Talk to me about the school bus!

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I have lived pretty much my whole life in a city where only kids with disabilities ride buses -- everyone else walks to school, or take public transport of wherever. I am a special ed teacher, so I know how the buses work here, but I assume they aren't "normal".

We're moving this summer to a school district with buses, and my son will have the option of riding a bus to his new middle school. It would pick him and a bunch of other kids up a block from our new condo.

Anyway, I'm curious how flexible the buses are -- in your area, would the following be allowed. (None of these would be allowed where I live, but again it's special ed bussing which is totally different).

1) Ride the bus sometimes, and othertimes not, without prior warning. We're in biking distance so let's say he usually bikes but then one day he's going to stay late for play practice or it's raining or whatever -- could he just run out and hop on the bus?

2) After school one day, just get on the bus that goes to Grandma's (a mile away, zoned for the same school) instead of to our place?

3) Get off the bus at a different stop from his "regular" stop, for example if he wanted to run an errand on the way home, or go to an after school activity, again without prior arrangement.

4) Bring a friend home with him on the bus.

Thanks!

 

[minkydog]

In my area students can go home with another student, get off at another stop, or go to Grandma's house IF they have written permission from the parent and IF there is room on the bus to take him. Never assume that there is. In my district the buses are at capacity and NO ONE goes home on any bus but their own.

I'd suggest that you talk to their transportation department directly.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

In my area students can go home with another student, get off at another stop, or go to Grandma's house IF they have written permission from the parent and IF there is room on the bus to take him. Never assume that there is. In my district the buses are at capacity and NO ONE goes home on any bus but their own.

I'd suggest that you talk to their transportation department directly.

Same here...

 

[Mkrop]

I have lived pretty much my whole life in a city where only kids with disabilities ride buses -- everyone else walks to school, or take public transport of wherever. I am a special ed teacher, so I know how the buses work here, but I assume they aren't "normal".

We're moving this summer to a school district with buses, and my son will have the option of riding a bus to his new middle school. It would pick him and a bunch of other kids up a block from our new condo.

Anyway, I'm curious how flexible the buses are -- in your area, would the following be allowed. (None of these would be allowed where I live, but again it's special ed bussing which is totally different).

1) Ride the bus sometimes, and othertimes not, without prior warning. We're in biking distance so let's say he usually bikes but then one day he's going to stay late for play practice or it's raining or whatever -- could he just run out and hop on the bus?

2) After school one day, just get on the bus that goes to Grandma's (a mile away, zoned for the same school) instead of to our place?

3) Get off the bus at a different stop from his "regular" stop, for example if he wanted to run an errand on the way home, or go to an after school activity, again without prior arrangement.

4) Bring a friend home with him on the bus.

Thanks!

I think different school district buses may have different rules but I can answer for ours

1) Flexibility of riding the bus somedays would depend on your bus stop. If others are normally at your bus stop, you can come and go and ride when you feel like it. If you are the only one it would be common courtesy to tell them you are not riding the bus. Like for example a friend of mine cancelled the morning stop bc it was too early. Or let you driver know that on Wed afternoons, child has practice so he wont ride but will ride every other day. Our bus driver is great and knows the kids schedules better than I do.

2) The only way for Grandma's to be a stop is if she is already on the route. My kdis are assigned to ride one bus and one bus only, but can get off at other stops along the route.

3)Our bus driver would let the student off at an already determined bus stop but only with parental approval. Like my kdis have gotten off at friends' houses bc I knew I would be late from an appt or they even just wanted to play over there, but they must have a note.

4) The only friend they can have over is one that already rides the bus and once again has parental approval beforehand.

Hope this helps, like I said it may not be the same where you live

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Can I write blanket permission? For example, if I know my son is going to swim practice several times a week, and his bus goes past the subway stop that would take him there (I'm assuming the "not if the bus is full" part doesn't apply when it's the same bus, right?), can I write the bus driver a note that says he can get off there whenever he says he needs to, or is it like his current elementary school where I write a note each time there's a change in pick up.

 

[Sorsha]

Anyway, I'm curious how flexible the buses are -- in your area, would the following be allowed. (None of these would be allowed where I live, but again it's special ed bussing which is totally different).

1) Ride the bus sometimes, and othertimes not, without prior warning. We're in biking distance so let's say he usually bikes but then one day he's going to stay late for play practice or it's raining or whatever -- could he just run out and hop on the bus?
As long as he is "registered" for the bus, yes. Lots of kids where I live do this.

