Transportation

Bellwood School District 88 Transportation Department places a top priority on the safety of every student in our district. We support all of the district’s transportation needs such as transporting students to and from school each day, providing individualized transportation for our students with disabilities, accommodating all extracurricular and activity trip busing needs, and providing transportation accommodations for staff to attend workshops and conferences.

Your child may receive bus transportation at no charge if your family resides in the boundaries of the school district and live more than one and a half (1.5) miles from school. Students who live in “hazardous” areas may also qualify. We enforce bus expectations to make travel to and from school as safe as possible. Please be aware that we monitor video and audio on all Bellwood buses to ensure our drivers and students abide by these rules.

Our school bus drivers possess a Commercial Driver’s License and pass the state bus driver certification. We’re proud of our safety record and the years of service it has provided the district.

Electronic Recordings on School Buses:

Electronic visual and audio recordings may be used on school buses to monitor conduct and to promote and maintain a safe environment for students and employees when transportation is provided for any school related activity.

Bus Expectations

1. Seating: Each student shall be seated immediately upon entering the bus. Students are not to stand or move from place to place while the bus is in motion.
2. Cell Phones: Cell phones should never be heard on the bus.
3. Conduct: Cursing, swearing, or loud talking is not allowed.
4. Food and Drink: No eating, drinking, or chewing gum is permitted.
5. Bus Equipment: No tampering with bus controls, emergency exits, or bus equipment.
6. Behavior: Bullying, fighting, horseplay, hitting, pinching, or teasing is prohibited.
7. Railroad Crossings: Remain quiet at railroad crossings.
8. Authorized Riders: Under no circumstances are non-authorized bus riders allowed to ride the bus.
9. Windows and Doors: Windows and doors are to be opened or closed only with the bus driver's or bus assistant's permission. If allowed, windows should only be opened to the indicated safety line.
10. Language and Conduct: Indecent conduct or loud, disruptive, or profane language will not be permitted.
11. Respect: Passengers are not to behave in any manner that infringes upon the rights of any other passenger, including any form of bullying.
12. Entering and Exiting: No student is to enter or leave the bus until it has come to a complete stop. Students may enter or leave the bus only upon the bus driver's signal.
13. Throwing Objects: Students are not to throw objects of any kind on the school bus or out the windows. All parts of the student's body shall always remain inside the bus.
14. Prohibited Items: Absolutely no tobacco, drinks, alcohol, or illegal drugs will be allowed on the bus.
15. Alternate Buses: Before riding a bus other than the assigned bus, students must have a written note from their parent or guardian stating their destination and must obtain a bus pass from the office. Students must identify themselves to the driver.
16. Prohibited Items: Students will not be permitted to bring items such as skateboards, radios, hoverboards, balloons, or glass objects onto the bus. Any other object deemed unsafe will be denied. The driver has the authority to deny transportation to a student with such articles. The driver and/or school district bear no responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
17. Conduct and Privilege: The privilege of riding the school bus may be denied to any student who does not conduct himself/herself in a safe and orderly manner. Bus drivers and administration will determine what is safe and orderly. The bus driver reserves the right to assign seating for any disruptive students. The school will handle all discipline and notify parents of any disciplinary action taken.
18. Compliance: Bus transportation is a privilege extended only to students who display good conduct on the school bus. Continued disorderly conduct or persistent refusal to obey the driver/aid may result in the denial of transportation. However, students are still expected to be present at school each day in accordance with the law.