Transportation

Zeeland Public Schools is a leader in earth friendly design and one of the few school districts in the State of Michigan to write and receive a grant for bio-diesel use in our bus fleet. The 2003 grant covered the extra cost of bio-diesel for a twelve calendar month period. This funding allowed us to make the proper adjustments for additives, preventative maintenance programs and document areas of concern with the bio-diesel product. Because of our commitment to reduce emissions we have continued using bio-diesel fuels in our entire fleet.

Zeeland Public Schools has shared information about bio-diesel with numerous school districts and city governments in the West Michigan area. Because of our research and sharing of information the City of Zeeland, Zeeland Board of Public Works, Zeeland Street Department, Zeeland Fire Department and all other Zeeland City Departments and numerous other local school districts have begun using bio-diesel. Zeeland Public Schools along with the City of Zeeland used close to 120,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year. After 5-1/2 years of using bio-diesel the area has saved the nation 20% or 105,000 gallons of diesel fuel. This coming year the City of Holland, Holland Mass Transit and Holland Public Schools will begin using bio-diesel. Grand Rapids mass transit has gone to using bio-diesel. A number of the municipalities and the county governments and their fleet of trucks have started to use bio-diesel.

Because of our use of bio-diesel and continued research to back up our decisions, our Director of Transportation has presented to different management groups sponsored by truck dealerships, fleet management groups, clean city organizations and other organizations that were interested in reducing emissions. 

The changes are causing significant reduction in diesel emissions. Through our introductory use of bio-diesel we have had the honor of working with a number of Agricultural Industries. Hudsonville Farmers Co-Op, one of our partners, is a major distributor of bio-diesel which is now used year round by trucking companies, construction companies and the farming organizations all reducing diesel emissions. 

Zeeland Public Schools has placed an emphasis on projects that lead to broader efforts and sustainable larger scale projects and programs to further reduce diesel emissions. We have verified idle reduction technologies at Zeeland Public Schools which are fuel operated heaters from Wabasto and Pro-heat heaters. These heaters reduce the amount of idling time on school buses in order for them to warm up before runs in the winter. This idle reduction is used at sporting events and field trips where buses are parked and the heaters keep the buses warm so the engines do not have to idle. Zeeland Public Schools has an anti-idling policy which is in our driver’s handbook and all drivers have received training in correct usage of the heaters and how to reduce idling. This policy is based on past performance of reducing diesel emissions. Two of our buses have been retrofitted with DOC’s purchased with funds from the Clean School Bus grant that the State of Michigan received two years ago. This means we currently have two buses in our fleet that are using exhaust emission reduction technology and reducing the NOx, PM, HC, CO, and CO2 in the air around our community.

We up-graded two of our buses with new engines certified through Cummins which reduces diesel emissions and increase fuel economy. Zeeland Public Schools, with the use of a grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality began using cleaner fuel in 2003. The bio-diesel was used by Zeeland Public Schools as another example of looking for ways to reduce diesel emissions in the West Michigan area.

Inclement Weather

Please send your child to school in appropriate clothing for the weather conditions. Your child will be standing outside while waiting for the bus or walking home from the bus and needs to stay warm and dry. 

The decision to close schools because of inclement weather is made in cooperation with state, county and local authorities. When weather conditions appear severe, please tune in to one of the listed radio or television stations for school closing information. Please do not call radio or television stations or the police. You can help by keeping phone lines open and relying on broadcast information.

Radio Stations:

• WHTC – 1450 AM
• WOOD – 1300 AM
• WJQ – 99.3 FM
• WGHN – 92.1 FM

Television Stations:

• 3-WWMT
• 8-WOOD
• 13-WZZM

Zeeland Public Schools

• Information Hotline: 616.748.3040
• Online: www.zps.org

Parents are advised to keep children at home when they feel weather conditions make travel to or from school unsafe.

Severe Weather Procedures

When tornado watches or warnings are issued by the US Weather Bureau, Zeeland Public School students will be retained in school until dismissal time or until such time that, in the judgment of the Superintendent or designee, they may be safely dismissed.

1. If a tornado watch is announced during the day, students will be dismissed at the regular time.
2. If a tornado warning is in effect, students will not be dismissed and will be moved to designated areas within each school.

Family Emergency Plan

Students and parents/guardians should develop a family emergency plan in the event of an early dismissal or other unscheduled event. Does your child have a house key or know where to find one? Does your child have a neighbor to go to in case no one is at home? Have you discussed several possibilities so your child knows what to do? Do a drill or at least a periodic verbal check to be sure your student knows what steps to take. Keep the plan updated as personal circumstances change.

Student Crossing Procedure:

To Board the Bus:

1. Students wait in a group at the designated bus stop at least 10 feet away from the edge of the roadway and watch the bus driver for the signal to cross.
2. Bus drivers will display a sign (see below) to indicate when it is safe to cross the street.
3. Students proceed directly across the road always staying well in front of the bus and board the bus.
4. Do not stop in the middle of the street or cross behind the bus.
5. Bus stops will be placed at legal locations consistent with Board policy or if required by law.

