Bus service is available for students attending their zoned schools. It is not available for children attending schools outside of their zone. If your residence is located within 1.5 miles of the school your child attends, your child is not entitled to transportation. However, your child may be provided transportation at the sole discretion of MCS if the bus has capacity and does not have to deviate from established routes.
Bus routes are designed in a manner that is most economical and advantageous to the system as a whole, and to assure that no child has more than a 90-minute bus ride in the morning or afternoon.
Bus stops at each residence are not feasible, and buses do not enter driveways or streets with cul-de-sacs. Every effort will be made to locate bus stops within a reasonable walking distance from each child’s residence. It is the parent’s responsibility to supervise their children at the bus stop every morning and afternoon.
Transportation services are provided to and from the nearest bus stop to the child’s home address. Transportation uses the address listed on the registration card at the child’s school.
In order to maintain conditions and an atmosphere suitable for safety, no person shall enter onto a school bus except students assigned to that bus or other persons with lawful and valid business on the bus.
The school bus is an extension of school activity; therefore, students shall conduct themselves on the bus in a manner consistent with the established standards for safety and classroom behavior.
Students are under the supervision and control of the bus driver and assistant while on the bus, and all reasonable directions given by driver or assistant shall be followed.
The principal of the student transported shall be informed by the bus driver or assistant of any discipline problems and may be called upon to assist if necessary. A student may be denied the privilege of riding the bus if the principal determines that his/her behavior is such as to cause disruption on the bus, or if he/she disobeys state or local rules and regulations pertaining to student transportation.
The suspension of a student from riding the school bus shall follow the same procedures as for any other school suspension.
According to Administrative Directive 142, no child will be allowed to ride home with another child without written permission from the parent, which must be given to office personnel before 10:00 am that day. (If the request is for a child who doesn’t typically ride the bus, the parent must complete a Special Request for Transportation form, which is located in the school’s office.) Office personnel will contact the Transportation Department to see if room is available. If approved, the driver will be provided with a copy of the request form.
Students who transfer from bus to bus while in route to and from school shall be expected to abide by the discipline policies adopted by the Board and rules adopted by the staff of the assigned school.
All carry-ons, including backpacks, musical instruments and school projects, must be able to fit in the child’s lap. The parent/guardian must transport any items that don’t meet these criteria.
Video cameras are used to monitor student behavior on school buses transporting students to and from school or extracurricular activities.
Video surveillance shall be used to promote the order, safety, and security of students, staff, and property.
Due to the privacy rights of other students, no parent/guardian is allowed to view bus tapes. If there is an issue, transportation personnel and school administrators will view the tape.
Riding a bus to and from school in the Murfreesboro City School system is a privilege not a right. All students must understand and observe good conduct, courtesy, cooperation, and respect for the authority of the bus driver. Copies of the rules are clearly posted on each bus as a daily reminder.
Children in kindergarten and students with an I.E.P. for transportation can only exit the bus if their parent/guardian is visible and waiting at the bus stop. With a signed, dated, and notarized permission form the parent/guardian of a kindergarten child can exit the bus with a sibling who is in 3rd-6th grade.
Parents who are not visible at the bus stop will be asked to pick their children up at the school after the driver has completed his/her route. If this pattern continues, the result could be a conference with the principal and/or possibly losing transportation privileges.