XII. Automobiles & Buses

Motor Vehicles

Idling on School Grounds

Traffic and Parking

Safety

Student Parking Lot

Roadway Supervision

School Bus Safety

Bus Schedule

Motor Vehicles
Students in grades eleven and twelve with valid driver’s licenses are allowed to park at school after registering
their automobiles in the Attendance Office. Once they have completed the registration form and met with the
Assistant Principal or one of her assistants, students will receive a numbered parking sticker. The stickers
are to be affixed to the back of the inside rearview mirror. After arrival at school, students are not to use
automobiles (or any other vehicle such as a moped, bicycles, or motorcycle) during the school day except
under the provisions cited under School Dismissals and/or Senior Privileges. Students are expected to
observe safe and courteous driving practices on school property at all times and are subject to all
Massachusetts laws regarding motor vehicles. Violations of the above will lead to revocation of the privilege to
drive or bring a motor vehicle onto the High School/Middle School Campus for a period ranging from ten
school days to the end of the academic year. Such behavior may also result in the loss of senior privileges
and/or free blocks.

In May, tenth graders who possess valid licenses, and have good attendance, discipline, and academic records
are eligible to park at school after following the procedures as outlined above. Sophomores can begin
registering their cars after the seniors leave for their internships. Violations of the rules and regulations as
described above may lead to discipline up to and including the loss of the privilege to drive or bring a car onto
campus as an eleventh grader.

Regulation of Motor Vehicle Idling on School Grounds
The purpose of this policy is to restrict unnecessary idling time and to govern the time during which a motor
vehicle can idle on school grounds, in order to improve and protect campus air quality. Local law
enforcement authorities have the authority to enforce the requirements of M.G.L. c. 90, § 16B and 540 C.M.R.
§ 27.00. Penalties range from $100 for a first offense up to $500 for second and subsequent offenses.
Consistent with M.G.L. c. 90, § 16B and 540 C.M.R. 27.00, Weston High School prohibits operators of school
buses and personal motor vehicles, including students, faculty, staff and visitors, from idling vehicles on
school grounds, except under the circumstances set forth below:

Exemptions:
(a) Traffic Conditions.
1. For traffic conditions over which the driver has no control; or
2. For an official traffic control device or signal; or
3. At the direction of a uniformed police officer or a person authorized to direct traffic.

(b) Queuing at Weston High School.
1. Where the physical configuration of Weston High School requires a queue of vehicles for the
sequential discharge or pickup of students, and the queue of vehicles is actively engaged in the
discharge or pickup of students.

(c) Turbo-charged Diesel Engine Cool Down or Warm Up.
1. When the manufacturer’s specifications require idling the engine, to cool down or warm up a turbocharged
diesel engine. Documentation of this requirement shall be kept in the vehicle at all times.

(d) Cold/Hot Weather - School Buses.
1. If the interior temperature of any school bus is less than 35° F, then idling is allowed to heat the
interior of the school bus for a period or periods aggregating not more than three minutes in any 15
minute period during which the school bus is waiting to accept or discharge passengers; or
2. If the interior temperature of any school bus is greater than 80° F and it is not practical or possible
to open the windows or to park in a shaded area, and the school bus is equipped with air conditioning,
then idling is allowed to cool the interior of the motor vehicle for a period or periods aggregating not
more than three minutes in any 15 minute period during which the school bus is waiting to accept or
discharge passengers.

(e) Cold/Hot Weather - Motor Vehicles Other Than School Buses.
1. If the exterior temperature is less than 35° F, then idling is allowed to heat the interior of any motor
vehicle other than a school bus for a period or periods aggregating not more than one minute in any
15 minute period during which the motor vehicle is waiting to accept or discharge passengers; or
2. If the exterior temperature is greater than 80° F and it is not practical or possible to open the
windows or to park in a shaded area, and the vehicle is equipped with air conditioning, then idling is
allowed to cool the interior of the motor vehicle other than a school bus for a period or periods
aggregating not more than one minute in any 15 minute period during which the motor vehicle is
waiting to accept or discharge passengers.

(f) Safety and Emergencies.
1. To ascertain that the school bus or other commercial vehicle is in safe operating condition and
equipped as required by all provisions of law, and all equipment is in good working order, either as
part of the driver’s daily vehicle inspection, or as otherwise needed; or
2. To operate the flashing signal lamps and/or stop signal arm devices required by law where the
operation of those devices cannot be undertaken by battery power alone; or
3. To operate defrosters, or other equipment to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle, or as otherwise
required by federal or state motor carrier safety regulations, or other local requirements; or
4. To operate a heater or an air conditioner for only the period necessary to ensure a reasonable
interior temperature in a vehicle that has, or will have, one or more children aboard with temperature
sensitive disabilities; or
5. To operate a lift or other piece of equipment designed to ensure safe loading, unloading, or transport
of persons with one or more disabilities; or
6. Use of school bus as an emergency vehicle.

