Transportation Information
What Parents and Students Need to Know

• Lincoln County Schools is committed to providing safe and effective transportation.
• Under guidance from NCDHHS and NCDPI, PLAN B, school buses will be limited to 24 students on a 72-passenger bus and 22 students on a 66-passenger bus per route.
• Both staff and students will be required to wear a face covering while being transported on the school bus.
• Students will ride one person to a seat; however, siblings and students residing in the same household will be able to share a seat.
• Parents will be required to sign an attestation form stating that they will health-screen and temperature check their child each day before sending them to the school bus stop, school facility, or school-related event. If their child is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, the child must stay at home.
• All students will be health-screened and temperature checked once they arrive at school.
• If a bus rider becomes sick during the school day, they will not be allowed to access school bus transportation home in the afternoon.
• Hand sanitizer will be provided for student and staff use as they enter and exit the school bus.
• All school buses will be cleaned after each morning and afternoon route with EPA registered products.
• As recommended by NCDPI, bus windows will be left down while on route to increase the circulation of fresh air.
• Students will only be allowed to ride their assigned bus and will not be able to ride home with other students unless they are assigned to the same bus route.

STRONG SCHOOLS NC PUBLIC HEALTH TOOL KIT

https://files.nc.gov/covid/documents/guidance/Strong-Schools-NC-Public-Health-Toolkit.pdf 

NCDPI- LIGHTING OUR WAY FORWARD

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z

5Mp2XzOOPkBYN4YvROz4YOyNIF2UoWq9EZfrjvN4x8/edit

North Carolina Rules on Stopping for a School Bus

BOTH DIRECTIONS OF TRAFFIC MUST STOP FOR A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS:

1. On a two lane road;

2. On a two lane road with a center turn lane; and

3. On a four lane road without a median.

ONLY TRAFFIC FOLLOWING THE BUS STOPS:

1. Divided highway with 4 lanes or more with median separation; and

2. Roadway of four lanes or more with center turning lane.

To summarize, if you are on a two lane road and a bus puts on its blinking red lights and puts out the stop sign, STOP. It doesn’t matter what side of traffic you are on, you have to stop. If you are on a four lane road, and you are behind the bus, you have to stop regardless of whether there is a median or turn lane when the bus puts on the flashing lights and puts out its stop sign. However, you only stop on a four lane road in the opposite direction of the bus if there is no median or turn lane.

If you are more of a visual learner, these pictures with the rules may help you to remember. To learn more about school bus safety and rules, you can visit the North Carolina School Bus Safety Website.

Here are examples for when traffic in both directions MUST stop when a school bus stops for passengers:

And here are examples for when only traffic following the bus must stop when a school bus stops for passengers:

Unfortunately, despite the harsh rules for offenders who do not stop for school buses, accidents still happen. It is important that parents and teachers remind students to use caution at school bus stops. Just because a car is supposed to stop for passengers does not mean that it will. It is also helpful to put children in clothes that can be seen especially if they are out before the sun comes up. And motorist, please SLOW DOWN. Anytime you see a school bus, particularly if it is stopped, there are children around. It takes just a few extra seconds to make sure those kids make it to school and back home safely. Familiarize yourself with the rules and know when to stop. Also pay particular attention in school zones and slow down to the maximum posted speed. Slowing down and staying alert when school buses are around and in school zones saves lives and prevents avoidable injuries.