Ann Smith Elementary

306 South Pear Orchard Road

Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-856-6621

Karen Harness, Principal

Adam Frazier, Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I wanted to take a moment and communicate the new bus discipline guidelines for the rest of the school year. Ann Smith Elementary School and Durham Bus Service’s first bus priority is to SAFELY transport students to and from Ann Smith Elementary. There are certain behaviors that create an unsafe bus environment. These behaviors also set a negative tone for the rest of the school day. We are seeking to reduce or eliminate these behaviors.

Students who engage in the following unsafe bus behaviors will be subject to disciplinary action:

• Moving in the aisle while the bus is moving
• Yelling or talking in a loud manner
• The use of profanity
• Threatening, bullying, or harassing other students
• Throwing objects
• Standing on bus seats
• Hanging out of the window or throwing objects out of the window
• Disobeying the bus driver’s instructions
• Engaging in any activity which distracts the bus driver from safely transporting students to and from Ann Smith Elementary
• Fighting (both verbal and physical)

This is not an exhaustive list. Other offenses include the offenses listed on pages 41-43 of The Madison County Schools handbook policy (available on the Madison County District Website). The following consequences will be in place for these offenses.

1^stoffense – Warning and parental contact

2^ndoffense – corporal punishment or a 2 day bus suspension

3^rdoffense – corporal punishment or a 3 day bus suspension

4^thoffense – 4 day bus suspension

5^thoffense – 5 day bus suspension

6^thoffense – suspension from the bus until year’s end

In extreme cases, such as fighting or behaving in a manner which endangers other students, a student will immediately receive corporal punishment or a 3 day suspension. 

Ann Smith administration will be made aware of these offenses by the bus driver’s write up.

Ann Smith administration also has the ability to view bus video in order to further investigate incidents. Students seen on video breaking the bus rules will be subject to the disciplinary action detailed above. For your student’s, and all students’, protection and privacy, no parents will be allowed to view the bus video.

Thank you for your cooperation with implementing the new bus policy. Once again, our primary bus goal is to safely transport our students to and from school in as orderly a manner as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. 601-856-6621

Adam Frazier

Assistant Principal