Parents to sign student bus behavior contracts

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Officials at Youngstown City Schools are combating inappropriate bus behavior by introducing a "contract" that will be distributed to parents of the district's students starting this week, according to The Vindicator.

The contract will inform parents of undesirable bus conduct, including fighting, yelling, eating and drinking.   

"We are determined to provide a safe environment for the students," Superintendent Wendy Webb told The Vindicator. "Parents need to tell their kids to sit down on the bus and behave. It's a life-or-death matter. A real tragedy could happen."

If parents do not sign and return the contract within the allotted time, the district will not permit their children to ride the bus, either to or from school or on field trips.

According to the article, each Youngstown school bus has video cameras to monitor student behavior. The new policy comes after several instances of behavioral problems on Youngstown school buses in the past year.