Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I need to notify regarding an address change?
For address changes during the calendar year, please notify your child’s school. The following information is needed to make an address change. The student’s name, grade, new address, telephone number and the date the change becomes effective. Any changes that affect your child’s bus assignments must be completed two days in advance.
Proof of residency is required for any change of address. Acceptable proof of residency includes a deed, lease, current electric bill, property tax bill, driver’s license or ID card, vehicle registration or a notarized letter from your landlord or the homeowner with whom you reside with. These documents can be dropped off at the school, emailed, faxed, sent in with your child or mailed to your child’s school.
Notification to the Transportation Department will occur when proof of residency is received and all changes are updated.
For address changes during the calendar year, please notify your child’s school. The following information is needed to make an address change. The student’s name, grade, new address, telephone number and the date the change becomes effective. Any changes that affect your child’s bus assignments must be completed two days in advance.
Proof of residency is required for any change of address. Acceptable proof of residency includes a deed, lease, current electric bill, property tax bill, driver’s license or ID card, vehicle registration or a notarized letter from your landlord or the homeowner with whom you reside with. These documents can be dropped off at the school, emailed, faxed, sent in with your child or mailed to your child’s school.
Notification to the Transportation Department will occur when proof of residency is received and all changes are updated.
Can the bus stop at our house?
Bus stop locations are developed according to Transportation Policy #810. It is impossible and inefficient for buses to stop at every student’s home. A Special Transportation Request Form can be completed if a parent/guardian feels their child’s bus stop location is unsafe or too far from the child’s home. Due to the high volume of changes at the beginning of the school year, the Transportation Office may take a few weeks to respond.
Bus stop locations are developed according to Transportation Policy #810. It is impossible and inefficient for buses to stop at every student’s home. A Special Transportation Request Form can be completed if a parent/guardian feels their child’s bus stop location is unsafe or too far from the child’s home. Due to the high volume of changes at the beginning of the school year, the Transportation Office may take a few weeks to respond.
Is my child allowed to have more than one bus assignment?
A child is permitted to have one bus assignment in the morning and a different assignment in the afternoon, but they must be consistent every day of the week. Exceptions are made due to split custody arrangements. The child’s parent/guardian must complete and submit a Custody-Transportation Request Form to the District’s Transportation Office. The request will be reviewed and a written response will be sent to the parent/guardian. In most cases, the request will be approved provided there is adequate seating available on the bus involved. You should be aware that due to the high volume of requests received at the beginning of each school year, approval may take several weeks.
A child is permitted to have one bus assignment in the morning and a different assignment in the afternoon, but they must be consistent every day of the week. Exceptions are made due to split custody arrangements. The child’s parent/guardian must complete and submit a Custody-Transportation Request Form to the District’s Transportation Office. The request will be reviewed and a written response will be sent to the parent/guardian. In most cases, the request will be approved provided there is adequate seating available on the bus involved. You should be aware that due to the high volume of requests received at the beginning of each school year, approval may take several weeks.
Who is responsible for bus discipline?
Students must obey the bus driver at all times while under their supervision. The driver may not remove a student from the bus for disciplinary reasons. However, the driver must report all violations of safety regulations, as well as any behavior problems to the building administrator. A bus conduct report is completed by the bus driver and given to the building administrator at their first opportunity. A copy of the bus conduct report is placed in the student file and the parents are notified. Specific penalties are included in Transportation Policy #810.
Students must obey the bus driver at all times while under their supervision. The driver may not remove a student from the bus for disciplinary reasons. However, the driver must report all violations of safety regulations, as well as any behavior problems to the building administrator. A bus conduct report is completed by the bus driver and given to the building administrator at their first opportunity. A copy of the bus conduct report is placed in the student file and the parents are notified. Specific penalties are included in Transportation Policy #810.
What happens if my child needs picked up or dropped off at a babysitter’s home?
Transportation Policy #810 makes allowances for childcare. If your child needs picked up or dropped off (or both) at a sitter’s, you will need to notify the Transportation Office with the childcare provider’s name, address and telephone number. As with an address change, you should notify the office at least two days prior to needing the change. This will allow adequate time to make any route adjustments needed to accommodate your needs.
