We've moved; how do I find out where my child's bus stop is?
Every school has a set of the routes and maps for their attendance area.  Please check with the school for that information.  Middle and high school students can get this information themselves, because they have to get a bus pass from the office.  If there doesn't appear to be a stop available, the school will call us for assistance.

My child has been at his school all year.  Now we are moving into another school zone and I don't want to transfer him in the middle of the year.  Will there be a bus to take him back to his old school from our new address?
For a regular student:  If you are moving out of the attendance area and you want him to remain at the old school, you will have to furnish your own transportation.
For a magnet or shuttle student:  You will need to furnish verification of your new address to the school or to Student Services, and they will fax that information to us.  A decision about transportation will be made based on the new address, and you will be contacted.  NOTE:  If your new address is not on the established bus lines, you may have to provide your own transportation until the next update at the end of the six weeks.
For a special education student:  Notify the Special Education office at Columbus Roberts about your new address, and they will fax that information to us.  The supervisor will make a new bus assignment, and you will be contacted by a driver.  Be aware that there could be a three-five day turnaround for this process to take place.  We cannot guarantee next-day service.

My child needs to go home on a different bus/get off at a different stop; what is the proper procedure?
You must send a note to the school, and get the principal's signature giving permission.  This has to be done each time and is always contingent upon the principal's approval.  The driver will not allow your child to get off at a different stop without authorization from the principal.  This applies to all students, including high school.  Please understand this is for your child's safety.

If my child is in kindergarten, should I be at the bus stop to meet him?
For your child's safety and your peace of mind, someone should be at the stop to meet any student who is in grades K-2.  The driver cannot wait at the stop to watch all the students walk to their homes.  Also, very young students may get lost or distracted on the way home.  Please have someone there who will make sure your child gets home safely.  Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure your child is safe to and from the bus stop.

My child is the only one at his stop, and the bus goes right down my street.  Can't the bus stop at my house?
We would like to accommodate every student; however, it is impossible to do so.  Bus stops are established at corners to serve an entire neighborhood.  Clustering students to stops helps improve route efficiency and minimize travel time.

The bus driver has suspended my child from the bus; what can I do?
The driver does not have the authority to suspend anyone from the bus.  The principal or assistant principal are the only ones who can make the decision to suspend a student.  You should call the school and make an appointment to see the administrator.

I just found out that my child cannot bring her band instrument on the bus.  Why not?
If the instrument is too large to be held on the lap, or the bus is already close to capacity, then there is no room for instruments.  Our obligation and primary purpose is to transport students, and they take precedence over band instruments.  However, if the bus is not too full, and the instrument is a small one, then it can be carried on the bus and held on the student's lap.

My child left his jacket on the bus; how can I get it back?
The driver will check the bus at the end of each run, morning and afternoon.  Any found items will be held on the bus for several days to give the owner the opportunity to claim them.  Your child should check with the driver the next time he rides the bus.

The bus is so crowded that sometimes my child doesn't have a seat.  Can't another bus pick up some of the children?
Our drivers are generally the first to alert us to an overcrowding situation.  When this comes to our attention, we will analyze the bus and the route.  Students are expected to make room for other students to sit down as they board and sit three to a seat whenever possible.  If the bus is still overcrowded, we will take steps to correct the problem.

My child's elementary school dismisses at 3:15.  Our house is just two miles from the school, but my child doesn't get off at his bus stop until after 4:00.  What's the delay?
Virtually all of our buses serve multiple schools.  Most have a high school route starting at 2:30, then go on to a middle school route at 3:05.  The elementary school bell rings at 3:15 while the middle school routes are still being run.  As soon as their middle school routes are finished, the busses report to their elementary schools.

Why aren't there seat belts on school busses?
Studies conducted since 1969 consistently show that compartmentalization is much more effective than two-point seat belts in protecting children. Compartmentalization was mandated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards more than 20 years ago; the old metal seats were replaced with strong, well-anchored, closely spaced, high-backed seats, padded both front and back.  It is the "egg-crate" theory; children, like the eggs, will move in a confined space but are generally protected from impacts by the padded seating and close construction.  Statistics have proved that children are many times safer in a bus than in a passenger car.

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