The goal of the Okinawa Student Transportation Office is to serve the community in the best way possible. Suggestions are always welcomed.

BUS MONITOR POLICY - Although KES is a “neighborhood school,” we have bus riders from Chibana Family Housing Area. We have included highlights of the island-wide bus monitor policy for your information:

•  Kindergarten students riding the bus will be met by a paraprofessional and escorted to class. In accordance with installation directives regarding child supervision, parents of kindergarten age students must meet their child at the bus stop.

•  Children (grades Preschool-6) without bus passes or an authorization letter will be allowed to ride to and from school for that day only.

c. Parents and children should be aware of the penalties, which will be imposed for various violations of good order and safety. Each parent will receive a copy of this instruction when they sign their children up for bus passes.

d. Complaints against other children must be in writing or called into the Bus Registration Office at

645-7820/2036.

e. If your child is no longer riding the bus, you must go to the Bus Registration Office in person to

deregister the child off the bus.

SPONSORS SHOULD READ THE COMPLETE BASE REGULATION SO THEY WILL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE RULES THAT THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO FOLLOW.

BUS SAFETY - The most dangerous operation in the student transportation system is during student loading and unloading of buses. Most accidents occur when students attempt to cross the road in front of their school bus and are struck by passing vehicles as they step from the cover of the bus. In stateside schools, students are taught to cross the road in front of their school bus while traffic is stopped by the flashing bus lights and warning devices.

Unfortunately, traffic laws overseas do not require traffic to stop for school buses loading or unloading students. The correct procedure taught at the beginning of each new school year is that students exiting a school bus should wait until the bus has departed and then cross the road at an intersection or preferably a marked pedestrian crossing.

PACTMO School Bus Safety/Behavior Standards

ON OR AROUND SCHOOL BUSES STUDENTS WILL:

Parents are to instruct their children in the following School Bus Safety Practice and expected behaviors:

•  Board and exit the bus in an orderly, safe manner.

•  Present bus pass when boarding the bus and upon request.

•  Remain seated while on the bus.

•  Talk with other passengers in a normal voice.

•  Keep all parts of the body inside the bus windows.

•  Keep aisles, steps, and empty seats free from obstruction

•  Remain fully and properly clothed.

•  Treat the driver and fellow students with respect.

•  Promptly comply with the bus driver or monitor's instructions.

•  Treat the bus and other private property with care.

ON OR AROUND SCHOOL BUSES STUDENTS WILL NOT:

•  Fight, push, shove, or trip other passengers.

•  Stand or move while the bus is in motion.

•  Open windows or extend any item or part of the body from the bus.

•  Participate in/or encourage horseplay.

•  Use any spray such as, hair spray, perfume, or deodorant.

•  Run, jump, and swing on ceiling or seat rails.

•  Throw or shoot objects in any way.

•  Ride unauthorized bus, loan bus pass to another person.

•  Litter in or outside of the bus.

•  Consume food or drink, to include gum or candy.

•  Spit or use saliva in any manner.

•  Play radios, walkmans, discmans, etc., or play any electronic games.

•  Use profanity, make derogatory racial, ethic, sexual remarks, or obscene gestures or speech.

•  Harass or create an intimidating environment.

•  Burn material including cigarettes or pipes.

•  Possess or use knives or guns.

•  Possess pornography material or gamble.

•  Vandalize the school bus.

•  Possess illegal drugs or alcohol.

•  Assault other individuals.

•  Use or possess unacceptable items identified in the school Code of Conduct.

News from the Student Transportation Office (School Bus Evacuation Drills)

Dear Parents:

Just as your children participate in fire and typhoon drills at school, if your children ride the school bus they will participate in two evacuation drills throughout the year (K-6 th ). These drills are generally scheduled in September or October and again in February or March. Bus evacuation drills are necessary because of the possibility of danger caused by accidents, fire, or the elements of nature.

The guidelines for conducting evacuation drills are as follows:

•  The drills are to be held at the school destination.

•  The drills are to be supervised and verified by the school principal or his/her representative.

•  Both the service door and the emergency exits are to be used.

Specific procedures to be followed in School Bus evacuation drills are:

•  Students need to remain quiet and listen for instructions from the bus driver.

•  If the driver orders an evacuation of the bus and the exit is to be by the way of the front door, the students shall evacuate beginning with the front seats and proceeding in order to the back. Those students sitting in the front seat to the left of the aisle will move out first, followed by those in the seat to the right of the aisle (in the seat behind the driver), and such alternation shall continue toward the back of the bus until all seats are emptied.

•  If the driver orders an evacuation by the way of the rear emergency door, students shall move out in the same sequence as above, emptying the bus from the back to front.

•  Should it be necessary to make a rapid evacuation from the bus and neither door is obstructed, students shall make their exit by way of both the front and back doors. The students in the rear half should move out the back door, while the students in the front half should move out the front door.

•  Upon deboarding, students are to move immediately off the roadway to a safe distance from the traffic. Under no conditions should they cross the road, unless specifically instructed by the driver. The driver should always account for all the students.

It is extremely important that drills be conducted so students know what to do in an emergency situation. Ask your children about their school bus evacuation drill!

QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE STUDENT TRANSPORATION OFFICE