Securing a wheelchair means locking its brakes, shutting off its power if it is motorized, and setting each tie-down at about 45 degrees to the floor.
Handling discipline while driving splits your attention, so first stop somewhere safe and secure the bus, then speak to the students firmly and respectfully as your school's rules direct. A student may be put off the bus only at school or at that student's own stop.
If misbehavior has to be dealt with immediately, follow your school's procedures: halt and secure the bus, remove the key, rise from your seat, and firmly but respectfully explain to the student what conduct is expected. You may reseat the student close to you if necessary, but a student must never be made to leave the bus anywhere other than the school or his or her own stop.
Stop and secure the bus, take the key, and speak to the student firmly but respectfully, moving the student to a seat near you if needed. A student must never be let off anywhere except at school or at the student's own stop; if removal cannot wait, call the police or a school administrator.
Your school's procedures apply here. Pull over somewhere safe, secure the bus, remove the ignition key, and then stand and address the student respectfully yet firmly about the behavior expected. If the student must change seats, put them in one near you, and never make a student get off anywhere other than at school or at their own bus stop.
The safest course is to avoid any clash with gang members: get yourself and the students away from the area promptly and safely, and afterward tell your dispatcher what happened. Gang signs or symbols seen anywhere on the bus should also be reported so they can be removed.
Students with learning disabilities may come across as disobedient or stubborn, yet they often have limited control over how they act, so emotional outbursts and impulsive moves should be expected. Discipline for these students should focus on helping them manage their emotions.
Bullying often happens on school buses because a targeted child cannot walk away during the ride. Drivers should watch for warning signs such as visible injuries, torn clothing or missing belongings, and a new fear of getting on the bus.
Follow your school's procedures, but in general bring the bus to a safe stop, secure it, and take the key, then stand and talk with the students in a firm, respectful way, reminding them of the rules. Never put a student off except at school or the student's stop; if removal elsewhere is necessary, call the police or a school administrator.
A confrontation with gang members can turn violent fast, so avoid it, move the bus away safely, and report the encounter to dispatch. Make clear that the bus and its stops are neutral ground, and when speaking with a suspected gang member, do it one-on-one and with respect, following district policy for any defiance.
Children who are bullied often show changes such as dreading the bus ride or turning up with bruises or other injuries nobody can account for. Bullying is common on school buses because the target has little room to get away.
Students may be taken off the bus only at school or at their assigned stop, even if the misbehavior is a serious safety concern. If a student becomes so disruptive that you cannot keep driving safely, pull over somewhere safe and call the police or a school administrator for help.
Set the wheelchair's brakes and turn off its power if it has any, then attach all four straps to the chair's securement points or solid frame, never to parts that move. Each strap should then be tightened at an angle of roughly 45 degrees to the floor.
Discipline on the bus is the driver's job, but it should not be handled while driving or while students are getting on or off, since those tasks need full attention. To deal with a behavior problem, the driver should first stop in a safe place and secure the bus.
A student with special needs should never be left alone, whether inside or outside the home, and a parent or other responsible person has to be there when the student is dropped off. Local school officials decide what to do if no responsible person is present.
The bus driver must keep a written record of every incident and allegation of bullying or harassment and pass it on to a supervisor, the principal, or another staff member the school designates. Assigned seating and positive talks with students can help prevent bullying, but they never replace reporting.
Autism can make it hard for a child to rein in a behavior just because an adult asks, and an unexpected change of seat or routine can trigger a strong reaction; this is not deliberate misbehavior. A predictable, structured setting and a patient response work best.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
