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Transportation
For weather cancellation and delayed opening info, see Weather Cancellation & Delays section. Please visit the SAU70 Transportation page for the most current information.
 
Ray School students include walkers, bikers, bus riders and car riders. Each mode of arrival has its own safety and security needs.  Parents/guardians and the school district must work together to meet high standards of safety and behavior.  Please read the information below for students walking, or riding bicycles, or riding the bus, for parents/guardians driving students to and from school, parking, and irregular arrivals and departures. 
 

Student Walkers

Students who walk should not arrive at school before playground supervision begins at 7:30 a.m.  Students may remain on the playground after school only if a parent or other adult accompanies them.  All others must begin their walk home as soon as they are dismissed.

Safety Guidelines for Walkers
  • Walk.  Do not run into the street. Cross only at street corners.
  • Watch for turning cars from both the left and the right.
  • Never cross or enter the roadway from between parked cars.
  • If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the roadway, facing traffic.

Student Bikers

Students may ride bicycles to school with written parental permission. Students must wear helmets. The school is not responsible for bicycles on school grounds.  Bike racks are provided, and bike locks are recommended.  An extra key or a record of the combination should be kept at home.
The complete document for parents and students regarding bike safety can be found following this link. Please follow these National Highway Traffic Safety Commission safety rules. 
  • Wear a Bicycle Helmet.
  • Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit.
  • See and Be Seen.
  • Use Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication.
  • Use bike lanes or bike paths, if available. Children younger than 10 years old are not consistently able to make the decisions necessary to safely ride unsupervised in the street, so ride on a sidewalk.
  • Please ride single file!
  • "Watch, Wave, Walk" - Watch for cars. Wave to the driver to make sure they see you about to cross the street. Walk your bike across the street then get back on your bike and start riding again.

Bus Riders

Hanover and Dresden schools share buses, and schedules are coordinated.  Bus routes and schedules are published on the SAU website (www.sau70.org/departments/transportation) in late August.  For additional information about schedules, call the SAU Business Administrator (643-6050).  For requested changes in service, please refer to the website mentioned above and utilize the forms available on that page.

The school bus may arrive at your stop as much as five minutes early.  Students should be at the stop at least five minutes before the scheduled time.  The SAU is to be notified by the bus company if a bus will be more than 15 minutes behind schedule and/or if a bus stop is missed.  If there will be a delay of more than 30 minutes, parents/guardians will be notified through the SAU’s automated system.
 
Parents/guardians may not accompany students on the school bus. A parent may wish to drive to school in the morning to briefly meet a young student taking the bus for the first time.  If so, please notify the bus driver and do not follow directly behind the bus, and please park in the parking lot before meeting the student.
 
Bus riders will be expected to ride his/her regular bus and get off at the regular stop. Changes from normal expectations can be very confusing to students and a challenge to our already complex dismissal and bus-loading system.
 
Parents/guardians must provide a signed note if:
  • The student must take a bus other than his/her regular one.
  • The student is to be picked up at school rather than riding the bus.
  • The student will walk or bike to another’s house after school instead of riding the bus.
  • The student is to be picked up at school by someone other than the parent or guardian.
 
Bus drivers may by-pass roads when they are unsafe and will notify the SAU of such instances.  The SAU will notify parents/guardians of students in areas so affected to make alternate plans.
 

Riders in Kindergarten through 1st Grade

It is essential that an adult receive kindergarten and first grade students at their stop. Drivers are instructed to NOT drop kindergartners or first graders at stops without an adult to receive them, unless other arrangements have been requested in writing by using the Drop Off Permission Form

Depending upon locations, conditions or other extenuating circumstances, parents/guardians may be asked to make arrangements to have an adult meet 2nd graders as well.

 

School Bus Rider Responsibilities

Riders and drivers will treat others with courtesy and respect at all times.

