Bus Rules and Discipline Guidelines

At no time shall a parent, guardian, or any unauthorized personnel attempt to board, delay, hinder, harass, or interfere with school bus operations (South Carolina Code of Laws, SECTION 59-67-245). Rather than trying to solve disagreements with drivers or students or at school bus stops, parents should contact the local bus supervisor.

Parents or guardians are responsible for the safety, conduct, and the timely arrival of their student at the bus stop up to when the school bus loads and from when the school bus unloads and deactivates all pedestrian safety devices (South Carolina Code of Laws, SECTION 59-67-415).

All students from CD to 1st grade must be tagged; CD and kindergarten students must have supervision at the bus stop.  However, first grade students are not required to have supervision at the bus stop when they depart the bus. 

Yes; however, Horry County Schools cannot accept responsibility for maintaining or operating remote entry devices.  Therefore, stops will not be created inside gated communities without dedicated security personnel or an approved plan to operate inside the gates.

At least five minutes before the bus’s scheduled arrival, students should take the safest route to the bus stop and remain a safe distance away from traffic. While waiting for the bus to arrive, students shall conduct themselves in a manner that does not endanger and does not contribute to the endangerment of themselves. Students must also be mindful to not damage other students' possessions and the surrounding property. The District’s Behavior Code procedures are applicable, also.

Should students need to cross the street after getting off the bus, they must wait for the driver's signal to safely cross the street. Before students cross, the driver will hold them at the edge of the road, and once it is clear, the driver will signal the students to cross the middle of the road where they need to stop and look both ways to check for oncoming traffic. When safe, the students should then continue crossing and move promptly to their place of safety. Never stop to pick up anything from underneath the bus.

If students need to cross the street after getting off the bus, they should cross at least 12 feet in front of the bus at the driver's direction. Before the students cross, the driver will hold them at the edge of the road, via hand signals.  Once clear, the driver will signal the students to cross the middle of the road where they need to stop and look both ways to check for oncoming traffic.  When safe, the students should then continue crossing and move promptly to their place of safety.  Never stop to pick up anything from underneath the bus.

Students should not run toward a moving bus or approach the bus until the driver signals them to do so.  Students should enter the bus calmly, sit in assigned seats, face forward, and keep the aisle of the bus clear

In the vicinity of buses and on buses, students shall conduct themselves in a manner that does not endanger and does not contribute to the endangerment of themselves and/or other students. The District’s Behavior Code procedures are applicable, also.

1. Students need to observe classroom behavior and follow the district's code of conduct while on the bus. All driver instructions shall be obeyed promptly and respectfully (South Carolina Code of Laws, SECTION 59-67-240). Any infraction that applies to the district's code of conduct for students in the school also applies to students on the school bus.
2. Students must be quiet when the bus is approaching railroad crossings and must remain quiet until the bus has safely crossed the tracks.
3. Students must not throw or pass objects on, from, or onto the bus. Students must keep their entire body within the bus and keep the aisles open and clear. Students are to remain seated at all times. The bus driver possesses the sole responsibility to assign student seating and maintains good conduct on the school bus (South Carolina Code of Laws, SECTION 59-67-240).
4. Students are not to eat or drink on the bus except as required for medical reasons.
5. Students are allowed to use cell phones or tablets while en route to their destinations. Students are not allowed to play music unless they use earbuds or headphones to minimize disturbing other students on the bus. Students must refrain from videotaping or taking pictures to respect the privacy of other students on the bus.
6. Students must never tamper with the emergency exits or any other part of the bus equipment, including fire extinguishers and first aid equipment. Students and parents/guardians will be held financially responsible for any damage to the bus.

Students creating or being involved in activities causing discipline problems on a school bus, including while entering, exiting, or waiting for a bus, will be reported to his/her principal. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken pursuant to the District’s Behavior Code procedures. Minor infractions may involve corrective action by the bus driver at the time of the incident (e.g. seat assignment). Serious or repeated infractions that jeopardize everyone's safety will result in a discipline referral to the student’s school administration. Such discipline can involve suspensions from bus transportation up to and including immediate removal from a bus, if warranted. Parents, guardians, or designees are responsible for transporting students to and from school when bus privileges have been suspended.

Bus stops are created using information provided by parents or guardians to schools. For the safe transportation of students to and from school, students may only board or leave the bus at locations to which they have been assigned unless they have written parental and administrative authorization to do otherwise.