2) After school one day, just get on the bus that goes to Grandma's (a mile away, zoned for the same school) instead of to our place?
Where we live, this is a bit more of a hassle. We would need to call the transportation office a few days in advance, and find out if there was room on the bus he would need to ride. If there was room, the office would OK it and notify the bus driver. I would send a note that day, to remind the bus driver.

3) Get off the bus at a different stop from his "regular" stop, for example if he wanted to run an errand on the way home, or go to an after school activity, again without prior arrangement.
Yes, lots of kids do this too. All that's required is a note from the parents.

4) Bring a friend home with him on the bus.
As with #2, friend's parents would need to have called the transportation office and OK'd everything with them a few days before. Friend's parents would also need to send a note.

Thanks!

My answers above, in red. We live in a pretty rural area, so I think there aren't quite the security concerns that there might be in a more populated area. Our buses are, however, quite full. On any given day there may not be enough room on the bus for random extra children, hence the need to pre-arrange things in advance.

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

1) Ride the bus sometimes, and othertimes not, without prior warning. We're in biking distance so let's say he usually bikes but then one day he's going to stay late for play practice or it's raining or whatever -- could he just run out and hop on the bus?

2) After school one day, just get on the bus that goes to Grandma's (a mile away, zoned for the same school) instead of to our place?

3) Get off the bus at a different stop from his "regular" stop, for example if he wanted to run an errand on the way home, or go to an after school activity, again without prior arrangement.

4) Bring a friend home with him on the bus.

Thanks!

Both of my girls (11/6) ride the bus. Here is how it works with us:

You can drop them off/get to school another way without warning at our school, but to be a "car or walker" AFTER school is out you have to send a note with the kiddos or they HAVE to get on their bus. Also our school calls to confirm you sent the note so make sure you have a phone nearby and correct info on file or they again HAVE to get on their regular bus.

Everything else you asked has to have the all powerful note (the friend would have to have one as well) as well as permission from the school. For the grandma question talk to the school..if it is a SET schedule of certain days then they can make allowances for him to ride the other bus those days..but it can all differ with schools so talk to the principal.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Can I write blanket permission? For example, if I know my son is going to swim practice several times a week, and his bus goes past the subway stop that would take him there (I'm assuming the "not if the bus is full" part doesn't apply when it's the same bus, right?), can I write the bus driver a note that says he can get off there whenever he says he needs to, or is it like his current elementary school where I write a note each time there's a change in pick up.

You could do this at our school. You would just need the note kept on file at the school, and the bus driver would have to be made aware of the agreement by the school.

Also, our elementary school will not allow a child to get off the bus at a home without a car in the driveway, so be aware of similar rules.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I have lived pretty much my whole life in a city where only kids with disabilities ride buses -- everyone else walks to school, or take public transport of wherever. I am a special ed teacher, so I know how the buses work here, but I assume they aren't "normal".

We're moving this summer to a school district with buses, and my son will have the option of riding a bus to his new middle school. It would pick him and a bunch of other kids up a block from our new condo.

Anyway, I'm curious how flexible the buses are -- in your area, would the following be allowed. (None of these would be allowed where I live, but again it's special ed bussing which is totally different).

1) Ride the bus sometimes, and othertimes not, without prior warning. We're in biking distance so let's say he usually bikes but then one day he's going to stay late for play practice or it's raining or whatever -- could he just run out and hop on the bus?

2) After school one day, just get on the bus that goes to Grandma's (a mile away, zoned for the same school) instead of to our place?

3) Get off the bus at a different stop from his "regular" stop, for example if he wanted to run an errand on the way home, or go to an after school activity, again without prior arrangement.

4) Bring a friend home with him on the bus.

Thanks!

Most of this would not be allowed in our district. I think you will have to contact the school to find out your rules. Our district tries as hard as possible to pack as many kids as is safely possible onto every bus to reduce costs. Alot of busses have exactly the legal amount of children assigned to each bus. A child may be allowed to go home on another bus IF they had a parent note but then it has to be approved by the driver. Sometimes it's denied because there are no extra seats on that bus. A child would never be let off at a house that was not a regular stop. If Grandma's house isn't somewhere that the bus stops every day, then the driver isn't allowed to drop there.

 

[minkydog]

Can I write blanket permission? For example, if I know my son is going to swim practice several times a week, and his bus goes past the subway stop that would take him there (I'm assuming the "not if the bus is full" part doesn't apply when it's the same bus, right?), can I write the bus driver a note that says he can get off there whenever he says he needs to, or is it like his current elementary school where I write a note each time there's a change in pick up.

