Transportation

Bus transportation is not mandated by law, but provided as a service to the students of the District.

We are an extension of the learning process and provide a social networking opportunity for students. We strive to safely transport students so that they are emotionally prepared to be educated. 

The Transportation Department’s employees are often the first district staff to greet your students in the morning and the last to see them in the evening. Our role goes beyond simply transporting students from home to school and back. We are committed to ensuring their safety, well-being, and a positive start and end to their day.

It is important to remember that the school’s rules apply to and from school, at school, on school property, at school-sponsored events, and on school transportation. In some cases, a student can be suspended from school for infractions of school bus rules. If a student is suspended from the regular bus, they will not be able to ride an activity bus.

We believe the information contained in the following policies will help everyone understand the complexity and importance of pupil transportation. The Michigan Department of Education, the Legislature, and the Michigan State Police also develop rules and regulations that govern the activities of the Transportation Department.

ALL FAMILIES MUST REVIEW THE TRANSPORTATION RULES EACH YEAR.

2024-2025 School Year - Bus Information and Regulation Sheet

Parents/Guardians/Students: The following is a list of the rules and regulations that apply to students riding a school bus. Please review these rules and regulations with your student(s).

• Only Mio AuSable School students are eligible for transportation will be permitted to ride buses to and from school each day. 
• Riding the bus is a privilege, and pupils riding must obey all rules and regulations. If student’s disobey rules and regulations on the bus they will lose bus riding privileges.
• The driver is in charge of the bus, and students shall render the driver the same respect and courtesy given to a teacher.
• While waiting for the bus, the student is to:
  • Stay back from the edge of the road; always stay off the traveled highway.
  • As the bus approaches, be safely positioned and visible to the bus driver.
• When boarding the bus, the student is to:
• Step on and off quickly and quietly at only the front door (except in emergency).
• Avoid pushing or shoving
• Watch his/her step.
• Cross properly at least 10 feet in front of the bus. (Student must be able to see the driver’s face.) The driver will use a hand signal when it is safe to cross.
• Wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before attempting to get off.
• Walk; don’t run, when it is necessary to cross the road when leaving the bus.
• Board immediately and leave the bus in an orderly manner.
• While on the bus, students are to:
• Follow directions of the driver. (A driver may have a no food, drink, or gum policy which must be followed.)
• Stay in their seats, facing the front of the bus. (Students may be assigned seats if the driver so desires.)
• Keep all body part and all objects inside the bus.
• Students are not to swear, use rude gestures, or tease/bully anyone on the bus.
• By law, unless an item can be held by a student’s lap it is not allowed on the bus. This means no large objects including: radio/CD players, skateboards, sleds, large fundraising items, or sport gear.
• Parent/Guardian responsibility in bus transportation is to:
  • have their child(ren) arrive at the bus stop each day 5 minutes prior to the arrival of the bus.
  • Provide for the necessary protection of their child(ren) while going to or from the school bus stop.
  • Kindergarten students must have an adult with them at the bus stop for both the morning pick up and the afternoon drop off. For the safety of the student, if no adult is present at the bus stop, the kindergarten student will not be allowed to exit the bus and the parent will be responsible for picking up the student at the end of the bus route.
• Secondary students (grades 6-12) may be expected to walk up to one mile to the bus stop.
• Routes, drivers, and buses are subject to change during the year. Students will be advised of changes prior to their implementation.
• If a student does not ride the bus for 4 consecutive days, and there is no contact made with the school that stop will be removed from the bus route. Parents will need to fill out a form to reinstate the stop.
• No Bus Passes for any reason. Students will be permitted one registered home pick up/drop off address for the school year.