Transportation

This handbook is designed to provide students, families, and caregivers with important information about transportation services, expectations, and safety procedures.

Providing safe and reliable transportation is a shared responsibility and an important part of supporting student success. Yelm Community Schools’ transportation program is built on strong partnerships between students, families, school staff, community members, and local law enforcement. Together, we help ensure students arrive at school ready to learn and return home safely each day.

The safety and well-being of every student is our highest priority. Our Transportation Department is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and positive environment through the professionalism, care, and expertise of our transportation staff. We take pride in serving students and families and in supporting a transportation system that reflects the values of Yelm Community Schools.

Be Ready

• Use RFID Student Card to sign on daily
• Arrive 5 minutes before scheduled route time
• Move directly to seat and stay seated facing forward until bus stops at assigned bus stop or school

Be Safe

• Stay out of the road
• Walk facing traffic
• Cross with care: if you must cross, wait until the bus is stopped with red lights flashing and the driver’s signal. never cross behind the bus!

Be Respectful

• Follow directions
• Use kind language and actions
• Use an inside voice
• Keep hands and feet from touching others
• Demonstrate classroom behavior on the bus
• Keep the bus clean
• Keep food and drinks in backpack

To ensure a safe ride for your student(s), each driver is authorized as a Washington State School Vehicle Driver by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) demonstrating completion of an extensive training program consisting of classroom and on the road training. Each driver has completed a drug screen and has undergone an extensive background check, including state and federal fingerprinting clearance.

Transportation routes and school vehicle stop locations are developed by the District in accordance with guidance and requirements established by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), with consideration for student safety, efficiency, road conditions, and state transportation standards. 

Drivers should not deviate from their routes, nor do they load or unload students at stops other than the designated stop without express permission by transportation administration or dispatcher.

The transportation vehicle and school vehicle stop are an extension of the school and all rules apply.

Once the school vehicle begins to depart the stop or school, late students will not be allowed to board unless the driver is notified by the school or dispatch. Please do not chase the school vehicle to the next stop.

Under no circumstances will the driver make any contact or discuss behavior or disciplinary action with the parent /guardian at a stop while students are on board.  Parents will be referred to dispatch.

The Framework of Safe Transit

The safety and success of our students depend upon a seamless transition between the home and the school building. To ensure this, it is strategically vital to align our transportation conduct protocols with the broader district discipline matrix. We view the school vehicle not merely as a vehicle, but as a mobile classroom—a direct extension of school grounds where the standards for safety and mutual respect are non-negotiable. When students board district transportation, they remain under the same behavioral expectations as they would within their school’s hallways.

Our approach is rooted in the philosophy of "Progressive Discipline." This system is designed as a cooperative venture between the school district, parents, students, and, when necessary, law enforcement agencies. It is an instructional process rather than a purely punitive one, moving from initial verbal corrections and redirected behavior to formal consequences. By maintaining this alignment, we provide students with a consistent environment that prioritizes their well-being and academic readiness.

Student Conduct Expectations and Safety Protocols

Safe transit is a collective responsibility. Predictable student behavior is the foundation of a secure environment, as it allows the driver to focus on the road without the distraction of managed misconduct. To maintain this environment, all students and families must adhere to the expectations and safety directives.

A critical component of our safety infrastructure is the use of Student Rider Cards (RFID). This practice allows the district and families to monitor student locations and helps the department balance ridership numbers. Please note that while the first card is provided by the district, a $5 replacement fee will be charged for lost or damaged cards.

To further enhance safety, parents and students should utilize the My Ride K-12 mobile app. This tool uses vehicle GPS geolocation to show real-time school vehicle arrivals and ensures students are at the stop at the correct time, minimizing unsupervised wait periods.

Safety-First: Prohibited Items and Environment Control

The interior of a school vehicle is a confined space that requires strict environmental control to prevent distractions, physical injuries, and health-related emergencies. Restricting certain items is a strategic necessity to protect students with respiratory triggers or allergies and to ensure the driver remains focused on the road.

The following items are strictly prohibited on all district vehicles:

Musical Instruments & Large Object:  In accordance with WAC 392-145-015, heavy, sharp, bulky, or other articles which may be hazardous in the event of an accident or emergency stop—including but not limited to skis, vaulting poles, large musical instruments, or riser platforms—shall not be transported in the passenger area of any school bus/van.

Fragrance Control: The district maintains a strict policy regarding fragrance control. Students are prohibited from spraying perfumes, colognes, or any highly fragranced items while on the bus/van. This measure is essential to protect students and staff with chemical sensitivities or respiratory conditions from potentially severe health reactions.

Adhering to these restrictions is the first step in maintaining a professional and safe transit environment.

To ensure equitable treatment, transportation discipline is strictly aligned with the District Discipline Matrix outlined in Policy 3241/P/F1. Any violation classified beyond Type 1 results in immediate school vehicle suspension and a mandatory referral for school-based disciplinary action.

Under this aligned system, authority is divided into two distinct tiers:

1. Type 1 (School Vehicle Safety Minor Violations): Managed directly by the Transportation Department. These include behaviors such as safety violations (sitting improperly, eating/drinking, talking at RR crossing, excessive noise, throwing objects, physical contact/horseplay), disrespect/failure to cooperate, profanity/gestures, spitting or withholding one's name when asked by a driver.
2. Type 2-6 (Major Behavioral Violations): Managed by Building Administration. These include infractions such as physical aggression (Type 2), bullying or theft (Type 3), and severe safety or legal violations (Type 4-6).

Transportation Progressive Corrective Actions and Procedures

Correcting student behavior is a collaborative effort involving the driver, the student, and the parent. Documentation and proactive communication are the hallmarks of our progressive process.

Prior to formal written procedures

• The driver will provide the student with verbal reminder or redirection, review rider expectations, assigned/changed seating, and/or use positive reinforcement.
• If a student continues misbehaving, the driver will notify the parent/guardian via telephone to seek their support in correcting the behavior. This conversation is a documented intervention intended to resolve the issue before formal notices are required.

Formal written procedures

For Type 1 minor violations, the district utilizes a documented Three-Step system. Prior to any suspension, the driver will consult with the Transportation Administration for approval and notify parent/guardian by phone or voice mail.

• Intervention to Improve Behavior:  Warning and review bus behavior expectations
• Contact with Parent/Guardian: Call home seeking
• Recommend Suspension: Number of days suspension determined by Transportation Administration and call home
• Excessive Behavior Suspension: Number of days suspension determined by Transportation Administration and parent/guardian meets with Transportation Administrator

For Type 2-6 major violations, a 5-day bus suspension is assigned. Building administration may extend the suspension depending on severity of the infraction.  Suspensions may be reduced at the discretion of school or district administrators.

Important Note on Parent Contact: Drivers are strictly prohibited from discussing discipline or behavior with parents at the school vehicle stop while students are on board. All such discussions must take place via telephone or a scheduled conference.