There a several ways parents and guardians can help ensure a safe ride to and from school for their children.

Review the Rules—Rules for safe transportation are discussed in your child’s student handbook. Some of the safest things your child can do are: 1. Stay seated. 2. Keep their hands, feet, body, and objects to themselves. 3. No swearing, rude gestures, or cruel teasing. 4. Talk in a classroom voice. 5. Follow the driver’s directions. 6. Stay out of “The Danger Zone”.

Read Our Philosophy—Read, with your child, our department’s philosophy as it appears at the beginning of this homepage. Remind them that in Mississippi riding a school bus is not a right, but a privilege they must earn by behaving properly.

Reinforce Safe Riding Habits—Encourage your child to behave properly on his/her bus ride. Imagine yourself turning your back on 60 or 65 students while maneuvering heavy equipment through traffic, road construction, and adverse weather conditions. Ask yourself how you would want them to behave.

Know the Law—Mississippi law requires motorist to stop for a school bus when the overhead red lights are flashing. Bus drivers activate the amber warning lights 100 feet before a bus stop. The red lights are automatically activated when the driver opens the door to load or unload passengers. Please be alert to these lights, particularly in congested school zone areas. Also, please observe the school bus loading zones at our schools and park elsewhere so the buses can get in to serve your children.

Discourage Unsafe Items—State Statute 37-41-1 empowers the State Department of Education to set forth rules and regulations pertaining to school bus operations. As part of these regulations, students shall not transport items, materials, or equipment that in any way endangers the lives, health, or safety of the passengers. To comply with this requirement, items such as glass bottles or jars, chemicals, flammable liquids, objects with sharp or dangerous edges, oversize objects that can’t be secured, or any other item that may be hazardous in the event of an emergency stop or accident, will not be transported. Please inform your child of these requirements, and make other transportation arrangements if items such as those mentioned here must be transported to or from school.

Encourage Respect for the Equipment—Each year we have to spend an excessive amount of your tax dollars to repair school bus damage resulting from vandalism that occurs enroute. This includes graffiti, broken windows and most of all from seats being cut. Encourage your child to take care of the equipment.

Get Informed and Involved—Transportation department personnel are available to visit any group interested in gaining more insight into our department’s operation and the pupil transportation industry in general. If you like, tour our facilities. Remember that our purpose is to provide safe and quality transportation for all eligible district students. Please call us at 938-6565 with any comments, concerns, or questions you might have.