In my district, this would not happen. Buses are only allowed to stop at designated stops. It has to do with gas usage--stopping and starting uses more gas. There is also the liability issue they might incur by allowing a minor to get off the bus along the road somewhere for him to go do whatever he's going to do. Do you see where i'm coming from? I'm sure your son is very trust-worthy and mature, but in the school system's eyes they are not going to see that. All they will see is $$$$$$$ in litigation should your son get run over or abducted. I doubt your little note would give them a leg to stand on.

 

[laurie31]

In my area students can go home with another student, get off at another stop, or go to Grandma's house IF they have written permission from the parent and IF there is room on the bus to take him. Never assume that there is. In my district the buses are at capacity and NO ONE goes home on any bus but their own.

I'd suggest that you talk to their transportation department directly.

Ditto here. Written permission is required.

DD had sports 3 times a week after school for most of the year, so those days she didn't get on the bus. Also, if she has a dentist/doctor appt. after school, then I pick her up. The school knows about the sports practices (since it's a school team) but I have to send a note or call the office and change her afternoon transportation if she's not going home on the bus otherwise. She can't just decide on her own not to get on the bus one day.

By the way, buses overall are much safer than cars, and I prefer DD to ride the bus, although I drive her in the mornings because the schedule is so wonky (she'd have to get up an hour earlier to catch the bus, and I can drive her in 7 minutes. In the afternoons, it's a different story).

I have heard stories here on the DIS about discipline problems on buses, but we have not experienced that; our buses have cameras so any problems can be seen objectively, and the drivers do a good job maintaining order. My kids like riding the bus. DD can get most of her homework done during the ride home.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

In my district, this would not happen. Buses are only allowed to stop at designated stops. It has to do with gas usage--stopping and starting uses more gas. There is also the liability issue they might incur by allowing a minor to get off the bus along the road somewhere for him to go do whatever he's going to do. Do you see where i'm coming from? I'm sure your son is very trust-worthy and mature, but in the school system's eyes they are not going to see that. All they will see is $$$$$$$ in litigation should your son get run over or abducted. I doubt your little note would give them a leg to stand on.

We got around this a few years ago by having the grandparents house designated a normal stop...

 

[Ohiodislover]

In our area

The kids don't have to ride the bus every morning, or every evening. If the child is not going to be riding home, a note needs to be sent in the AM with the pick up arrangements, or with what activity the child will be staying at school to do.

My girls used to be able to bring others home on the bus with them, but no longer.

The only time a child can ride another bus home, is in the case of an early/emergency dismissal. This would be indicated in writing. We have a form to fill out with the first of year paperwork.

Kid's have to get off at their normal stop---the driver will not let them get off at a stop that is not their assigned spot. They definitely won't stop at a non designated stop. This drives me insane sometimes. My oldest bus stop is a few blocks away, but the bus drives by our front door to get there. Most of the kids that use that stop live on our block, but yet they all have to hike it in the rain, slush, snow, whatever.

 

[vanillamickey]

I have lived pretty much my whole life in a city where only kids with disabilities ride buses -- everyone else walks to school, or take public transport of wherever. I am a special ed teacher, so I know how the buses work here, but I assume they aren't "normal".

We're moving this summer to a school district with buses, and my son will have the option of riding a bus to his new middle school. It would pick him and a bunch of other kids up a block from our new condo.

Anyway, I'm curious how flexible the buses are -- in your area, would the following be allowed. (None of these would be allowed where I live, but again it's special ed bussing which is totally different).

1) Ride the bus sometimes, and othertimes not, without prior warning. We're in biking distance so let's say he usually bikes but then one day he's going to stay late for play practice or it's raining or whatever -- could he just run out and hop on the bus?

2) After school one day, just get on the bus that goes to Grandma's (a mile away, zoned for the same school) instead of to our place?

3) Get off the bus at a different stop from his "regular" stop, for example if he wanted to run an errand on the way home, or go to an after school activity, again without prior arrangement.

4) Bring a friend home with him on the bus.

Thanks!

In our district, the only one we can do out of those is the first one.

 

[golfgal]

Can I write blanket permission? For example, if I know my son is going to swim practice several times a week, and his bus goes past the subway stop that would take him there (I'm assuming the "not if the bus is full" part doesn't apply when it's the same bus, right?), can I write the bus driver a note that says he can get off there whenever he says he needs to, or is it like his current elementary school where I write a note each time there's a change in pick up.

In our district the only way that they could drop them at the subway stop is if it was already a stop because of the bus schedule otherwise he would have to get off at the stop closest to that and walk to the subway.

 

[Kathi OD]

I have lived pretty much my whole life in a city where only kids with disabilities ride buses -- everyone else walks to school, or take public transport of wherever. I am a special ed teacher, so I know how the buses work here, but I assume they aren't "normal".

