morning. Please arrange to have your child at the stop 5 minutes before ordinary pickup time.

If your child is late, please do not let him/her run to catch the bus . The driver may not see him/her and might pull away just as your child reaches the bus. For this same reason, please do not try to transfer your child to the bus along the route if he/she misses the bus.

Inclement Weather - On icy and snowy days, please listen to your radio station.

Please do not call the Transportation Department. They must keep their phone lines open for critical calls.

The radio and television stations that broadcast emergency closings for the Norwich City School district are as follows.

Norwich / Oneonta - Central NY Radio Group

Binghamton - WAAL / WKOP / WNBF / WHWK / WYOS / WSKG / MIX 103.3 / STAR 105.7 / KGB-FM / 107.5 THE BEAR / 1430 WENE / 680 WINR / WIVT / WGBH Channel 34 / WBNG TV 12

Sidney WCDO

Syracuse WTVH Channel 5 / WSTM Channel 3 / WBTQ 93Q / WICZ TV 40

e-channel - Channel 14