School bus transportation is not a guaranteed service.
Bus routes are determined by the transportation company and sent to the school. The school then communicates the determined pick-up and drop-off location to the family.
Unless delayed by unexpected traffic, closed roads, or inclement weather all buses will depart from each stop no more than one minute after the scheduled pick-up time. Bus drivers will not wait or return for late students. As such, parents are encouraged to have students at the designated stop ten minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
Parents MUST be at the drop-off point to meet children returning from school. When a bus driver has to assume responsibility for a child (in the absence of parents or care-givers), a $30.00 minimum charge will be applied to the student’s account. Repeat offenders may lose the privilege of bus service.
HVCA cannot alter pickup and dropoff locations unless the parent is requesting a permanent change. Permanent route changes may take up to four (4) weeks to take effect.
Parents are encouraged to contact the main office with all transportation concerns.
Riders of Neighboring Public School Buses
As a reminder to parents of applicable students, if your child will be absent from school or will not be riding the bus, call your district’s transportation office to inform them of this occurrence.
Guidelines for Bus Behavior
For students who ride the bus, the school day ends once they have disembarked from the bus. In other words, the expectations outlined in the student code of conduct also apply to the bus commute.
Because your child’s safety and well-being are of utmost importance, the following behaviors will not be tolerated:
- Unsafe behaviors
- Standing or getting out of seat while the bus is moving
- Interaction/communication with people outside the bus
- Throwing things out the bus windows
- Placing head, hands, or arms outside the window
- Behavior that distracts the driver
- Loud talking or noise
- Using inappropriate language (i.e., cursing, swearing, name-calling, etc.)
- Fighting (including play fighting)
- Disregarding directives from the driver or bus monitor
- Behavior that may negatively impact the physical environment
- Drawing on, carving, tearing, or otherwise defacing bus seats or walls
- Eating/chewing gum without permission
- Littering
School Bus Violations
1st Violation: Warning (for minor offense); Warning & Bus Violation (for major offense)
2nd Violation: Bus Violation (for minor offense); Bus Violation & Meeting with Parent (for major offense)
3rd Violation: Bus Violation & Meeting with Parent (for minor offense); Bus Violation & Disciplinary Action (for major offense)
NOTE: Depending on the severity of the violation, a student may be immediately suspended from the bus before the third offense.
Disciplinary action may include (but is not limited to) student reflection assignment, assigned or reassigned bus seating, in-school community service, temporary restriction of bus services, permanent bus suspension, or school expulsion.
Discipline notes sent home to parents must be given prompt attention. Failure to respond to discipline notes or assignments may result in student loss of riding privileges the next school day.
Parents/Guardians of students who are temporarily restricted or permanently suspended from the bus must provide or secure alternate transportation for their child. This applies to field trips as well.
Loco Parentis
School personnel “have the right to exercise the same authority as a parent, guardian or person in parental relation to such pupil concerning conduct and behavior over the pupils attending a school during the time they are in attendance, including the time required in going to and from their homes” (22 Pa. Code § 10.25).