Guidelines for Student
Transportation Services
Revised July 2024
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2024-2025 Board of Education
Yesenia Rivera, President • Matthew Wilcox, Vice President
Dr. Edward Joyner, Secretary • Mayor Justin Elicker • Andrea Downer
• Dr. Abie Benitez • Dr. OrLando Yarborough
• John Carlos Serana Musser • Jonaily Colón
Important Phone Numbers | |||
Superintendent | (475) 220-1000 | Parent Engagement | (475) 220-1063 |
School Choice/Enrollment | (475) 220-1430/31 | Transportation | (475) 220-1600 |
Youth, Family, & Community Engagement | (475) 220-1734 | Communication | (475) 220-1019 |
Pre-Kindergarten | (475) 220-1463/1482 | Adult Education | (203) 492-0213 |
Special Education | (475) 220-1760 | School Volunteers | (475) 220-1373 |
College & Career Pathways | (475) 220-1785 | Nursing Section | (203) 946-6364 |
Stay Connected!
More information – www.nhps.net
United Way of Connecticut Free Infoline – Dial 211
New Haven Promise - www.newhavenpromise.org
NHPS App – Search “New Haven Public Schools” (iTunes or Google Play)
NewHavenPublicSchools
New Haven Public Schools is committed to providing an open, welcoming, safe and supportive environment for all students, parents and families. To this end, we encourage all of our families to communicate with us and to play a role in shaping positive school climates that foster learning and personal growth of children, regardless of background, language, or immigration status. The district and our schools are committed to treating all students and parents with fairness and respect and will not discriminate against family members for any reason.
ALL NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS/FACILITIES ARE DRUG-FREE ZONES
UP TO ONE THOUSAND (1,000) FEET IN ALL DIRECTIONS FROM THE BUILDING
LEGISLATIVE SECTION 845A OF TITLE 21, UNITED STATES CONGRESS SEC. 21a 267, CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES
Text Telephone/Teletype (TT/TTY) services for the deaf and hearing impaired: Dial 7-1-1
Upon request, pertinent publications will be enlarged for the visually impaired.
Please be advised that policy and procedures may be updated during the course of a school year. A current copy of the Student-Parent Handbook will be available upon request from the school principal.
New Haven Public Schools
This handbook has been developed to provide students and parents with a summary of important New Haven Board of Education policies and procedures. This handbook is not intended to be all-inclusive and does not contain all of the rules, regulations, directives and policies of the New Haven Board of Education. The entire policy manual is on file at each school and is available for review upon request of the Principal. All violations will be investigated and appropriate disciplinary action will be dispensed if needed, including the possibility of suspension, and/or expulsion, and/or referral to police and/or other appropriate agencies. All policies, including the newly developed Unified Code of Conduct, are in compliance with the Constitution of the United States, the State of Connecticut, Federal and Local policies. Please contact your school principal or the office of the superintendent for further information.
Text of Relevant Laws
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Federal)
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Federal)
“It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer
(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of such individual’s sex or,
(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee because of such individual’s sex.”
It is the policy of the New Haven Board of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964), sex (in accordance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972) or handicap (in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1972) in any of its vocational educational programs or regular academic programs or activities.
The following vocational programs are offered; technology education, business technology, life management, school to career opportunities, and health assistance.
Connecticut Human Rights and Opportunities Act -
(Connecticut General Statutes Section 46a-60(a)) -
“It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section:
“(8) For an employer, by the employer or the employer’s agent, for an employment agency, by itself or its agent, or for any labor organization, by itself or its agent, to harass any employee, person seeking employment or member on the basis of sex or gender identity or expression.”
A summary of course offerings, vocational opportunities, and admission criteria
is available from the Guidance Department at the high schools.
Table of Contents
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRINCIPALS
TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Interdistrict School Closings/Delays
Note to Families About Transportation
SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION WARNING REPORT
TRANSPORTATION SUSPENSION REPORT
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE COMPLAINT REPORT
STUDENT BUS PICK UP AUTHORIZATION FORM
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS GUIDELINES
for
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
The Superintendent of Schools has mandated that a safe, orderly learning environment will be provided for all students and it is the policy of the New Haven Board of Education to provide safe, orderly, efficient transportation to all who are eligible. State Law (Public Act 83-119) grants to boards of education the authority to suspend transportation of any student whose conduct, while awaiting or receiving transportation to or from school, endangers persons or property or is in violation of publicized policy of such board. Accordingly, the following procedures will be adhered to regarding student conduct while waiting at or near a bus stop or riding a school bus.
The New Haven Public Schools has established the following guidelines in reference to the busing of pupils to and from the assigned schools. Transportation will be provided for students in grades:
However, the right to free transportation is dependent on the student’s good behavior while waiting for and riding on school buses. Suspension and/or termination can be a consequence of poor behavior.
The following process is to be followed for all “routine” student misbehavior EXCEPT serious violations such as smoking, fighting, etc. The principal may use his/her discretion at any step of the process when serious incidents occur. Parent conferences may be conducted at any level as appropriate, especially before or after a student is suspended from bus transportation.
Step 1 VERBAL WARNING (either by bus driver or principal.)
Step 2 WRITTEN WARNING (either by bus driver or principal.)
a. Driver completes disciplinary form and submits to principal as soon as possible.
b. Principal meets with student and informs parents.
c. Principal mails disciplinary form home to parent and to appropriate personnel.