When Exiting the Bus:

1. Students exit the bus and take 10 giant steps in front of the bus staying on the side of the street.
2. Students stand in a group and look to the bus driver for the signal to cross.
3. Bus drivers will display a sign to indicate when it is safe to cross the street.
   Red stop sign means "STOP"
   Yellow smile face means "CROSS SAFELY"
4. Students proceed to a point even with the left side of the bus and stop.
5. Students look left and right for passing cars.
6. Students look to the driver for instruction to complete the crossing.
7. Do not cross behind the bus.
8. If a paper or article goes under the school bus, always ask the bus driver for help.
9. Do not get mail from roadside mailboxes until after the bus leaves the stop.

Emergency Evacuations

School bus drivers are required to do Emergency Evacuations three (3) times during the school year (fall, winter and spring).

Danger Zone

Please be aware of the Bus Safety procedures and to stay out of the danger zone. When the bus arrives, stay away from the wheels.

This bus is for getting you safely to school,
So stay in your seats and obey every rule.
No hands out the windows, no junk on the floor,
No rushing or shoving to get out the door.
In front of the bus is the right way to cross,
Behave, and remember the driver’s the boss.
Talk if you wish, but quietly please,
Bad language is out and it’s not nice to tease.
Don’t eat, drink or smoke, nor damage the bus,
Our safety depends on each one of us!

Riding a school bus is a privilege and convenience for students and their parents; as such, everyone accepts certain responsibilities to ensure student safety while utilizing this service. Students and parents are advised that the Zeeland Public Schools student code of conduct will be enforced relevant to student behavior on the school bus. The school will cooperate with parents and law enforcement agencies relevant to behavior to and from school.

Students and parents are advised of the following responsibilities as per the Michigan Regulations for School buses, Bulletin #431 and local policy:

District Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of Zeeland Public Schools to:

1. Develop bus routes and schedules.
2. Determine the mile computation as required by the Board of Education and State requirements.
3. Provide appropriate student information to bus drivers.
4. Provide vehicles that meet or exceed the requirements of state law pertaining to vehicles utilized to transport school students.
5. Provide appropriate insurance coverage.
6. Hire certified and qualified staff.
7. Provide ongoing training for the transportation staff.
8. Recommend to the Superintendent when schools should be closed due to inclement weather.
9. In conjunction with Building Principals, develop and administer disciplinary procedures for students who exhibit inappropriate bus riding behaviors.

Parents Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of each parent to:

1. Provide for your students’ safety to, from, and while at the bus stop.
2. Have the student at the bus stop at least five (5) minutes ahead of the scheduled stop time.
3. Always stress SAFETY at stop locations and on the bus.  STUDENTS ARE TO STAY OFF THE ROAD AT ALL TIMES WHILE WAITING FOR THE BUS.
4. Make sure each child has a backpack for lunch, school books, etc. No skateboards, ice skates, skis, sharp objects (ie: pocketknives), and no live animals are allowed on the bus.
5. Make arrangements to have an appropriate person at home at the designated drop-off time after school.
6. Sign the blue School Bus Misconduct Notice slip, if your child receives one for an infraction of the bus rules. The child must return the signed slip to the bus driver before allowed back on the bus.

Students Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of each student to:

1. Observe classroom conduct while riding the bus. The same rules apply to the bus as in the classroom.
2. Ride the assigned bus and use a specific bus stop; only assigned students may ride school-bound or homebound buses. In addition, students may ride only their assigned bus, getting on and getting off at their designated stop.  The Director of Transportation may grant permission for students to ride a different bus or use a different stop. Such permission may be granted only after receiving appropriate written request form from the parent/guardian for a specified period of time subject to the following conditions and limitations:
   1. The requested change must not result in overcrowding of any bus, alteration of any regular bus route, bus stop, or time schedule, or in any way interfere with the regular operation of the transportation system.
   2. Emergency and/or unusual reasons may be approved by the Director of Transportation.
   3. To assure no overloads, we do not allow students to bring home friends (either from another bus run or from a non-busing area) for parties, scouts, homework, etc.). It is the parents’ responsibility for this type of transportation.
3. Obey the driver at all times and report promptly to school officials when instructed to do so.
4. Stay in their seat facing forward while the bus is in motion.
5. Keep hands and feet to themselves.
6. Place all carry-on items on ones lap.
7. State law mandates that no animals or glass containers be allowed on buses.
8. Refrain from eating or drinking on the bus.
9. Leave the bus only with the consent of the driver.
10. Enter or leave the bus only at the front door after the bus has come to a stop, except in case of emergency.
11. Stay off the roadway while waiting for the bus.
12. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and then board or leave the bus promptly.
13. Talk in a normal tone of voice while on the bus and use appropriate language.
14. Do not destroy property and report any damage observed to the driver.
15. Help keep the bus clean, sanitary, orderly and safe.