Welcome Back Lawrence Tigers!
As we kick off the new school year, our mission is to transport our students safely and efficiently remains a top priority. This year, we will again partner with the Van Buren Intermediate School District to provide our transportation services. We are again confident that our students will be transported safely each and every day.
We are always looking for anyone interested in becoming a bus driver. Just like all other area schools, this is a position that is experiencing a critical shortage. Anyone interested should contact the Van Buren Intermediate Transportation Department at 269-539-5001.
Also, a few reminders about bus procedures. Lawrence does not transport students to the downtown area. Parents wanting to confirm transportation services were to do so by August 2nd, 2024. If you have any questions relating to bus transportation, you can call the Transportation Department at 269-539-5001 or during Open House by visiting our booth between the buildings on Tuesday, August 20th from 5:30-6:30.
Parents who are making a transportation change for their child must contact the VBISD Transportation Office at 269-539-5001, no later than noon the day of change. The Transportation Department cannot honor requests that are last minute.
Also, the transportation department cannot honor the request for multiple drop off and pick up locations and/or friends to ride home with your students. Care and consideration must be given to the number of students riding and in consideration of our drivers.
As we continue instilling R.O.A.R. behaviors in our day to day, there are times when poor behavior will constitute a consequence. Please review the bus conduct rules with your child. These are also found in the student handbooks for each building.
Student Bus Conduct
While it is the expectation that all students behave in a positive manner while riding District transportation, there may be an exception when bus conduct reports are issued. These reports are ways of communicating issues with parents as well as documenting incidents, especially when consequences are shared.
If a student receives a bus conduct report as the result of misconduct while riding in a school vehicle, the following policy will be followed:
First Bus Conduct Report-It is the student’s responsibility to take the conduct report to his/her parents for their signature. The student must return the signed report to his/her bus driver before they will be allowed to ride the bus again. Building staff will be made aware of the issue by the transportation department.
Second Bus Conduct Report-If a student receives a second bus conduct report during a school year, he/she will automatically be suspended from riding their bus for one school day. It is the student's responsibility to take the conduct report to his/her parents for their signature. Transportation staff will make a phone call home to parents to inform them of the student’s behavior. Building staff will be made aware of the issue.
Third Bus Conduct Report-If a student receives a third conduct report during a school year, they will be suspended from riding their bus for three school days. It is the student’s responsibility to take the conduct report to their parents for their signature. When the third report is issued, the transportation department will contact the parents to schedule a mandatory meeting with the student, parent and building principal and transportation staff.
Fourth Bus Conduct Report-If a student receives a fourth bus conduct report during a school year, he/she will automatically be suspended from riding their bus for ten days. Transportation staff will make a phone call home to parents to inform them of the student’s behavior. Building staff will be made aware of the issue.
Fifth Bus Conduct Report-If a student receives a fifth bus conduct report during a school year, he/she will automatically be suspended from riding their bus for the balance of the school year. Transportation staff will make a phone call home to parents to inform them of the student’s behavior. Building staff will be made aware of the issue. The parents shall contact the transportation department by phone or email in order to arrange a conference, held before the student will be allowed to ride the bus again in the next school year
If a parent or guardian does not agree with the decision of the transportation department, appeals may be made to the building principal. Final determinations will be made by the Superintendent.
If it is determined, due to the severity of the behavior, the District has a right to forgo established progressive steps to assign consequences according to the student behavior/infraction.
As a reminder, please have your child outside and ready for the bus 10 minutes prior to the bus pick up time. Postcards with pick-up and drop-off times have been sent out to families who responded to our transportation survey and who live within our district boundaries.
Those not receiving information should stop by our transportation booth at OPEN HOUSE on Tuesday, August 20th from 5:30-6:30 for further support.
Sincerely,
Sunny Hudson Ryan Williamson
VBISD Transportation Supervisor Superintendent
shudson@vbisd.org ryanwilliamson@lawrencetigers.org
269-539-5001 269-674-8233