An updated statewide policy requires a parent or an authorized individual to be present at the bus stop to meet any kindergarten through third grade student during pickup and drop off.
The policy previously only applied to pre-kindergarten students, but the update expands the reach of the policy to include students in kindergarten through third grade.
Policy 4335 states, “parents are responsible for providing supervision for all K-3 students at bus stops until the bus arrives for both pickup and delivery.” The updated Section 4.1.2 came just before the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
Interpretation of the rule is open ended. The policy does not articulate specific terms for appropriate supervision.
Tucker County Superintendent Alicia Lambert clarified that a sibling under 18 years old can be authorized for a K-3 student, but not a preschool student.
In Tucker County, Transportation Supervisor Harry Poling explained that if a parent or authorized adult is not present to greet a child at the bus stop, drivers are to keep that student on the bus. “We are going to contact the school by radio, and let the principal know when they are going to bring them back, because there is no one there to supervise them,” Poling said.
The policy does not mandate a course of action if a family consistently fails to provide an authorized individual at the bus stop. “We will of course try to work with the families if it comes to that point, but it’ll just be on an individual basis,” Lambert said.
Following the new update and student safety is Poling’s priority. “We want to make sure its done right and children get home safely,” he said. “I have a town run, and there are a lot of those younger kids, I can’t see where they go. I can’t see them make it to their homes.”
Forms were sent home last week that provide multiple lines for designees.
“If parents can’t be present at the bus stop, it’s their job to provide supervision from the bus to the home, they can pick a person to take care of that for them. We are having the parent fill us out a paper, stating who will be there, to make sure that it is done,” Poling said.
“I do think it will affect our working parents,” Lambert said. “I’m hoping that they are able to assign a designee. I’m hoping that will take some of the pressure off,” she said.
“We are trying to make this as easy as possible on our families. I think that we live in a community that parents have a lot of assistance and help,” Lambert said.
