Overview

The mission of the Secaucus Public Schools Transportation Department is to provide safe and efficient transportation to the students of the District. School buses, by design, provide significant protection for the passengers, but the passengers themselves play a critical role in making the ride to and from school even safer. All students have a right to experience a safe ride, but students also have a responsibility to contribute to the safety of the ride. Please take the time to review this information with your child and be sure he or she understands the importance of their role in helping to maintain safety.

Bus Regulations

Buses will pick up and drop off students only Children who walk to school should arrive at school no more than ten minutes before the start of class. The schools do not offer supervision before that time unless a child is enrolled in the Childcare Program.
Children who arrive after school begins must report to the office and obtain a late slip.
To provide for the optimum safety, parents or other adults are encouraged to wait at the bus stop before and after the students are transported to school. Parents and students should arrive at the bus stop five to ten minutes before the usual pick-up time.
Students should wait off the road in an orderly fashion for the bus.
Parents of pupils who miss the school bus must arrange other transportation for that day.
Bus rule violations will result in suspension of bus transportation for ill-behaved students.
Students should not distract or engage the bus driver in conversation.
Each student must ride his/her assigned school bus. Bus changes are not permitted.
Bus drivers will report any violations of behavior rules to the principal.
Students must cross in front of the school bus and look both ways when crossing the street.
Parents who want to transport a child from school main office at least five minutes before dismissal to pick up their child or the child will be sent home in the regular manner. Park in designated areas specific to your school.
Certain types of children’s clothing can create a hazard on the school bus. Long dangling jackets or drawstrings, long backpack straps and long scarves or other loose clothing can get caught in the handrails, doors or other equipment as the child enters and exits the bus.

Parents are responsible for the safety of students until they board the bus. Parents are encouraged to escort their children to the bus stop, especially along and across busy roadways.
Parents of all students must notify schools with change of home, work and cell phone numbers, as well as student emergency list.
Parents of Kindergarten students are required to meet them at the stop at the end of their school day. Should there be no one to receive the child, he/she will be taken back to the school and transportation home becomes the responsibility of the parent.
For departmental safety and tracking, your child is only permitted to ride the bus he/she is assigned to and get on and off at their assigned stop only. No ineligible riders are allowed on the bus.

Danger Zones

The most important fact that parents must be aware of is the Danger Zone around the outside of a school bus. Despite all of the special mirrors on a bus, drivers may not always be able to see young children who are close to the bus. Everyone near the bus, including students, siblings and pets should stay away from these "danger zones".

Parents can assist by:

Encouraging students to stay out of the danger zone and do so themselves.
If a child needs to cross the road to get on or off the bus and you meet the bus, please cross with him or her, following the driver's hand signal.
Avoid purchasing traditional yellow raincoats, which blend in with the color of the bus.
Remove all jacket and coat drawstrings.
Students should keep all belongings in a book bag. Loose items dropped by children can cause them to reach into the Danger Zone.

Students are required to wear seat belts by State law. School bus drivers will inform students on the first day of school and remind students as necessary that they must wear their seatbelts. (NJSA 39:3B-10)

Drivers are not responsible for checking individual seatbelts per State law.

Transportation questions or concerns? Email Us [email protected]