Policies & Procedures

Roles & Responsibilities | Safety | Policy | Regulations | Procedures

Roles & Responsibilities
Edmonton Public Schools Student Transportation provides services that are an accumulation of efforts made by numerous people. We want to help everyone to provide the best possible service in the safest and most efficient way.

Parents

• Escorting the student on the way to and from the bus.
• Ensuring that the student is aware of his/her responsibilities.
• Ensuring that the student is aware of and understands safety on and around the bus.
• Ensuring that alternate arrangements are in place in the event that the bus is missed, is late or does not arrive.
• Ensuring that the student is properly dressed for the weather conditions.
• Ensuring that hazards such as loose clothing, scarves and drawstrings are avoided.
• Ensuring that any changes in status (e.g. necessity for service, program attended, home address, pick-up or drop-off locations) are communicated to the school office with a minimum of 8 school days' notice.
• Ensuring that the monthly (or annual) bus pass is purchased and can be shown upon getting on the bus.
• Assisting severe Special Education Needs students to the bus and immediately taking custody of the student upon disembarking the bus. Note: A bus driver cannot leave the vehicle, nor is permitted to drop off a Kindergarten or Special Education Needs student unless someone is present to receive custody. Students with no one to meet them are either kept safely on the bus until contact is made, returned to the custody of school staff (with notification to the principal), or delivered to the Emergency Social Services Crisis Unit as a last viable alternative.
• Providing the school office with emergency contact names and phone numbers.

Students:

• Arriving at their bus stop approximately 5 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time.
• Waiting in an orderly fashion, well back from the side of the road.
• Respecting private property and keeping noise levels low at the bus stop.
• Knowing the Danger Zone around the bus - 3 meters in all directions.
• Stepping away from the Danger Zone after getting off the bus.
• Behaving in a responsible manner at the bus stop, while on the bus, and while getting on or off the bus.
• Getting on and off the bus in single file and using the handrail.
• Showing the bus driver their bus pass.
• Once on the bus, going directly to their seat, and remaining seated and facing forward for the entire trip (yellow bus only).
• Never standing while on the bus, unless the bus is at a complete stop (yellow bus only).
• Keeping body and baggage out of the aisle.
• Never putting any object or body part out of a window.
• Obeying the driver's instructions as they would obey the principal.
• Speaking in a moderate and polite tone of voice.
• Treating fellow riders with respect and courtesy.
• Never eating or drinking while on the bus.
• Never throwing objects on the bus or at the bus.
• Never damaging the bus.
• Never walking in front of the bus.

Principal

• Safety, welfare, behaviour and conduct of students while participating in school programs, including students on their way to or from school on transportation provided by the District.
• Taking any disciplinary action (although the bus driver is responsible for maintaining order and discipline on the bus). For this reason, it is critical that principals and schools work closely with yellow bus drivers to establish expectations for student behaviour and to determine a process for dealing with safety and behaviour problems before they happen.
• Designating a representative within their school who will be the first point of contact for inquiries from parents, students, drivers and Student Transportation.
• Consulting with Student Transportation prior to changing school hours of operation, including:
  • Changes to start and dismissal times-Transportation is arranged according to these times and is tied to the service provided
  • Professional Development (PD) days-Notification must be sent to Student Transportation well in advance of any upcoming PD days. (Less notice may result in additional costs for the school.)
  • Alternate instructional week-Yellow bus service may be available for schools that submit their alternate instructional school hours to Student Transportation before the end of April. Regularly scheduled ETS service will be available and ETS school extras routes may be provided where feasible.

Schools

• Serving as the contact for bus drivers, parents, students and Student Transportation.
• Staying informed about the types of service available and making recommendations to parents and students about the most appropriate type of service for them.
• Sharing transportation information with the principal and other staff.
• Ensuring that information received from Student Transportation is forwarded to parents/students.
• Arranging supervision at the school bus loading/unloading zone to ensure student safety.
• Submitting application forms to Student Transportation.
• Overseeing the sale and distribution of bus passes, the collection of monthly fees and the submission of fees to the district.
• Informing Student Transportation of changes to student information.
• Collecting and reporting transportation-related information (in compliance with Edmonton Public Schools and Alberta Education requirements).
• Working with bus drivers to arrange emergency evacuation drills.
• Receiving communication reports from bus drivers.
• Working with bus drivers, if necessary, to develop seating plans.
• Informing Student Transportation well in advance of days that transportation services are not required (e.g., school PD and Days in Lieu).
• Providing current information regarding eligibility requirements, application forms, Student Transportation and ETS brochures, timelines for applications and changes, Route Summary Reports and bus company phone numbers.
• Ensuring accuracy of Route Detail Report and the User Fee Summary.

Drivers/ Contract Carrier (Bus Company)

• Operating routes according to the maps, schedules and guidelines provided by Edmonton Public Schools.
• Meeting with principals to establish expectations for student behaviour on the bus.
• Remaining calm in stressful situations.
• Treating students, staff and the public with dignity and respect at all times.
• Providing to the principal, no later than the first day of school, a card (approximately 5"x7") identifying the route or bus number, the carrier name, address and telephone number, and the driver's name and telephone number (an updated card must be submitted to the principal if this information changes during the school year).
• Orienting students on bus procedures and safety.
• Maintaining order and discipline at all times in the vehicle, in accordance with established rules.
• Documenting and reporting to the Principal, no later than the day after an occurrence, any safety concerns, incidents of improper conduct, improvements in behaviour or exceptional conduct on the part of any student, using the School Bus Communication Report.
• Meeting with the Principal and school staff (when requested by the Principal) on matters pertaining to student safety and behaviour.
• Checking bus passes every day when students get on the bus.
• Completing route and rider information forms as requested by Edmonton Public Schools.
• Providing statistical information as required by the District.
• Providing feedback, through carrier management, on issues relating to the timing of the route and inaccessible stop locations or roadways.
• Conducting school bus evacuation drills.
• Fulfilling all contractual obligations.
• Directing parents to the school for change requests.

Student Transportation Department

• Implementing Edmonton Public Schools' student transportation policies.
• Providing input to Edmonton Transit regarding the requirements of the student transportation policy.
• Contracting yellow bus services, planning routes, developing schedules and designing maps according to the needs of the District.
• Monitoring performance of the bus companies under contract to Edmonton Public Schools for safety, efficiency and reliability.
• Working with Edmonton Transit to resolve concerns and issues regarding transportation for District students.
• Working and collaborating with Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, Edmonton Transit, Alberta Motor Association, Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Safety Council, Edmonton Transportation & Public Works and other outside agencies.

Planning Department

• Collaborating with Student Transportation.
• Designating of receiving schools for children in developing neighbourhoods without a school.
• Identifying attendance area boundaries.
• Designating of schools to accommodate District Alternative and Special Education Needs programs.
• Identifying new school sites in developing neighbourhoods.
  

Back to top