Transportation Policy #810 makes allowances for childcare. If your child needs picked up or dropped off (or both) at a sitter’s, you will need to notify the Transportation Office with the childcare provider’s name, address and telephone number. As with an address change, you should notify the office at least two days prior to needing the change. This will allow adequate time to make any route adjustments needed to accommodate your needs.
Who should I contact if I have a problem with a bus route or driver?
Issues involving the bus driver or route should be discussed with the Transportation Office. If you have a problem with disciplinary action initiated by a driver, you should contact your child’s building administrator. For additional information, please refer to the Transportation Policy #810. You should never discuss any issue directly with the driver. The drivers are on a specific time schedule. Furthermore, the bus stop is not the appropriate place to discuss disciplinary issues due to a student’s right-to-privacy.
PLEASE NOTE, it is illegal for anyone other then students or district employees to board school buses.
Issues involving the bus driver or route should be discussed with the Transportation Office. If you have a problem with disciplinary action initiated by a driver, you should contact your child’s building administrator. For additional information, please refer to the Transportation Policy #810. You should never discuss any issue directly with the driver. The drivers are on a specific time schedule. Furthermore, the bus stop is not the appropriate place to discuss disciplinary issues due to a student’s right-to-privacy.
PLEASE NOTE, it is illegal for anyone other then students or district employees to board school buses.
How am I notified of my child’s bus assignment?
Two weeks prior to the start of school, your child’s bus information can be found in the Skyward-Home Access Center. The Home Access Center will specify your child’s morning and afternoon bus stop and bus number. It will give approximate pick-up and drop-off times. Additionally, phone calls will be sent out district wide with your child’s bus information. Because these times are estimated through a computer-generated program, it is important that your child be at their assigned stop at least ten minutes prior to their designated pick-up time, especially for the first week of school. During that week, routes are “fine-tuned” and times may change slightly. Once the route has been operating for a week, you will have a better observation on what time your child’s bus arrives.
Two weeks prior to the start of school, your child’s bus information can be found in the Skyward-Home Access Center. The Home Access Center will specify your child’s morning and afternoon bus stop and bus number. It will give approximate pick-up and drop-off times. Additionally, phone calls will be sent out district wide with your child’s bus information. Because these times are estimated through a computer-generated program, it is important that your child be at their assigned stop at least ten minutes prior to their designated pick-up time, especially for the first week of school. During that week, routes are “fine-tuned” and times may change slightly. Once the route has been operating for a week, you will have a better observation on what time your child’s bus arrives.
Does a parent/guardian need to be at the bus stop?
Parents or another responsible person must be at the bus stop to get Kindergarten students off the bus. If no one is at the stop, the Kindergarten students will be brought back to the school and it will be the parent’s responsibility to pick the student up at the school.
It is recommended that parents of elementary students in 1st – 5th grade be at the bus stop.
Parental supervision at the bus stop is very important and helpful to keep the students safe.
Parents or another responsible person must be at the bus stop to get Kindergarten students off the bus. If no one is at the stop, the Kindergarten students will be brought back to the school and it will be the parent’s responsibility to pick the student up at the school.
It is recommended that parents of elementary students in 1st – 5th grade be at the bus stop.
Parental supervision at the bus stop is very important and helpful to keep the students safe.
How does the district handle custody agreements?
The student(s) will be allowed to have two different bus assignments if the approved custodial agreement stipulates shared custody in increments of one (1) week or more. The parent/guardian will have to send a completed Custody-Transportation Request Form and provide a custody calendar to the Transportation Department. The custody calendar will be shared with both bus driver’s and the school the child attends. If approved, the student will be authorized to ride two different buses and will be placed on both bus rosters.
The student(s) will be allowed to have two different bus assignments if the approved custodial agreement stipulates shared custody in increments of one (1) week or more. The parent/guardian will have to send a completed Custody-Transportation Request Form and provide a custody calendar to the Transportation Department. The custody calendar will be shared with both bus driver’s and the school the child attends. If approved, the student will be authorized to ride two different buses and will be placed on both bus rosters.
