Transportation

While school bus safety is taught in school, it is important that kindergartners receive bus safety training before their first day of school. As a parent or guardian, you are your child's most influential teacher. Please talk to your child about how to be safe around and on the bus by reviewing the following guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact the District Transportation Office at 651-403-8320. Thank you.

BUS SAFETY GUIDELINES

• Be outside and ready for the bus at the scheduled time. Students should plan to get to the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to stop. The bus cannot wait for a student who is not at the stop when it arrives. Another concern is that bus riders who are late to stops often don't act safely, and may put themselves in more danger than if they were ready on time.
• Wait until the bus is stopped before moving toward the bus and getting on. Sometimes students get anxious to get on the bus as it arrives, so they run forward while the bus is still moving. This is dangerous because a student could slip or fall in front of the bus.
• After getting on the bus, go to a seat, sit down and stay seated. Law requires that students be seated while the bus is moving. Students should sit down quickly so that the bus runs on time. If a student is standing when the bus is moving, injuries could occur.
• Remain quiet on the bus, so you don't distract the driver. While the bus is moving, kids often talk, and that is OK unless it gets too loud. If the driver can't hear important things like sirens or train whistles, or becomes distracted, they can miss something important like a stoplight or a car coming from another direction.
• Follow the directions of the bus driver. The driver is in charge of the bus, and sometimes has to tell students to be quiet, or to sit down, or to wait to get on or off of the bus. The driver’s first priority is to keep students safe.
• Make sure that you get on the right bus - know your bus letters/numbers. The bus that takes a student to school may be different than the one that brings him or her home.
• Always carry a type of identification with your name and address, along with your bus card. If there is a question about the bus or bus stop, the student should get out the identification and bus card and show it to the driver or teacher. The information should be in a student’s backpack at all times. We also encourage families to pin the card directly to the student’s backpack.
• Be ready to get off the bus when it gets near your stop, but don't get up until the bus stops. Sometimes, young students get so involved in a conversation they don't watch for their stop and then they aren't ready to get off the bus when it arrives at their stop. This delays the bus and makes everybody else late. Occasionally, a student will miss his or her stop, and then the bus has to go back to the stop, which makes waiting parents/guardians very concerned.
• After getting off, walk away from the bus.  Don't stay near it. If you have to cross the street, take at least five big steps in front of the bus, and wait until the driver waves before crossing the street. NEVER GO BACK TO THE BUS ONCE YOU ARE OFF OF IT.  IF YOU DROP SOMETHING, WAIT UNTIL THE BUS IS GONE AND THEN GET AN ADULT TO GO WITH YOU TO GET IT. This is extremely important. According to statistics, this is the point at which most student injuries occur. Three key points to make with your child--go five big steps in front of the bus, wait until the driver tells you to cross and never go back to the bus.  If your kindergartner doesn't have to cross the street (we try to avoid it) still take time on these points. The route may change with new riders.

Note: All students in grades K-12 will be dropped off at their stop location whether or not parents/guardians are present. If necessary, parents should be at the stop 5 minutes in advance of the scheduled time and wait at the stop until the bus arrives.

SCHOOL PATROL SAFETY

Founded in the 1920s, school safety patrol programs have been proven to be an effective tool to ensure the safety of students to and from school and on the bus. These programs operate successfully worldwide. Locally, most districts operate a school patrol safety program. 

Here at School District 197, school bus safety patrols improve safety by assisting bus drivers with adherence to rules while the bus is in motion and with the loading and unloading of younger students at school. School crossing safety patrols improve safety by assisting younger children across high traffic intersections next to the schools and with parking lot closure in the morning and afternoon.

Additionally, the school patrol program develops leadership skills for the students participating in the program. It instills in them a sense of responsibility for their actions and for the actions of those around them. Program members are expected to be role models and portray a positive, helpful attitude whether on or off duty.

If your child would like to be a part of their school's safety patrol, please contact the building's main office for more information and an application. If you have other questions about the program please contact:

Transportation Safety Training Specialist
651-403-8320

Busing for after-school activities will be provided on a limited basis for students in grades 5-12 who stay after school to participate in school activities. A map with activity bus routes is posted at each secondary school. Students identify which bus they ride by locating the bus route which travels closest to their home. Bus stop locations for activity routes may be different than the bus stop locations for to and from school routes. Bus stops are within walking distance from students' homes.

Middle School Athletics: 
Activity buses run every day at 5:20 p.m. Students are transported within a few blocks of their home. If games last beyond 5:20 p.m., parents are responsible for providing transportation home from school. Practice will always conclude so that students can ride the activity bus.

