Hillsborough County Public Schools Deputy Superintendent
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, April 24, 2007
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve the Modifications of the Student Discipline on School Buses Procedures to Permit Limited Consumption of Water and Snack Food on Magnet School Buses.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

On November 21, 2006, the School Board approved a set of procedures to improve student behavior on school buses. Among the procedures was a total prohibition of eating and drinking on school buses.

The procedures have been in place for over four months. Some problems have developed in the process of implementing these procedures. The students who use our magnet schools have extremely long bus rides to and from school. The discomfort associated with these long rides has had an adverse effect on the ability of the District to recruit and retain students in the magnet programs.

With the onset of warmer weather the number of concerns from parents concerning the prohibition of eating and drinking has increased. In response to the concerns of parents the School Bus Discipline Committee was reconvened to review the recommendations.

After considering all of the facts the committee has recommended the following changes.

  1. Allow magnet school students to drink bottled water while the buses are parked and secured on the transfer ramps. No soft drinks, juices, or flavored drinks are permitted because spillage from those drinks creates a mess that requires cleaning, while water spillage will simply dry up.
  2. Allow magnet school students to eat dry snacks in snack size packages only. Larger sizes become the source of disputes and increase the spillage issue.
  3. Prohibit all peanut products due to the allergy issues that exist.
  4. The committee is composed of Bus Drivers, Area Directors, Principals, Assistant Principals, and Route Coordinators. Input from students was also included.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

N/A

EVALUATION

SUBMITTED BY:



James P. Hamilton
Chief District Compliance Officer
(813) 272-4101
8.02
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20070424_239 * Section E Item# 8.02