Why is the bus late and why was I not called?
A variety of situations may cause delays, including traffic, road closures, weather, vehicle breakdowns, trains, or late employees. Although we plan for some of these delays, it is impossible to anticipate all of them. It is also impossible to serve and notify parents of over 10,000 students each day of delays. Parents need to be prepared for delays by having alternative plans for their children regarding sitters, etc. You may check the MCCSC website (see http://www.mccsc.edu and/or http://businfo.mccsc.edu/ for more information).

How will I be notified of a change to my child's bus stop?
The transportation department determines all changes of bus stops and bus stop times following the current school board policies. All changes are submitted to each school and any stop or time change is given to the affected student through the driver. This is usually done on the afternoon route. Parents should watch for notices from transportation.

I got home late (p.m.) and the bus has not dropped off my child. The school is closed. What should I do?
If you are late or going to be late, it is important that you contact our office and and someone will radio the driver of your situation. A driver will not wait more than the usual drop off time for you. If you are not home, the student will continue on the route and the driver will return after the last stop. If at that time there is no parent contact, the Transportation Department is directed to call the police or Child Protection Services. It is repeated here that parents need alternative numbers for the driver to call in the event of emergencies.

What can I do to make my child's bus ride successful?
Be sure your child has identification on his/her person or backpack, with phone numbers and a current address. Walk your child through the route, the stop and what to do in an emergency. Make sure your child knows his/her bus number. Teach your child not to get off the bus at other stops to play. This results in lost children and frantic parents.

Whom do I call with questions?
Call the Transportation Department at 330-7719. We suggest that you not call to ask when the bus is going to come. If you have access to the internet please check the website for late bus info. When you call, have the following information ready: bus number, school, child's name and bus stop location.

Will my child have the same bus driver every day?
Every effort is made to have the same driver for your child everyday. However, drivers are absent for many reasons and it is necessary to use our substitute drivers when this occurs. Depending on availability, you may have several different drivers, even on the same day. All drivers, including substitute drivers, have extensive training and thorough background checks. They have a minimum of 40 hours of on the road and classroom training before they transport students. They are drug tested on a random basis and undergo a DOT yearly physical.

How long should my child wait for the bus?
We recommend that students wait for their bus for 15 minutes or so before returning home and then they need to call transportation. If it is our fault that the bus is late, we will send a bus back as soon as one becomes available. Due to time constraints, the same bus is not always sent back out for the pickup. Transportation will call the student's home and tell them to go back to the bus stop. If the child misses the bus on his own, we do not send a bus back. We also use a global tracking system (GPS) to verify where and what time a bus was at a stop. *It is important that students have an alternate plan, a way to call the parent, or transportation when they miss the bus, especially in bad weather.

Can I have my child picked up or dropped off at a day care or relative that is not in my child's school zone?
Transportation offers one (1) alternate address for child care, etc. This must be within the child's school assignment area boundaries. We do not transport out of the child's school district.

Lost and Found
Drivers are required to walk their bus after each bus route looking for students, book bags, musical instruments, etc. Any personal items will be held on the bus until the next day. Musical instruments are stored in the Vehicle Maintenance Facility overnight or until a parent can pick them up. All student items should be clearly labeled with student information and a current phone number.

I was told I can't board the bus, is this true?
We ask that parents do not board the bus as they are not authorized passengers. The school bus is considered private property and the safety of all students is our responsibility. If a parent boards a bus without permission, it will be considered trespassing and could be subject to prosecution.

In bad weather can my child be dropped off at home?
It is the parent's responsibility to provide their children with the appropriate clothing for the current weather conditions.