We're moving this summer to a school district with buses, and my son will have the option of riding a bus to his new middle school. It would pick him and a bunch of other kids up a block from our new condo.

Anyway, I'm curious how flexible the buses are -- in your area, would the following be allowed. (None of these would be allowed where I live, but again it's special ed bussing which is totally different).

1) Ride the bus sometimes, and othertimes not, without prior warning. We're in biking distance so let's say he usually bikes but then one day he's going to stay late for play practice or it's raining or whatever -- could he just run out and hop on the bus?
Yep, they do it all the time.
2) After school one day, just get on the bus that goes to Grandma's (a mile away, zoned for the same school) instead of to our place?
Where we used to live this was not allowed due to insurance reasons. Students were only allowed to ride the bus to which they were assigned. Here, kids can go home with a friend or to Grandma's with written permission from a parent/guardian. Usually a note has to be written for each instance, unless it's say every Tuesday or for an entire week. Then one note will do.
3) Get off the bus at a different stop from his "regular" stop, for example if he wanted to run an errand on the way home, or go to an after school activity, again without prior arrangement.
Again, as long as you've written a note for each instance.
4) Bring a friend home with him on the bus.
Just like #2, only in reverse.
Thanks!

.

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

Here you are only allowed to get on and off at your stop, which is most cases your house! We do not have sidewalks in our neighborhood. If Grandma's house is on a different bus, you would have to ask your district how that works. When I was in school you could ride a different bus with a note to do so, but you had to get off at a designated stop. So for example if there was a stop a block from Grandma's he may be able to get off there and walk to grandma's house? My MIL lives in our town but her neighborhood is another school so that would not be an option for us.

You may be able to pull up the bus rules online for the district you are moving to or call and get a copy so you know how to plan. If you are not riding the bus here in the morning you cannot call because busses run before transportation is open.

To bring a friend home you had to write a note, they had to speak to your parents and contact the bus you would be riding on. If the bus did not expect you you could not ride.

As for the subway, the only subway around here is the kind that has $5 footlongs and they would not drop them off there lol.

 

[NotUrsula]

Also, our elementary school will not allow a child to get off the bus at a home without a car in the driveway, so be aware of similar rules.

That has to be the most ridiculous rule that I've ever heard. What if the family has no car, or only has one car that one parent drives to work? What if they have a side-entry enclosed garage, or one that is at the back of the property? What if the car is in the shop?

I can see insisting for YOUNG kids that an adult meet them at the stop, but basing the safe dropoff on the presence or absence of a car is bizarre.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I have lived pretty much my whole life in a city where only kids with disabilities ride buses -- everyone else walks to school, or take public transport of wherever. I am a special ed teacher, so I know how the buses work here, but I assume they aren't "normal".

We're moving this summer to a school district with buses, and my son will have the option of riding a bus to his new middle school. It would pick him and a bunch of other kids up a block from our new condo.

Anyway, I'm curious how flexible the buses are -- in your area, would the following be allowed. (None of these would be allowed where I live, but again it's special ed bussing which is totally different).

1) Ride the bus sometimes, and othertimes not, without prior warning. We're in biking distance so let's say he usually bikes but then one day he's going to stay late for play practice or it's raining or whatever -- could he just run out and hop on the bus? He could get on the bus in the morning with no problem but if you'd said he'd be riding the bike home every day normally, you would need to write a note in the morning to let the school that he would be on the bus in the afternoon.

2) After school one day, just get on the bus that goes to Grandma's (a mile away, zoned for the same school) instead of to our place? Not without a note from a parent.

3) Get off the bus at a different stop from his "regular" stop, for example if he wanted to run an errand on the way home, or go to an after school activity, again without prior arrangement. Nope. Not without a note.

4) Bring a friend home with him on the bus. never allowed. - We got a note from the bus system saying the buses were too full to allow this. They did when my DD started Kindergarten but no longer allowed it once she hit first grade.
Thanks!

Every school bus system is different from state to state and county to county. You'll need to check at the school.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Can I write blanket permission? For example, if I know my son is going to swim practice several times a week, and his bus goes past the subway stop that would take him there (I'm assuming the "not if the bus is full" part doesn't apply when it's the same bus, right?), can I write the bus driver a note that says he can get off there whenever he says he needs to, or is it like his current elementary school where I write a note each time there's a change in pick up.

You would have to write a note each time in my school district. But the bus would not stop at the Subway unless it is already stopping there for a designated stop. If it's not a designated stop, the bus can't stop to let your child off.