Q. My bus is late, what should I do?
There are times when your school bus may arrive later than the scheduled pick-up/drop-off time. Some reasons for inconsistent times are road detours, traffic, inclement weather, discipline problems and mechanical difficulties. If your bus does not arrive within 15 minutes of your scheduled time, contact the Transportation Office at 687-8003 and they will advise you of the status of the bus.
Q. What should I do if my child misses the school bus?
If your child misses the bus because of an error on our part, call the Transportation Office and explain the situation to the dispatcher. We will do everything possible to get your child to school. If your child misses the bus because he/she was not at the bus stop on time, you will be responsible for transporting your child.
Q. There is a different bus and or driver for my child today, why?
Due to the scheduling of bus repairs and inspections, a spare bus will fill in for your regular bus when it is in the garage. At times you will see a different bus number and/or a different bus driver. Don't be concerned, this is just a combination of events.
Q. Why don't you pick my children up in front of our house?
With over 1,000 students being transported, it is neither safe nor economically feasible to stop at every single home in the district. Centralized stops are created for all grades, in order to provide a safe stopping place for the bus, and convenience to all the students using that stop.
Q. Who is allowed to ride the school bus during the bus route?
For the safety of the students and the bus driver, only students assigned to the bus route are allowed on the bus. Parents, guardians, friends etc. are not allowed to board the bus. If necessary, law enforcement personnel will be called to the bus stop to enforce this policy.
Q. Do I have to stop for a stopped school bus with the red lights flashing on school grounds?
YES! The most dangerous violation of passing a stopped school bus occurs on school grounds while parents and guardians are picking up or dropping off children. The law states you must come to a complete stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing. This includes when on school property. The fines for passing a stopped school bus were dramatically increased. For a first offense, the penalty is a minimum of $250.00 to a maximum of $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days or both and five points on your license. Passing a stopped school bus can cost you a lot of money. But, of course, it can cost much, much more than that.
Q. Am I allowed to take my child off the bus at the school after they board the bus at dismissal time?
No. For the protection of the child, you must get permission from the schools main office. A school official will escort you to the bus and tell the driver that it is all right to release the child to your custody. This may seem extreme, but given the climate of our society, we cannot be too careful when it comes to the welfare of your child.