Transportation

Ellensburg School District And the Office of Transportation are proud to present the new "Parent Portal". Parents everywhere are demanding access to transportation information, from bus and stop information, to the near real-time location of their child’s bus. Parents will now have the information they need in the palm of their hands. Please review the information below and learn how you can set up your Parent Portal access or Click here to watch a video.

Please feel free to contact the Transportation Department with any questions at (509) 925-8100.

 

Safe Transportation is Our #1 Priority
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.

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.

Bus Rules
Authority
  • Driver is in charge of the bus and passengers and their directives must be obeyed the first time they are given
  • School safety for COVID requires assigned seating
  • Students will follow emergency exit drill procedures as directed. Students shall not tamper with emergency doors/equipment.
Passenger Safety
  • Students must stay seated quietly in their seats, facing forward while the bus is in motion and are not to get up until the bus has come to a full stop
  • Students must keep the aisles and emergency exits clear at all times
  • Students may take only those musical instruments that can be secured on the student's lap or between their legs and that won't disrupt the loading and unloading of students
  • Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself
  • No bullying of any kind
  • Be courteous, no profane language will be tolerated. Profanity directed at the driver will result in a bus suspension.
  • Students shall observe classroom conduct while on the bus. Noise shall be kept to a minimum, and no obscene gestures.
  • Windows may be opened with the driver’s permission. Windows will only be opened to the red line or first notch.
  • Keep all body parts inside the bus
  • Do not throw anything on the school bus
  • No littering
  • No talking or distracting sounds will be made while bus is at a designated railroad crossing
  • Give proper name when asked
    *Refusal to give driver proper name will be an automatic suspension
Stop Assignments
  • Students are not allowed to depart the bus at any stop other than the assigned stop without prior permission from parent/guardian
Prohibited Items on School Buses
  • Eating or drinking on the bus is prohibited
  • Students are prohibited from utilizing cell phones on the school bus. Cell phones must be contained out of visibility in a purse, backpack, etc.
  • No breakable, sharp or bulky items. No items can be brought on the bus that cannot be placed on the floor between your legs.
  • No weapons, firearms, flammables, skateboards, rollerblades, balloons, body sprays or lotions
  • All forms of animal life (except service animals)
  • No tobacco, drugs or alcohol products, or ignition source of any kind allowed on the bus
  • No laser pointers
  • Parents/guardians will be required to pay for all damages for which their child is responsible
Loading/Unloading
  • Load and unload in an orderly manner and remain within the bus driver's view at all times. No pushing or shoving.
  • Arrive at the bus stop five (5) minutes prior to bus arrival time
  • Students shall cross in front of the bus only after verifying it is safe to do so and after obtaining the consent of the driver. They must watch for driver’s signal before crossing.
  • Never cross behind the bus
  • Students shall stand away from roadway or curb when any bus is approaching or departing a bus stop or school
  • Students shall not check their mail while the bus is at your stop
  • Once the bus doors are closed and the bus is leaving school, they will not re-open the door for late students
  • Students shall never chase a departing bus
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.

Bus Route Assignment
Students must be registered to ride the bus before they may be allowed to ride. Please contact the Transportation for routing information.

Please communicate address changes to your student’s school before requesting routing changes. Allow up to three (3) 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. Occasionally, alternate or one-time arrangements may be made. These types 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 contact Transportation. If you choose alternate routing arrangements, it is essential for safety in every case that you, your student, and the school bus driver all know which bus stop your student is to go to.

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.

WSP School Bus Stop Rules
The Washington State Patrol would like you to take a few minutes to refresh your knowledge on how to drive safely around buses as they are picking up and dropping off our children.

The law states the $394 fine for failure to stop for a school bus cannot be reduced, suspended, or waived. If you get a ticket for failure to stop for a school bus, you will pay the full amount.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to practice safe driving, especially when children are present.

For more information about driver safety, visit www.wsp.wa.gov.