  • The use of profanity, vulgar, obscene, or abusive language will not be tolerated.
  • Fighting, shoving, or bullying others on the bus, or while waiting for the bus, will not be tolerated.
  • Throwing anything on the bus is prohibited.
  • Talking should be carried on in conversational tones.
  • Smoking, or other use of tobacco, is prohibited on the bus at all times.
  • Students must comply immediately with any request or suggestion from the driver pertaining to safe pupil transportation. 
  • Defacement of or destruction to the bus will not be tolerated. Any vandalism of the bus or bus seats will be billed to the person responsible for the damage.
  • Aisles are to be left free of books, lunch boxes, coats, and other objects at all times. Students should sit in their seats, and not put their arms, legs, etc., into the aisles, except when inadequate space makes this impossible.
  • Students must remain seated at all times when the bus is moving; arms and heads must be inside the bus at all times. All of the contracted buses are equipped with seat belts for use by students. Although seat belt use on buses is not presently required by NH, VT, or federal mandate, many agree the best practice is to fasten the seat belts while the bus is in motion.
  • Students may be required to walk up to one and one half miles to a bus stop, or two miles to school.
  • Students must be ready to board the bus at least five minutes prior to its scheduled stop. In order to keep all of the students on time, drivers are not to wait for pupils who are not present at the designated stop times. Pupils should not crowd onto the street or road waiting for the bus; instead, they should line up and enter the bus in an orderly fashion when it arrives. Middle and high school students boarding buses in front of the Richmond School in the afternoon should stand behind the white line until the buses have come to a complete stop at the curb.
  • Students must board the bus in an orderly and courteous manner, go immediately to a seat, sit down, and secure their personal belongings. The driver may assign seats.
  • Students loading and departing from the bus will do so from the front door of the bus. If the road must be crossed, students will wait for the driver's signal and then (using caution) will cross at least 10 feet in FRONT of the bus.
  • All school rules are in effect on the school bus for transportation to and from school or any school event.
Please see the District Transportation Page for additional information about discipline procedures, administrative guidelines, bus driver responsibilities, and kindergarten transportation.
 
Carry-Ons
Bulky, unusual, or dangerous equipment may not be carried on the school bus.  Small musical instruments which students can hold in their laps, or can put under their seats on the bus, will be allowed. Larger musical instruments, or other large items which require the use of another seat on the bus, may not be allowed, depending on how crowded the bus is. Items requiring the use of the center aisle will not be allowed. We are allowing smaller athletic equipment such as hockey and lacrosse sticks, tennis rackets, and baseball/softball bats to be carried on the buses. The ability to bring these items is a privilege not a right and must be accompanied by strict behavior. Sports equipment for use after school must be stored during the day in areas designated by the classroom teacher.  Sports equipment for use at recess must be approved by faculty.  Animals may not be transported on the school bus, even for special projects such as ''show and tell.''  (Prior permission for animals in school must be received from the classroom teacher and school nurse.)
 
Problem Solving

Day-to-day issues concerning discipline, behavior, etc. should be referred to the school administrators: 

Please contact Mike Gaudette for driver issues, late or early bus, missed stop, etc.:

Student Transportation of Vermont
1796 Route 14, White River Jct., VT
Mike Gaudette
802-698-8528
mgaudette@ridesta.com

If there is an emergency with a Hanover, Norwich or Dresden bus, please contact:

Jamie Teague
Business Administrator
Days: 603-643-6050 x 2008
Afterhours: 603-313-7098
 

Car Riders

Parking is at a premium and traffic flow is difficult, both before and after school.  Children should walk, bike or ride the school bus whenever possible to reduce traffic.  We discourage engine idling. 
 
Drivers must adhere to the following rules:
  • Use the first driveway to your right after entering the main entrance. Do not use the bus entrance zone between 7:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.
  • Parking spaces on the right side of the entrance driveway is for 15 minute drop off/pick up parking needs (Example: student pick up from office, helping a student carry something to or from the classroom).
  • The circle area is designated a NO PARKING zone  between 7 and 8:15 am, and (1:30-2:15 on Wednesdays), 2:30-3:15  pm. Do not leave cars unattended in these areas during arrival and dismissal.
  • The Handicapped authorization parking area is for designated vehicles only. Do not block these spaces during arrival or dismissal.
  • Pick up and discharge passengers at the right-hand curbside ONLY. 
  • Students should not cross the school driveways unless escorted by an adult and within the designated crosswalk areas.
  • Parking during school hours is allowed in the main parking lot or the drop off loop. 
  • Private vehicles must not park along the main driveway, enter the bus-loading zone, or block other vehicles or exits in the parking lot.
  • Respect the safety needs of the bus drivers.
  • Please observe the 10 MPH speed limit in our parking lot per Hanover Policy EBBE.
  • ray handbook