How are seating charts developed?
It is a state law that mandates each bus driver have a seating chart. Seating charts are necessary to keep an organized bus. The driver is responsible for and has the authority to create their own seating charts. Parents may request seating arrangements for their children, but the driver has the final decision as far as to the student’s seating assignment. Most drivers make seating assignments by grade level.
It is a state law that mandates each bus driver have a seating chart. Seating charts are necessary to keep an organized bus. The driver is responsible for and has the authority to create their own seating charts. Parents may request seating arrangements for their children, but the driver has the final decision as far as to the student’s seating assignment. Most drivers make seating assignments by grade level.
Can my child occasionally ride the bus home with a friend?
Bus passes are provided to students by building administration and should only be used for emergency purposes. The parent must send a note to school with the child specifying what bus and stop they wish their child to use on a specified day. The building administrator will issue a bus pass for that child authorizing the ride provided it is a Board-approved bus stop and there is seating available on the vehicle. The student should give the bus driver the bus pass upon entering the bus. If a bus pass is needed for the morning route it is necessary to send a note to school the day before.
Bus passes are provided to students by building administration and should only be used for emergency purposes. The parent must send a note to school with the child specifying what bus and stop they wish their child to use on a specified day. The building administrator will issue a bus pass for that child authorizing the ride provided it is a Board-approved bus stop and there is seating available on the vehicle. The student should give the bus driver the bus pass upon entering the bus. If a bus pass is needed for the morning route it is necessary to send a note to school the day before.
How is it determined which elementary school my child will attend?
In general, students living east of and including Mainsville Road, as well as students living south of East Creek Road and east of Route 696, attend James Burd Elementary. All other students attend Nancy Grayson Elementary. School assignments can vary, however, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools. These exceptions are done for educational purposes. For additional information regarding the assignment of students within the District, refer to Board Policy #206.
In general, students living east of and including Mainsville Road, as well as students living south of East Creek Road and east of Route 696, attend James Burd Elementary. All other students attend Nancy Grayson Elementary. School assignments can vary, however, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools. These exceptions are done for educational purposes. For additional information regarding the assignment of students within the District, refer to Board Policy #206.
What is the walking distance to school?
State law permits schools to have a walking distance of 2 miles for secondary school students and 1½ miles for elementary schools. Our District’s School Board of Directors has reduced these distances for our students. As indicated in Board Policy #810, the walking distance for secondary students is 1½ miles and 1/2 mile for elementary students.
State law permits schools to have a walking distance of 2 miles for secondary school students and 1½ miles for elementary schools. Our District’s School Board of Directors has reduced these distances for our students. As indicated in Board Policy #810, the walking distance for secondary students is 1½ miles and 1/2 mile for elementary students.
Why are seat belts not required on school buses?
Buses are designed with safety in mind. They are heavier and experience less crash force than smaller cars and trucks. School buses also have high padded seats specifically designed to absorb impact. More children are injured/killed around school buses than inside school buses. Studies show that seat belts are of little value in the majority of fatal bus accidents. Furthermore, if seat belts are installed there is no guarantee that students will use them properly. “School buses already are the safest form of motor vehicle transportation, with a fatality rate that is nearly six times lower than passenger vehicles. On average, fewer than eight passengers die in school bus crashes every year, even though 474,000 school buses carry 25.1 million children more than 4.8 billion miles annually.” Mary Peters, US Transportation Secretary.
Buses are designed with safety in mind. They are heavier and experience less crash force than smaller cars and trucks. School buses also have high padded seats specifically designed to absorb impact. More children are injured/killed around school buses than inside school buses. Studies show that seat belts are of little value in the majority of fatal bus accidents. Furthermore, if seat belts are installed there is no guarantee that students will use them properly. “School buses already are the safest form of motor vehicle transportation, with a fatality rate that is nearly six times lower than passenger vehicles. On average, fewer than eight passengers die in school bus crashes every year, even though 474,000 school buses carry 25.1 million children more than 4.8 billion miles annually.” Mary Peters, US Transportation Secretary.