The role of the GIPS transportation department is to provide safe and timely student transportation to and from assigned schools and activities in accordance to district policy. GIPS contracts with Holiday Travel for bus route services. Any bus changes throughout the year will be updated on the web site and bus schedules can be downloaded here. Students and parents must complete a Transportation Contract to ride a GIPS bus. Schedule changes will be made as needed, and will be communicated via this website and also to participating students. Please contact school principals for more details.
GIPS offers in-town transportation on a limited basis and in order to run routes in a predictable and timely manner, it is important that students be at their designated stop several minutes in advance. When exiting the bus at the designated location, students must exit the bus and walk in front of it so the driver can see all passengers, and only do so after the driver has signaled for students to cross the street. Parents are responsible for the supervision of their child until the student boards the bus and as soon as the child exits the school bus.
This transportation service is a privilege, and students will be expected to conducted themselves in a manner consistent with expected classroom behavior. This contract outlines the expected behaviors and consequences for inappropriate behavior. Bus drivers will report all infractions to school principals, who will administer the discipline consequences. Following a verbal warning, students will lose their riding privileges for designated periods of time. Parents will receive written communication of any loss of privileges through a Transportation Discipline Report.
The rules for riding the bus are listed below. Both the student and parent must sign this contract in order to receive transportation services, which acknowledges an understanding of the district’s expectations. The consequences for not following any of these behavior rules will generally be as follows, with administrators having the option of applying more severe consequences whenever merited.
NOTICE:
Grand Island Public Schools authorizes the use of surveillance cameras and audio recordings in school buses to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of all students and staff. The busing service we use, Holiday Express, will be adding the cameras as part of their company procedures. The use of cameras and audio recording equipment will help maintain a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at communications@gips.org.
Elementary:
- First violation - Warning by the driver (this will be the only warning)
- Second violation - Loss of privilege to ride bus for one week
- Third violation - Loss of privilege to ride bus for two weeks
- Fourth violation - Loss of privilege to ride bus for remainder of school year
Secondary 6-12:
- First violation - Warning by the driver and referral to principal (this will be the only warning)
- Second violation - Loss of privilege to ride bus for remainder of the school year
Although safety and student conduct while riding on a school district bus is a mutual concern of parents, students, school administrators and drivers, it is primarily the shared responsibility of students and drivers. Safe transportation for all students riding in school district vehicles is the goal of the Transportation Department.
At the bus stop, students are expected to:
- Leave home early enough to arrive at your assigned bus stop five minutes before scheduled pick-up time.
- Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic, to and from their designated bus stops.
- Wait for your bus in a safe place - well off the road, until the bus comes to a complete stop.
- Be alert to traffic.
- Stay away from strangers.
- Be orderly, courteous and respectful of others while at the stop.
- Do not damage property or litter the surrounding area.
- Enter your bus in an orderly manner, using handrails, no pushing or shoving.
While riding on the bus, students are expected to:
- Immediately take a seat (which may be an assigned seat) and remain seated while the bus is in motion.
- Normal conversation in normal tones of voice is encouraged.
- Keep hands, arms and head inside of the bus at all times.
- Keep the bus clean and refrain from throwing anything within the vehicle or from the windows.
- Always keep the aisles clear.
- Keep your things in a tote bag.
- Only bring items on the bus that can fit on your lap.
- No animals, insects, glass jars, etc. are allowed on the bus.
- Refrain from eating, drinking or smoking on the bus.
Schedule changes will be made as needed, and will be communicated via this website and also to participating students. Please contact school principals for more details.
Download and sign this contract: English | Spanish
