Transportation
Department
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Q. My bus is late, what should I do?
There are
times when your school bus may arrive later than the scheduled pick-up/drop-off
time. Some reasons for inconsistent times are road detours, traffic, inclement
weather, discipline problems and mechanical difficulties. If your bus does not
arrive within 15 minutes of your scheduled time, contact the Transportation
Office at 845-855-4640 and they will advise you of the status of the bus.
Q. What should I do if my child misses the
school bus?
If your
child misses the bus because of an error on our part, call the Transportation
Office and explain the situation to the dispatcher. We will do everything
possible to get your child to school. If your child misses the bus because
he/she was not at the bus stop on time, you will be responsible for
transporting your child. DO NOT FOLLOW THE BUS AND ATTEMPT TO GET THE BUS TO
PULL OVER WHILE IT IS ON ITS ROUTE! It is extremely unsafe for the bus to stop
along the roadway to board your child. Children walking close to the side of
the bus are in danger of getting seriously hurt.
Q. There is a different bus and or driver for my
child today, why?
Due to
the scheduling of bus repairs and inspections, a spare bus will fill in for
your regular bus when it is in the garage. The driver should put a sign in the
bus window to indicate the bus number he/she is representing. If your driver is
absent there will be a substitute driver to drive your children’s bus route. At
times you will see a different bus number and a different bus driver. Don’t be
concerned, this is just a combination of events.
Q.
What is the transportation policy regarding children let off at the bus stop
without a parent or guardian
present?
Students
in grades 2 through 12 will be let off at the bus stop without a parent or
guardian present. Kindergarten, Pre-1st and 1st students will not be let off the bus
unless a parent of guardian is at the stop to meet them. Your child will be
returned to the school if a parent or guardian is not at the stop to receive
the child. You will be responsible for picking your child up from the school.
If you do not want to meet your child at the bus stop you must submit a letter
directly to the Transportation Supervisor advising of this.
Q. Who is allowed to ride the school bus during
the bus route?
For the
safety of the students and the bus driver, only students assigned to the bus
route are allowed on the bus. Parents, guardians, friends, etc. are not allowed
to board the bus. If necessary, law enforcement personnel will be called to the
bus stop to enforce this policy.
Q. Do I have to stop for a stopped school bus
with the red lights flashing on school grounds?
YES! The most dangerous violation of passing a stopped school bus
occurs on school grounds while parents and guardians are picking up or dropping
off children. The law states you must come to a complete stop when approaching
a stopped school bus with it’s red lights flashing.
This includes when on school property. The fines for passing a stopped school
bus were dramatically increased. For a first offense, the penalty is a minimum
of $150.00 to a maximum of $250.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days or
both and five points on your license. Passing a stopped school bus can cost you
a lot of money. But, of course, it can cost much, much more than that.
Q. Am I allowed to
take my child off the bus at the school after they board the bus at dismissal
time?
No. For the protection of the child, you must get permission from the school’s main office. A school official will escort you to the bus and tell the driver that it is all right to release the child to your custody. This may seem extreme, but given the climate of our society, we cannot be too careful when it comes to the welfare of your child.