Specific rules are listed in the Student Handbook. The general “expectations” for bus riding are:

• Eat and drink before getting on the bus.
• Stay in your assigned seat at all times.
• Use indoor voices – NO PROFANITY
• Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself inside the bus.
• Show respect to students and adults.

Severe misbehavior includes, but is not limited to:

• Destruction of property.
• Physical assault or fighting.
• A student’s actions that are harmful to, or have the potential to harm, themselves or other students.
• Use of any mechanical or technical device that interferes with the bus driver’s ability to safely operate the bus.
• Open defiance and/or profanity towards the bus driver, any other person of authority, or another student.
• Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying of any kind including, defamation of character, slander or negative remarks concerning a student’s ethnic heritage or sexual preference (discrimination).
• Use or possession of tobacco products of any kind, matches, lighters, alcohol, drugs, weapons, sharp objects, pornography or any violation of the law.
• Intentional failure to wear seat belt and/or wear properly after being directed to do so.

Seatbelt Policy

• It is the goal of the Helena Public Schools Transportation Department to provide the safest student transportation system available.
• The Helena Public Schools require that all students riding the school district buses comply with state law regarding the use of seatbelts.
• Students 6 years old or younger that are less than 60 pounds are required to utilize child seats and wear 5-point safety harnesses.
• Students who may require assistance in using seatbelts should ask the bus driver for help so that all students are safely belted in their seat before the bus is put in motion.
• Drivers will announce prior to the bus leaving that each student needs to be in their assigned seat and seatbelts fastened.
• Students refusing to use seatbelts in a legal and safe manner will be subject to school district disciplinary actions. Repeated refusal to wear seatbelts will result in suspended riding privileges from the bus.

The Helena Police Department or Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office will be notified regarding a student who is in violation of the law and will be disciplined in accordance with the District’s policy.