Bus information

Bus information will be available at the school district's Web site, www.citrus.kl2.fl.us, and the St. Petersburg Times-Citrus Times' Web site, www.tampabay.com/schoolbus. School district transportation officials will be available at each school's orientation session.

By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 4, 2002

Bus information will be available at the school district's Web site, www.citrus.kl2.fl.us, and the St. Petersburg Times-Citrus Times' Web site, www.tampabay.com/schoolbus. School district transportation officials will be available at each school's orientation session.

Call the Citrus County Public Schools' Back to School hot line at 637-2233 from Aug. 5-9 and Aug. 12-16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hot line will have information available for the entire school district.

Bus drivers are encouraged to call the parents or legal guardians of students assigned to ride their buses. Parents and legal guardians requesting a bus stop change should complete a form available at all schools.

General information

Number of buses to start for the 2002-2003 school year: 150

Number of bus routes to start for the 2002-2003 school year: 228

Number of students transported for the 2001-2002 school year: 12,000

Number of miles traveled daily for the 2001-2002 school year: 16,700

The school district provides daily bus service for all students living more than two miles from the school and for students who are disabled or who who would walk in areas exposing them to hazards (as defined by state statute and Citrus County School Board policy) regardless of the distance.

School transportation officials recommend that parents and legal guardians talk about bus safety, bus rules and parents' responsibilities with all students who will be riding buses. By reviewing the information with students, parents and legal guardians will help bus drivers provide safe transportation for all students.

Violation of bus safety rules could result in the loss of bus riding privileges. One student whose actions distract the driver can endanger the safety of all children on the bus. Students may be videotaped at any time while on the school bus.

Bus safety

The school district offers the following suggestions for students' safety:

Leave home each day to be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus arrives.

Face the traffic and walk on the shoulder of the road when no sidewalk is available.

Stand away from the roadway at the bus stop. Wait until the bus and other traffic comes to a full stop and the bus door is opened before moving toward the bus.

Cross in front of the bus at a distance of 10 feet to 12 feet.

Never run alongside a moving bus.

Report any illness or injury sustained on or around the bus to the bus driver immediately.

For the safety of all students, students will maintain silence at railroad crossings and when otherwise deemed necessary by the bus driver.

Students' responsibilities

The following Citrus County Public Schools' bus rules are the responsibility of the students:

Respect the bus driver and follow instructions.

Remain seated; keep head and arms inside the bus.

Keep door and aisle clear of obstacles.

No pets, glass or large items, including band instruments, will be allowed on the bus.

Do not throw anything, at any time, on or from the bus.

Be quiet when the dome lights are on.

Do not eat, drink, or chew gum on the bus.

Keep conversations quiet.

Use no profane or obscene language or gestures.

Cross the road in front of the bus, after waiting for the driver's signal.

Present a permission slip, signed by a parent, legal guardian and the principal or designee, for riding a bus other than the usual one or getting off at a different stop than the usual one.

Maintain silence at all railroad crossings.

Comply with all regulations in the Student Code of Conduct.

Parents' responsibilities

The school district encourages parents and legal guardians to take the following responsibilities:

Walk with students to and from the bus stop.

Be responsible for the students' safety when they are going to and from the bus stop.

Be responsible for students' safety at the bus stop.

When a student, parent or legal guardian has a concern, please request a conference with the bus driver arranged through the school and the district's transportation department.

-- Information provided by the Citrus County School District

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