(g) Maintenance or Operations.
1. For testing, servicing, repairing, or diagnostic purposes; or
2. To recharge a battery or other energy storage unit of a hybrid electric bus.

Traffic and Parking
All members of the school community and their guests are expected to park in approved parking areas.
Access to parking is a privilege subject to regulation, not an absolute right. Access entails responsibility.

On school days, from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm, student parking is restricted to the paved lot adjacent to the high
school gym and tennis courts. Students are not permitted to park at the Middle School. Faculty, staff and
visitors are permitted to park in either the lot next to the library or the parking area in front of the school on
the other side of the oval.

One-hour visitor parking is available in the lot in front of the school and is clearly marked. This area is not
for student visitors. Handicapped parking only is available in the driveway directly in front of the school.

Parking is not permitted on the corners at either end of the Faculty Lot on the oval, or on the access road
leading from Wellesley Street to the school. All vehicles must be off the streets and in the lots.

Parking is not permitted at any time on playing fields, grass areas near fields, off paved areas, next to the
High School or Middle School buildings, or on sidewalks.

No vehicles may enter the school driveway from the student parking lot. This is not a thruway to the front of
the school. It is a one-way exit from the high school.

Unauthorized use of vehicles off paved roads and designated parking areas threatens the safety of people and
the protection of school property. Individuals will be allowed to drive and/or park in such areas for valid
reasons and only after being issued an appropriately signed and dated Vehicle Authorization Card that must
then be displayed on the dashboard. These cards may be issued by the Superintendent and Assistant
Superintendent, Director of Buildings and Grounds, Athletic Director, Principals, Assistant Principals, and
Administrative Assistants to Principals at the High School and Middle School. Maximum speed on the
property is 15 MPH.

• Minimum consequence: not allowed to drive or have a motor vehicle on High School/Middle School
Campus for ten school days.
• Additional consequences: revocation of Senior Privileges and/ or free periods; referral to the
Weston Police Department for parking, traffic and unsafe driving violations; revocation of driving
privileges on campus through the end of the school year; assignment of up to eight hours of
Saturday School.
• Vehicles may be towed at owner’s expense.

Safety
The paved oval immediately in front of the school is a particularly hazardous space in terms of student and
adult safety. Because it is heavily congested at various times of the day and there is a mix of pedestrians,
buses, autos and standees, students are not to increase the hazards by engaging in horseplay, skateboarding,
soccer, lacrosse, rollerblading, or throwing objects of any kind (e.g., snowballs, frisbees, footballs, etc.),
pushing or shoving. These activities provide distractions which can contribute to injury to fellow students,
younger children who are changing buses or unwary adults who are making their way in or out of the
building.

Disciplinary consequences will be issued for behaviors that threaten the safety of self and others.

• Minimum consequence: assignment to two hours of Saturday School for each safety violation.
• Additional consequences: not allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities, loss of free
periods and loss of Senior Privileges, not allowed to drive or have a motor vehicle on High
School/Middle School Campus for ten school days, eight hours of Saturday School, ten days of
suspension.

Student Parking Lot
The student parking lot is a restricted area during the school day. Students wishing to retrieve something
from their motor vehicles must receive permission and then sign out in the parking lot log in the Attendance
Office. Disciplinary consequences will be issued for going to the parking lot during the school day
without first obtaining permission and signing out.

• Minimum consequence: two hours of Saturday School.
• Additional consequences: not allowed to drive or bring an automobile on campus additional Saturday School, hours or loss of other privileges.

Roadway Supervision
The crescent roadway which enters and exits from Wellesley Street and serves the high school is a public
way, and subject to maintenance and supervision by Town authorities. Because the high school is a public
building and the parking lots are open to the public, they too are subject to Weston Police Department
supervision.

Motor vehicle violations of town by-laws include: parking next to yellow lines or in areas restricted to the
handicapped, ignoring stop signs and one-way markings, and driving to endanger. The parking area in front
of the high school is reserved for visitors; faculty and staff should park their vehicles in assigned lots.

Drivers are not to pass school buses when passengers are being picked up or discharged, and parents and
students are not to impede the efficient movement of buses during school opening and closing time.
Offenders against any of these rules are subject to the same penalties as pertain throughout the Town.

Violators will deal directly with the Weston Police Department rather than school authorities if they face
penalties because of parking/traffic violations.

School Bus Safety
Safety and behavior on and around school buses is of great importance. Disruptive behavior on the school
bus either during regular transportation hours or on field trips and/or sports buses will not be tolerated.
Disciplinary consequences will be issued for students who behave in such a manner as to cause disruption or
create a safety hazard to others on or around the school bus. Failure to comply with a request from a bus
driver or bus monitor will lead to disciplinary action. Students should be constantly aware of traffic around
the school bus and should take precautions when crossing streets or driveways going to or leaving the school
bus.
 

Updated 9/7/12

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