Special Needs Transportation

• Bus drivers are not allowed to use the horn or to phone homes to announce the arrival of the bus.
• Drivers and assistants are not permitted to walk to a home’s door in either the morning or afternoon.
• Assistants may walk across the street with students who need assistance.

• Students are asked to be ready five minutes ahead of the scheduled pickup time. They should be outdoors in plain view of the bus driver, at their bus stop.
• Drivers will wait one minute after the scheduled pickup time before leaving unless someone comes to the door of the bus to advise the driver that the student will be boarding the bus shortly. Drivers may not be able to wait much longer than one minute if waiting will make the bus late on the rest of its route.
• If a student will not be riding the bus, parents or guardians are asked to call at least one hour before the scheduled pickup time. Service will be discontinued if a student does not ride the bus for three consecutive school days without notification from the parent or guardian. Parents or guardians can call the service terminal to resume service.

• Parents or guardians should have someone available to meet the bus at the drop-off location 30 minutes before the scheduled drop-off time. Special needs routes may run early when not all students ride.
• A student may be left with a designated neighbor or at home alone only if it is designated in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP).
• If a student may not be left alone and no one is at the designated drop-off point to receive the student, Transportation will attempt to call the residence. If no contact is made, Transportation will then:
  • Call emergency and work phone numbers to notify the parent or guardian.
  • Contact the home school to return the student, if possible.
  • If no contact can be made, the bus will bring the student to the bus terminal. If the parent or guardian still cannot be contacted, Transportation will call the appropriate police or social services agency.

To make changes to their student’s transportation information, parents or guardians should contact a member of their school's special education team. They will provide this information to the appropriate special education field technician for processing a new 1066 Form. After this form has been received and the route rescheduled, the transportation specialist will attempt to contact the parent by telephone. Failing this, a notice will be sent home.

The Transportation team appreciates when the same bus stop location is used for morning pickup and afternoon dropoff, if possible. If approved, the pick-up address may be different from the drop-off address as long as it remains consistent Monday through Friday.

• The student's name should be marked on medications.
• Medications should be given to the driver or assistant for safekeeping during transportation.
• All other belongings can be sent in a bag (send loose money in an envelope).
• All bags, envelopes and other items should be marked with the student's name.

• Students should be dressed appropriately for weather conditions. Students may have to wait outside for the bus either at home or at the school in inclement weather.
• Parents or guardians should be sure students are not wet or soiled.
• Because of the danger of choking, Transportation prefers students not eat or drink while on the bus. Allowances may be made if the student's IEP or a doctor's written request indicates that eating or drinking for medical purposes should be allowed on the bus.

• Wheelchairs, walkers, car seats or other devices the student rides in or on, or equipment that might need to be transported on the bus, must be in good repair.
• Wheelchair brakes must be in good working condition and kept locked while the chair is on the bus.
• For the safety of all passengers, we recommend that all battery-powered devices use gel-type batteries instead of lead-acid batteries.
• Wheelchairs and other seating devices must be equipped with appropriate belts to secure the passenger in the device; velcro-type fasteners are not sufficient. Belts must be fastened when riding on the bus.
• Mobility devices may be subject to inspection and manufacturer's suggestion.
• Wheelchairs should be washed regularly to keep them clean.