Busing

Elk Island Public Schools have a pay-ride busing policy. This is available for eligible students who reside 2.4 kilometres or more from their designated or chosen school.

Students riding the yellow school buses and regular Strathcona Transit buses are responsible for knowing the following:

1. Only students and authorized personnel may ride the bus.
2. Students are expected to be at their designated boarding locations on time.
3. Unnecessary conversation with the driver is prohibited.
4. The Yellow School bus will not leave the school until 3:25 unless all students have boarded. Students may not leave the school grounds prior to boarding the yellow bus.
5. Smoking is prohibited at all bus exchange terminals.

1. Driver directions must be followed.
2. Students must sit in an assigned seat and remain seated while the bus is in motion.
3. All objects and parts of the body must be kept inside the bus.
4. Quiet conversation is permitted on the bus. There must be absolute silence at railway crossings.
5. Disruptive or destructive behaviour such as pushing, spitting, fighting, use of profane language, throwing of objects, and acts of vandalism are prohibited.
6. Open beverage containers and eating are not permitted during regular bus runs. Medical exemptions may be made.
7. The use of electronic games or portable radios is prohibited.
8. The use of tobacco or other smoking materials is prohibited.
9. Students will not be permitted on buses if they are conveying, using, or under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances.
10. The possession, use, or conveyance of potentially dangerous items is prohibited. Students riding regular transit buses are also expected to observe these rules.
11. Skate boards brought on the bus must be fully enclosed (wheels included) in a zippered duffel bag.

• Verbal warning to the student.  Bus driver records the incident.

• Written warning to the student.  The bus driver completes the misconduct report and the driver notifies the parent by telephone.

• Up to five-day suspension from the bus.

• Indefinite suspension from the bus and referral to the Elk Island Public Schools Board of Trustees.  Certain misconduct may result in suspension from the bus on the first offense.  Further misconduct will advance the student in the discipline cycle.

Suspension of Bus Service Due to Inclement Weather Bulletin

Student Transportation

Policy EBCD - Inclement Weather forms the basis to suspend busing services as necessary when weather and/or road conditions constitute a potential hazard for students. Schools will remain open to students should school bus service be suspended for the day;

 Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is effectively divided into four regions, each having a distinct location within the region to determine temperature and wind chill factor;

The current Environment Canada method of determining the wind chill factor has been adopted; and should school bus services be suspended in the morning, bus service will not be provided in the afternoon.

When considering bus suspension due to inclement weather or region-specific, adverse conditions, EIPS defines regions in the jurisdiction as:

• Region 1, Strathcona Region
• Region 2, Urban Region - Hamlet of Sherwood Park and the City of Fort Saskatchewan
• Region 3, Lamont Region
• Region 4, Minburn Region

Weather and Road Conditions

School bus service, including all Payride bus services, shall be suspended when:

Region 1 -- A temperature of -40° C or a wind chill factor of -50° C is measured at the Edmonton International Airport at 5:00 a.m., or

Region 2 -- at the Edmonton Weather Office at 5:00 a.m., or

Region 3 -- at Lamont Elementary School at 5:00 a.m., or

Region 4 -- at the Vegreville Environment Centre at 5:00 a.m.

EIPS believes that it is a parent's right and responsibility to make choices for their children based on their beliefs and perceptions of safety during inclement weather conditions - even when buses are running and schools are open. 

In the event that conditions are extreme, bus service may be suspended in any or all regions of EIPS when weather or road conditions warrant. In this instance:

• suspension of bus service information will be released to the public by local area radio and television stations commencing at 6:00 a.m.;
• a message will be placed on EIPS' central switchboard (464-3477); and
• Student Transportation will contact families on affected routes.

If unsafe road conditions occur, individual bus operators, in consultation with EIPS' Director, Student Transportation, have the discretionary power to not operate, or abandon completion of the morning route by returning students to their home, thus resulting in an individual bus route(s) being suspended.  In this instance:

• all EIPS' schools will remain open;
• no information will be broadcast;
• bus operators and/or schools will contact parents directly.

The principal, staff, Student Transportation, and school bus operators have a shared responsibility and must take steps to see that students arrive home safely when the decision is made to dismiss students earlier than the regular dismissal times.

If weather or road conditions deteriorate during the day in a particular region/area, the principal, in consultation with the Superintendent/designate, may close the school to students and staff, and the Director, Student Transportation may authorize individual or all buses to leave schools prior to regular dismissal times. In this instance:

• principals, staff, parents, Student Transportation, and drivers are responsible for ensuring an adult is available to receive students at home or alternate shelter prior to transport;
• the information may be broadcast on all local area and television stations;
• the principal, staff, Student Transportation, and drivers must take all reasonable steps to see that the students arrive home safely.

A single school may be closed for a specific emergent situation. In this instance:

• the principal, in consultation with the Superintendent, will make arrangements for early dismissal;
• principals, staff, parents, Student Transportation, and drivers are responsible for determining whether an adult is available to receive students at home or alternate shelter prior to transport;
• if sufficient time allows, information may be broadcast on local radio and television stations.

Parents must use their discretion when sending their children to school during inclement weather conditions, even when buses are running and schools are open.  For the safety of the students, it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their children are suitably dressed for coping with weather conditions and arrangements have been made for alternate shelter for their child if no one is home.

Further information on the Inclement Weather policy can be found on the EIPS' Web site at http://www.eips.ca/index.php in the Board of Trustees, POLICY HANDBOOK section, or at your local school.