Student Safety - Community Consolidated School District 15

Driver Qualifications

All School District 15 bus drivers are licensed by the Secretary of State and the Illinois State Board of Education. To qualify for a school bus license, a driver must:

Have a good driving record.
Be at least 21 years old.
Complete a state-mandated, eight-hour bus safety course.
Demonstrate safe behind-the-wheel driving skills.
Complete an annual two-hour bus safety refresher course.
Pass an annual physical examination, including a drug/alcohol test.

School District 15 provides inservice workshops for drivers on topics such as bus safety, discipline, defensive driving, and driving in bad weather.

School District 15 maintains its own staff of trained mechanics. All buses meet strict safety standards set by state and federal regulations. All buses are equipped with radios and are in contact with the transportation office at all times. Each school bus is required to have:

A daily, pre-trip safety inspection by the driver.
Preventive maintenance and safety inspection every 3,000 miles.
An inspection every six months at a state-licensed safety-lane facility.
A major safety and maintenance inspection annually or every 10,000 miles.

At least twice a year, students practice proper procedures for an emergency bus evacuation. In addition, all buses are equipped with a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

Student Safety & Behavior

Most accidents or injuries to students occur when they are boarding or leaving the bus. Students must follow every precaution when entering or leaving the bus. If anything is dropped when getting on or off the bus, the youngster should not pick it up. The child should let the driver know that something has been dropped so the driver may assist the student. Parents are encouraged to review this rule with their children.

Please encourage your child(ren) to wear their seat belt while riding the bus.

All students who ride buses must follow the District’s School Bus Safety Guidelines:

Students are to board and depart the bus at their assigned stop only. Students are not permitted to ride another student’s bus. A driver is only permitted to drop students off at the designated stop indicated on their route. Student school bus rosters need to remain consistent for the safety of all.
Student walkers may not ride the buses.
Students should be at the bus stop five (5) minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the bus. At the end of the school day, students are to go quickly to their bus’ designated area and wait in an orderly fashion for the bus to arrive.
While waiting for the bus, students are not to stand or play on the road or street. After exiting the bus, students who must cross the road must do so 10 feet in front of the bus and only when the stop arm is out and the flashers are operating, and must follow instructions from the bus driver.
Students are to remain seated throughout the entire bus ride.
Windows are not to be lowered below the safety mark. Students’ heads, hands, arms, and feet, and all objects must be kept inside the bus.
Loud conversation, profane language, throwing objects, and discourteous actions toward the bus driver or other passengers will not be tolerated.
Students are responsible for any damage to the bus.
Glass containers, live animals, and large objects may not be carried on the bus.

Students who display inappropriate behavior will have their transportation privileges taken away. Gross disobedience or misconduct providing grounds for suspension from riding the school bus includes:

Prohibited student conduct as defined in the Student Behavior Policy;
Willful injury or threat of injury to a bus driver or to another rider;
Willful damage and/or defacement of the bus;
Repeated use of profanity;
Repeated willful disobedience of the bus driver’s directives; or
Such other behavior as the administration deems to threaten the safe operation of the bus and/or its occupants.

If a student is suspended from riding the bus for gross disobedience or misconduct on a bus, the School Board may suspend the student from riding the school bus for a period in excess of 10 days for safety reasons. The District shall provide the student with notice of the gross disobedience or misconduct and an opportunity to respond.

Kindergarten/Younger Riders

Bus drivers will not release kindergarten or younger students without a parent/guardian meeting the bus, unless the school has a letter from the parent/guardian authorizing the driver to release students to another adult.

If a kindergarten or younger student is not met at the bus stop by the parent/guardian or authorized adult, Transportation will try to contact the house before leaving the bus stop. It is important that the school office has your current phone numbers. If there is no response, Transportation will then bring the student back to school for pickup.

Electronic Recordings on Buses

Electronic visual and audio recordings may be used on school buses to monitor conduct and to promote and maintain a safe environment for students and employees, when transportation is provided for any school related activity. Notice of electronic recordings shall be displayed on the exterior of the vehicle’s entrance door and front interior bulkhead in compliance with State law and the rules of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.

Students are prohibited from tampering with electronic recording devices. Students who violate this policy shall be disciplined in accordance with the Board’s discipline policy and shall reimburse the District for any necessary repairs or replacement.

Video Cameras

To enhance bus safety, video cameras are installed on all District buses to assist the driver in monitoring student behavior. Students who display inappropriate behavior will be subject to consequences, which may include but are not limited to loss of bus riding privileges, detention, and/or suspension.

Reminders for Motorists

Parents and community members can support bus drivers by being good safety examples to their children and by being courteous to bus drivers. Here are a few reminders:

It is against the law to pass from either direction on two-lane roads a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and the stop arm extended. Traffic on four-lane roads going in the opposite direction do not have to stop.
A school bus must stop at all railroad crossings with or without children by using emergency lights.
School buses make frequent stops and wide turns.
Illinois Rules of the Road

FAQs

Does the driver have the right to assign seats on the bus?

Who should I speak to about problems that occurred on my child’s bus?

Another child is harassing or bullying my child while they are on the bus. What should I do?

Community Consolidated School District 15 has a policy that specifically prohibits bullying at school, during school events, field trips, and on a school bus. The bus driver’s main focus must be on operating the school bus safely. As a result, the majority of the driver’s attention is focused on the road and traffic conditions, so he/she may not see or hear inappropriate behavior among the students on the bus when it occurs. Students who engage in bullying or harassing behaviors are subject to disciplinary action. Please report any problems to your child’s school or the Transportation Department at 847-963-3900 so appropriate steps may be taken.

Are there consequences if a student misbehaves on the bus?

The bus driver disciplined my child on the bus today. Does the driver have the right to this?

The school bus driver is responsible for the safe operation of the bus. He/she should receive the same level of respect afforded to a classroom teacher, assistant, or other school employee. When necessary, drivers may correct a student. In most cases, that resolves the problem. If the misconduct continues, the driver may complete a conduct report to notify the school of the event for further review, if appropriate, disciplinary action.

What is a student conduct report?

A student conduct report is completed by the bus driver or bus aide and used to report a student who violated the safety rules on the bus that may cause harm to the student, to another student, or the public. This includes actions that distract the bus driver’s attention from the roadway. If the student conduct report is completed for a student, the school staff members will contact the student’s family if they need to speak to the parent or guardian as part of the disciplinary steps taken to resolve the problem.