Parent/Guardian:

Your electronic signature on the Agreement Survey is linked below this paragraph acknowledges that you have received the Cleveland Public Schools Bus Rider Agreement and that you and your students will comply with the rules contained herein.

School Year 2026 Bus Rider Agreement Survey

Beginning July 31st, bus drivers will be communicating with families on routes and times for big day on August 7th!

Cleveland Public Schools Board of Education realizes that public school bus transportation is an integral part of the modern-day educational process. At the same time, the State of Oklahoma has determined that school bus transportation is to be considered a privilege and not a right of the students attending the state’s public schools (70 OS 9-101). Because of these two facts, and because the board has decided to extend transportation privileges to those who are eligible, the following procedures have been established to facilitate safe transportation of the district’s students.

These procedures are not in place to create a hardship on parents or guardians. They are in place to protect the safety of all students who are transported by bus. They will not supersede but are an extension to all board adopted policies, and building level student handbooks as the bus is an extension of the classroom. 

We carry the most precious cargo in the world: our children. We ask that you appreciate the efforts being put forth to care for your children and to cooperate with school administrators in their pursuit of safe transportation. 

Permission to Ride 

In order to provide the safest possible care for your students while they ride the bus, and to control the number of students riding any given bus, students will ride only their assigned bus unless a Bus Transfer Permission is presented to the driver. Bus transfer permission forms are obtained from the office of your students school (please call the school office no later than 2:00PM the day of for transfers or changes). Students will also get on and off the bus only at their assigned stop. No unapproved students will be allowed to ride the bus. 

Failure to sign and return the “Acknowledgement of Receipt” may result in disciplinary action.

If a student does not ride for two(2) consecutive weeks, the bus will not return or stop until you notify the transportation office (918-358-2210 ext. 600) that the student will begin riding. 

Discipline

  1. Driver may take action such as verbal warning, assigning seats, relocating a student (temporarily or long term), communicating with parent/guardian or a written referral  to diffuse situations on the bus. 
  2. Discipline referrals can be written by driver or transportation administration and will be handled by the school administrator of offending student(s)

Stop Procedure

Any time the school bus has to stop and wait an unnecessary amount of time for a student to arrive, board, or depart, the bus is delayed for any following students. When multiplied by many students, the delay can be dramatic. Due to this, we ask that all students be at their stop 5 minutes before the bus arrives. It is not the responsibility of the bus driver to watch for children at any location other than the bus stop (ie. porches, garages, under trees, etc.). 

The Bus Driver (regular or substitute) is always the person in charge on the bus. 

Students are to correctly and quickly identify themselves to the driver.

  1. Morning Pick up
  1. Be at the stop at least 5 minutes before scheduled time — Keep bus on time
  2. Stay off of road at all times
  3. Stay back 10 feet from stop
  4. Behave in a safe manner at all times
  5. When bus arrives DO NOT approach bus until instructed to do so by driver
  6. Once instructed by the driver load quickly with no pushing, tripping, or stopping (find your seat quickly)
  7. Once aboard obey riding rules
  1. After School loading
    1. Intermediate School, Middle School, High School students all load at the bus line up between the Middle School Gym and the Event Center
      1. For Safety Reasons, these students are not allowed to board the bus anywhere but the designated area.
      2. If a student catches the bus anywhere outside of designated area or a bus has to circle back for any reason, the student will receive a written referral
    2. Go straight from the school to the bus (no wondering around and causing delays of the buses)
    3. Primary Students will be lined up according to bus route and escorted to the bus by teachers, board bus in front of primary school
  2. Drop off
    1. Students will only be dropped off at their stop unless they have a Bus Transfer Permission from the office
    2. Students are to remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop 
    3. Walk do not run in the bus
    4. Once off the bus, walk to destination, staying clear of traffic
    5. If crossing the road,
      1. Walk to at least 10 feet in front of the bus 
      2. Wait for the driver to signal that it is safe to cross the road
      3. Always watch for cars that might fail to stop for a bus with red lights and and stop sign out
      4. Proceed with caution
    6. Older students should look out for younger students

Riding Rules

  1. Keep all body parts in the bus at all times
  2. Assist in keeping bus safe and sanitary at all times
  3. You must conduct yourselves in the bus as in the classroom except that conversation in a normal tone of voice may be carried on with immediate neighbors. Remember that loud talking and laughing or unnecessary confusion diverts the driver’s attention and may result in a serious accident.
  4. Bus riders should never tamper with the bus or any of its equipment.
  5. Leave no books, lunches or other articles on the bus.
  6. Keep books, bags, packages, coats and all other objects out of the aisles at all times.
  7. Do not throw anything out of the bus windows.
  8. Bus riders are not permitted to leave their seats while the bus is in motion. 
  9. Horse-play is not permitted around or on the school bus.
  10. Bus riders are expected to be courteous to fellow students, the bus driver, patrol officers and driver’s assistants.
  11. Keep absolute quiet when approaching a railroad crossing stop.
  12. In case of emergency, children are to remain in the bus, unless immunate danger (ie fire, train) or instructed by driver, school official, or first responder. 
  13. Swearing, and rough or boisterous conduct will not be permitted.
  14. Students must keep out of the driver’s seat. 
  15. No Food or Drink on the Bus (water in a resealable container is allowed on hot days, all other must remain in backpack or lunch box while on the bus)
  16. Bullying is not tolerated

Cleveland Public Schools 

 Electronic Device and Cell Phone Policy

While Riding the Bus

     Cell phones and electronic devices, when used within the guidelines of the school district building policies, are acceptable for use with all students that ride the bus. This extends this privilege to all bus riders, including primary, intermediate and middle school students.  It is the student’s responsibility to remain alert and aware of their surroundings, so they are prepared to exit at their stop.  Becoming distracted and missing their stop can result in loss of privileges.  When listening to music or playing games on their electronic device, the student should wear earphones to not distract the driver or bother other students.  Misuse of any electronic device, including cell phones, will result in disciplinary action.  Disciplinary action will range from loss of electronic device privileges to out of school suspension, depending on the infraction.  Two serious offenses are listed below. 

 Sexting  

  1. The act of sexting is prohibited.
  2. Sexting is the act of sending or forwarding through cellular telephones and other electronic media sexually explicit, nude, or partially nude photographs/images.  It is the District’s mission to ensure the social, physical, psychological, and academic well being of all students.  The educational purposes of the schools are best accomplished in a climate of student behavior that is socially acceptable and conducive to the learning and teaching process.
  3. Any student engaging in sexting is subject to any and all disciplinary action, including the possibility of out of school suspension, police involvement, and counseling.  

   Respect for Privacy Rights

  1. Students shall not photograph or videotape other individuals while on the bus or at school sponsored activities without their knowledge and consent, except for activities considered to be in the public arena such as sporting events or public performances.
  2. Students shall not email, post to the internet, or otherwise electronically transmit images of other individuals taken on the bus without their expressed written consent.

 Damaged, Stolen, or Misplaced Devices

 Cleveland Public Schools are not responsible for damaged, lost or stolen devices. If your student brings these devices on the bus, it is their responsibility to monitor them and take care of them.