Step 3 SUSPENSION
a. Principal completes transportation suspension forms, informs parent of suspension, and forwards suspension forms to parent and appropriate personnel. Students are NOT to be suspended from bus transportation until the parent is informed.
1st Suspension - length of suspension not to exceed three (3) days.
2nd Suspension - length of suspension not to exceed ten (10) school days.
3rd Suspension - length of suspension may exceed ten (10) school days or loss of transportation privileges for the remainder of the school year. An Assistant Superintendent must approve of any suspension which exceeds ten (10) or more school days.
The following procedures will be implemented if the rules mentioned above are not followed.
The following transportation procedures regarding school closings and/or delayed openings due to inclement weather will be in effect for suburban students attending New Haven Interdistrict Magnet Schools.
If New Haven Public Schools are open and you live in a suburban town where the school district has closed - No AM transportation to New Haven from the closed town will be provided.
If New Haven Public Schools are on a delay, then there is a delay for suburban towns’ transportation to New Haven based on the New Haven delay time. If there is a difference in the length of a delay between New Haven and a suburban town, transportation will be based on the New Haven delay time.
If New Haven Public Schools are not on a delay and there is a delay for a suburban town’s transportation, then No AM transportation will be provided on that day for that town.
In the event of a delayed opening:
Dismissal times will ALWAYS be based upon New Haven’s dismissal.
Parents should always use discretion when deciding whether specific conditions allow for safe travel of their children to school. Please be sure to make arrangements for your young children in case of school cancellation, early dismissal or cancellation of afterschool programs.
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Dear________________________________ Date_______________________
(Parent/Guardian Name)
As you are aware all students who ride buses are subject to bus regulations and all school policies while passengers on the bus or at the bus stop. Any misbehavior which distracts the driver can jeopardize the safety of all passengers. Students who violate bus rules create serious hazards for all passengers. Your child ___________________________ has been warned about violating the rule(s) checked below.
(child’s name)
☐ Disrespectful to bus driver, others
☐ Refusal to follow directions
☐ Profanity/Offensive Language
☐ Shouting/Screaming
☐ Bothering/Teasing Others
☐ Pushing/Tripping
☐ Littering
☐ Fighting
☐ Smoking
☐ Vandalism
☐ Other_________________________________________________________________________
COMMENTS:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Further violation of rules and regulations may result in your child being suspended from bus privileges for a period of time as determined by the principal.
Your cooperation and assistance in speaking to your child about his/her conduct is appreciated. Please call the school to arrange a conference regarding this problem.
______________________________ ______________ ______________
Driver’s Name Bus # Date
ACTION TAKEN BY PRINCIPAL: _____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Principal
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Dear________________________________ Date_______________________
(Parent/Guardian Name)
As you are aware all students in our school system who are transported to school are subject to all rules and regulations of the transportation department and the New Haven Public Schools.
Any misbehavior which distracts the driver is a very serious hazard to the safe operation of the vehicle, and as such, jeopardizes the safety of all passengers.
________________________ has been cited for an infraction of the rules (checked below) and is hereby
(Child’s Name)
suspended from bus transportation for a period of_____________days from _____ to _____ for the reason(s) checked below.
☐ Disrespectful to bus driver, others
☐ Refusal to follow directions
☐ Profanity/Offensive Language
☐ Shouting/Screaming
☐ Bothering/Teasing Others
☐ Pushing/Tripping
☐ Littering
☐ Fighting
☐ Smoking
☐ Vandalism
☐ Other_________________________________________________________________________
COMMENTS:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Previous Action(s) (If any):
Date
Please call the school to arrange a conference as soon as possible. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Principal
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Date ________________________ Time _______________________
Bus Company ________________________ Bus Number _______________________
Driver ________________________ School _______________________
Check off problem category below:
☐ 1. Suspected use of alcohol or drugs
☐ 2. Safety concerns
☐ 3. Abusive language or behavior
☐ 4. Rudeness of driver
☐ 5. Irresponsible behavior
☐ 6. Reckless driving
☐ 7. Physical handling of children
☐ 8. Missing stops
☐ 9. Early arrival:
Scheduled arrival ________ Actual arrival _________
☐ 10. Late arrival:
Scheduled arrival ________ Actual arrival _________
☐ 11. Other (describe below)
(Comments): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Complainant________________________________________ Phone_____________________________
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
School: ____________________________________________________
Student’s Name:_____________________________________________
ID#:___________________________ Grade:_____ (Kindergarten/First grade only)
I ____________________________ (Parent/ Guardian), authorize the party/parties listed below to meet the above student at his/her designated bus stop each afternoon. I verify that the party listed below is a relative and/or authorized caretaker for the above student and is at least 12 years old. I also agree to hold the New Haven Public Schools, its board and /or their agents, servants, and employees harmless from any liabilities related solely to this authorized act. PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A MAXIMUM OF 2 DESIGNEES TO TAKE THE STUDENT OFF THE BUS. ANY MORE THAN 2 DESIGNEES WILL RESULT IN THE FORM BEING DENIED.
PLEASE FILL OUT ALL SECTIONS
Designees Name (print): ___________________________________________
Age:__________ Telephone Number:_______________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
Designees Name (print): ___________________________________________
Age:__________ Telephone Number:_______________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
Signature of Parent: ____________________________________ Date: __________________
Signature of Principal:__________________________________ Date: __________________