Each school is required to develop its own disciplinary plan. The following plan is intended to serve as an example for school sites. The principal has the authority to suspend a student from the bus and to determine the length of the suspension.
Disciplinary Plan:
When a principal/designee receives a school bus incident report, the administrator may use the following disciplinary plan:
1st Offense A warning to the student with a report to the parent/guardian will be issued. It is expected the parent/guardian will work with the student to help prevent a recurrence. 2nd Offense Disciplinary action will be taken at the discretion of the principal, depending on the seriousness of the infraction. A report to the parent/guardian will be made. 3rd Offense Suspension of riding privileges will result. The length of suspension will depend on the seriousness of the infraction. A report to the parent/guardian will be made.
A different sequence in handling an incident may be selected.
The driver has the authority to suspend a student from the bus for a maximum of one trip after the student has arrived at the assigned stop or school for inappropriate and dangerous behavior.
Severe Disruption and Dangerous Behavior will result in immediate suspension of transportation privileges. This may include, but is not limited to the following:
1. Physical harm to any student.
2. Physical harm to the driver/attendant.
3. Physical harm to the bus.
4. Possession of a weapon.In addition to the suspension of transportation privileges, legal action against the student and/or parent/guardian may be taken.
In the event a driver decides to suspend a student for one trip, the principal/designee and the student's parent/guardian must be notified before suspension begins.
Students receiving modified transportation services may be suspended from the bus. Any suspension for more than 10 cumulative days per school year of a student with a current IEP must be reviewed by the IEP Committee (State of New Mexico Standards for Providing Transportation for Eligible Student, 2.11.3).
If a student or parent/guardian of a student do not agree that the disciplinary consequences of bus riding behavior are fair or reasonable, a conference with the principal/designee or IEP Committee may be held. If a resolution is not reached, a conference may be held with the principal/designee's supervisor. Student Transportation Services (STS) staff may be used as a technical resource.
Students who are suspended from the bus are not necessarily suspended from school. Transportation to and from school for students who are suspended from the bus is a parental responsibility.