The Bethlehem Area and Saucon Valley school districts are required to provide bus or other transportation to LV. If the student lives within another school district, the school district must provide transportation if the LVA facility is within 10 miles of the school district's border. (The "10-mile rule" does not apply to school districts that do not provide transportation to students.) Students whose school districts do not offer busing or who live outside the 10-mile radius need to find private means of transportation. Bus Safety: The TEAM Concept School bus safety involves the TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) concept. As part of their job, school bus drivers must manage student behavior, but they can’t do it alone. Behavior must be managed as a TEAM. This TEAM also includes parents, bus mechanics, bus driver instructors, teachers, the Superintendent, the Principal and PennDot as well as other motorists. To facilitate our TEAM concept please adhere to the following policies: "RULES" are posted on every school bus within the districts. If there is ever any doubt regarding the rules, please talk to your child’s school bus driver. Riding a different bus is permissible only in emergency situations and with permission from the Transportation Department in the intended school district. Contact your District Transportation Department for their policy. The school and daycare providers need to know when a child changes where he/she regularly goes after school. For example, if a child regularly goes to daycare and tells us he/she is going home on the bus, we MUST have a note stating this change. Late Arrival/Early Dismissal Due to inclement weather, LVAC School may need to arrive late or dismiss early. Bus riders are advised to follow their home district weather alerts. Should your district close and LVA decides to stay open, the parents are responsible for bringing their children to school. The Bus Formula: Sit Down + Sit Back + Sit In = A Safe Ride For bus safety, we teach the children to SIT DOWN - SIT BACK - SIT IN. "Sitting down" means on their bottoms on the seat, not on their knees. "Sitting back" means their back is against the back of the seat. "Sitting in" means their legs are in front of them, facing front, not in the aisle. Bus Safety Rules All students who ride the bus to and from school and for field trips must follow basic rules and regulations. Students who do not follow these rules may lose bus riding privileges. Student safety is a top priority, so we ask that parents review these rules: AT THE BUS STOP Be on time Stay off the road Be considerate of private property Do not enter the bus until it comes to a full stop Take turns getting on the bus ON THE BUS Obey the bus driver Be seated promptly in assigned seats Keep arms, feet and books out of aisles; keep hands, head and objects inside the bus Do not push, shove, fight, throw objects, etc. Talk quietly (no loud or profane language) Do not eat or drink on the bus Treat bus and equipment with care and respect; keep the bus clean LEAVING THE BUS Do not leave your seat until the bus stops Take your turn leaving the bus Clear the area immediately Danger Zones We also encourage awareness of the DANGER ZONES. The area about 10 feet away from the bus is a very dangerous one because a bus driver has difficulty seeing things in this zone (including adults). The majority of serious injuries or fatalities occur at student loading and unloading areas, so we stress four safety points: Never walk close to a bus. Never go to pick something up that has dropped under or near the bus. Never run after a bus. If parents arrive late to the school bus, they should take the child to school. Always arrive at the bus stop about 10 minutes early. Nothing should ever be touched on the bus except the handrail.