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Dear Alma Families,
As we kick off the 2025-2026 school year, we wanted to remind you of our bus ridership expectations for Alma scholars. Attendance in school is critical for academic success, and 70% of our scholars ride the bus to get to and from school on a daily basis. This means we need our bus routes to be efficient and safe for our scholars. To do this, all scholars must follow our bus ridership policies. We want to share our policies directly with families so that all scholars are prepared to meet bus expectations, and members of our community know what to expect if bus rules are not followed.
Bus Rules (Please see Scholar & Family Handbook for complete list of rules located in Appendix 1: Busing Policy Guidelines for Student Behavior)
- Scholars who refuse to promptly obey the directions of the drivers or aides, or refuse to obey regulations may forfeit their ride on the bus for a specified period of time.
- Scholars are to remain seated until they reach their destination. No standing while in motion.
- Fighting, vulgarity, loud noise and other aggressive behavior will not be tolerated on the bus.
- Scholars should not eat on the bus. No food should be carried on the bus from the lunch programs in school. Any food you have should remain in your backpack.
- Scholars should not damage the bus in any way. Families may be held responsible to reimburse the bus company for damages.
- Scholars may not use cell phones or have cellphones out on the bus for any reason. The school will contact families in the event that buses are running late, and each trip is recorded for safety by the bus company.
Procedure for Bus Policy Violations
- Warnings, whether verbal or written, will be given to riders by the driver or bus aide.
- All offenses will be reported to the Network Director of Culture by the bus company within 2 days of an incident, and an Alma staff member will communicate with the family of the rider about the offense.
- Suspensions of bus riding privileges are outlined as followed:
- First write up: Written warning by driver
- Second write up: 2nd Written warning by driver
- Third write up: 1 day bus suspension
- Fourth write up: 2 day suspension
- Fifth+ write up: 3+ day suspension.
Egregious Behaviors
Behaviors that pose a serious safety concern may result in an automatic suspension, regardless of the number of prior write-ups. This includes:
- Standing, sitting improperly, or being out of a seat while the bus is in motion
- Loud or disruptive behavior that distracts the driver or threatens the safety of the bus
Other reminders for families:
- Please make sure your scholars are at the morning pickup location on time. We recommend being there ten minutes early.
- If you need to change your scholar’s dismissal preference for the day, you must call your campus front desk by 1pm.
- At afternoon bus pickup, for scholars in grades K-3, the driver must see a parent to allow the scholar off of the bus. If a parent is waiting in a nearby car, it is not the responsibility of the driver to look for you.
- If you are not at the afternoon bus stop to receive your scholar, you will get a warning. After multiple offenses your scholar may lose bus privileges.
- If you wish to make a complaint about anything bus related, please reach out to the Network Director of Culture at [email protected]. We ask for this to be via email so there is a written record of the complaint.
- If you have an immediate need or concern, you may call the front desk of the school.
It is all of our responsibility to ensure a safe ride to and from school for all children. We look forward to partnering with all families, scholars, school staff, and Whaling City Transit to make sure Alma scholars get to and from school safely every day.
In Service,
Janelle Engerman
Network Director of Culture