JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The superintendent for Duval County Public Schools said rules governing kids’ behavior on school buses should be stricter.
During a school board meeting this summer, the board unanimously voted to change the student code of conduct to stiffen the penalties for students who get caught breaking the rules on the bus, according to the Florida Times Union.
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The first fight on a school bus would cause a 30 day removal from the bus. The second fight would mean a seven day out-of-school suspension.The student could also lose the privilege to ride the bus to school the entire time they attend school in Duval County.
“Riding the bus is a privilege,” Vitti told WJCT. “When there is horseplay on the bus, you are not only possibly negatively impacting your safety, but the safety of everyone on the bus, including the bus driver, and it’s just completely unacceptable.”
He said each fight will be looked at individually to determine if one or both students participated.
During the meeting, the board also shared some new numbers showing the number of students arrested has decreased dramatically. During the 2014-15 school year 341 Duval County students were arrested.
This past year that number dropped to 186. That's a 43% decrease. The school board says the drop is due to the district's new code of conduct. It gives teachers more options for disciplining students.
For more on Monday night's meeting, visit: http://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/duval-county/school-board-credits-new-code-of-conduct-with-decrease-in-student-arrests