Transportation

Below is transportation information for parents. We want you to know how to contact us, what your student can expect on the school bus, and how you can help us safely transport your children.

School buses are one of the safest modes of transportation. Caring drivers, extensive driver training, high quality standards for school buses, and good student training are some of the things making school bus transportation exceptionally safe.

Safe transportation depends on the support of our parents.

Please carefully review the information below so together we can support the safe transportation of our children.

We can be reached at 509-925-8100.

Route Assignment

Please contact the transportation center for routing information. Your student must be registered to ride the bus before he or she may ride.

Please communicate address changes to your student’s school before requesting routing changes.

Please allow up to three days from the time you call to the time your student may begin riding the school bus.

Students are normally assigned to one bus stop in the morning and one bus stop in the afternoon. Sometimes, alternate or one-time arrangements can be made. These kinds of arrangements should be minimized and students must be able to execute them without assistance.

To obtain additional information on alternate or one-time routing, please call Transportation. If you choose alternate routing arrangements, it is essential for safety that in all cases you, your student, and the school bus driver all know to what bus stop your student is to go.

Route Numbers

Students are assigned to buses by route number. Route numbers are posted on the black and white display to the left of the bus entry door. Route numbers are often not the same as bus numbers.

Crossing the Road

If your student needs to cross the road at the bus stop, please make sure your student stands to the side of the road and waits for the bus driver’s signal before crossing.

Success on the Bus

The most important thing your student can do on the bus is to listen for the school bus driver’s directions and to immediately follow them. The bus driver will let students know what they need to do to be safe.

Rules for School Bus Riders

  1. Follow the school bus driver’s directions the first time they are given.
  2. Remain seated and face forward.
  3. Use a quiet voice.
  4. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
  5. Respect others.

Consequences if the Rules are Broken

  1. Verbal warning.
  2. Immediate consequence (separation from friends, for example).
  3. Misconduct report.
Misconduct reports tell what happened, what should have happened, and what consequences will result.

Each misconduct report comes with a consequence, usually:

  1. Warning
  2. 1-day suspension from the bus.
  3. 3-day suspension from the bus.
  4. 5-day suspension from the bus.
  5. 10-day suspension from the bus.
  6. 45-day suspension from the bus.

Misconduct reports will be mailed to your mailing address. You may also receive a phone call.

What You Can Do to Help

  • Make sure your student is visible at the bus stop 5 minutes before the stop time. The bus will not stop if no student is visible.
  • Review the bus rules with your student. Make sure your student understands what is expected of him or her when riding the school bus.
  • Alert your school bus driver if you have questions or concerns.
  • Please do not board the school bus unless the driver directs you to do so because of security concerns.
  • Make certain your student knows his or her route numbers, especially if he or she transfers.
  • Call us if you have questions or concerns.

School Delay or Cancellation

In the event of bad weather or an emergency, school may be delayed or cancelled. In some cases, not all schools will be affected. To find out about school delays or closures, you can:
·Listen to KXLE: 1240 AM & 95.3 FM
·Check the web sites:

http://schoolreport.org

School Bus Delay or Emergency

  • Students may be delayed due to a school bus breakdown, an accident, or another kind of emergency. In most emergency situations, students will be delivered to their planned destination following the emergency. In the event of a transportation emergency, please:
  • Remain calm.
  • Do not attempt to pick your student up at the location of the emergency.
  • Be ready to meet your student at the location where you had planned to meet him or her before the emergency.
  • Be available at one of the phone numbers on file with your student’s school.
  • Follow directions given by district officials.

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