The following are not allowed on the school bus: 

• Guns (including play guns) 
• Knives or other sharp objects 
• Gasoline engines or cans 
• Animals, insects, or fish (unless necessary to assist a person with a disability, such as a seeing eye dog.) 
• Matches, lighters 
• Glass items 
• Laser pens 
• Skis, ski poles, hockey sticks 
• Skateboards, scooters 
• Skates — ice and inline 
• Golf clubs, lacrosse sticks
• Baseball bats (unless secured in a backpack)
• Balloons 
• Sleds 
• Rakes 
• Hazardous material 
• Perfumed item such as hairspray (including pumps and aerosol). Items may be carried — but not used — inside the bus. 
• Fingernail polish and fingernail polish remover. 
• Food and Beverages 
• Balls must be kept in a backpack

How will I know which bus my child takes? 
Families receive a postcard the week before school starts showing bus stop locations, bus numbers and times for the school(s) your child(ren) attends. 

Busing for after-school activities will be provided on a limited basis for students in grades 5-12 who stay after school to participate in school activities. A map with activity bus routes is posted at each secondary school. Students identify which bus they ride by locating the bus route which travels closest to their home. Bus stop locations for activity routes may be different than the bus stop locations for to and from school routes. Activity Bus Schedule.

We live close to our child's school. Will busing be provided? 
Bus transportation is available to resident:

• Elementary school students (grades K-4) who live more than 0.75 mile from school 
• Middle school students (grades 5-8) who live more than 1 mile from school 
• High school students (grades 9-12) who live more than 2 miles from school

Students who are eligible to ride a bus and want to receive transportation must register by August 1 each year.

Resident students who are not eligible to ride a bus may request bus service for a fee.

How are bus stop locations determined? 
Bus stops are established so students in grades K-4 who live three quarters of a mile or more from their school, 5-12 who live one mile or more from school are transported to the school in their attendance area. 

Our goal is to consistently identify bus stops in neighborhoods on the basis of safety, efficiency and distance between stops. Generally bus stops are located at an intersection in order for the driver to have a wide area to scan for traffic and students, to create efficient routes and to minimize buses backing up. Please note:

• School bus drivers do not have the authority to change bus routes or student pickup/drop off locations. 
• Bus stops are placed at locations that meet defined criteria, are centrally located and within reasonable walking distances from the student’s home. 
• Activity routes are available. Click here for the Activity Bus Schedule or check with your secondary school as to depart times and bus stop locations. Bus stops are within walking distance from students' homes.

Why do some children have to cross the street to board the school bus? 
We are not able to route buses so that all children can board the bus on the door side. We recommend that children wait on the side of the street that they reside. The bus will stop traffic in all directions to accommodate students that need to cross the street to board the bus. 

We live on a cul-de-sac. Will the bus come down our street? 
Except to transport special education students, buses are not routed down cul-de-sacs because of the danger to small children and property caused by the bus turning around and/or backing up in a small area. 

Our neighborhood has no sidewalks and has hills and curves. Can we have an additional bus stop so our children do not have to walk to the existing stop? 
With the large number of streets and bus stops in our school district, it is necessary for some students to walk on roads that have hills, curves and/or no sidewalks. 

I cannot see the bus stop from my house. 
The school district provides transportation to and from school for more than 6,000 students each day. We are not able to position bus stops so that all parents are able to see the stop from their home. 

My child carries a large musical instrument and/or a heavy backpack; or he/she is the only student using the bus stop, the stop needs to be closer to our home. 
Generally, bus stops are centrally located for all students. Bus stops are not changed to accommodate one or more students because that may displace other students further from their home. Even though other students are not all riding the bus we must keep bus stops as they have been published. A central bus stop is necessary because other students may begin riding the bus or new families may move into the neighborhood. 

It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that their child arrives safely at the bus stop. 

The bus drives right past my house. Why can’t it stop at my house? 
The higher frequency of stops can make the motoring public “impatient.” This results in drivers driving around the bus and causes greater safety concerns than the distance a student has to walk to the bus stop. It also delays the bus by increasing the number of stops, making overall student ride time longer. 

I own a daycare and need the stop at my house because the state requires me to see the students at all times. Why can’t the bus stop be located at my house? 
As noted above, bus stops are centrally located and at intersections. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the daycare provider to get the students to the bus stop. 

I have young children at home and/or I leave home because of work. 
In order to be consistent and fair in placement of bus stops, the school district is not able to establish stops based on personal circumstances. 

What is the maximum length of time for a bus route?
Routes will be established so no student rides the bus for more than one hour and 15 minutes one way.

What do I need to do? 

• Arrange for your students to be at their bus stop five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. 
• Be aware that the bus will pick up and drop off students at the same stop every day school is in session. 
• Help your children learn their bus numbers. 
• Review bus safety rules with your children. 
• Accompany younger children to the bus stop and meet the bus at the end of the day for the first days of school, or arrange for an older child or child care provider to be at the bus stop for the first days of school. All students in grades K-12 will be dropped off at their stop location whether or not parents/guardians are present.
• Understand that the bus pick-up and drop-off times are based on existing weather and road conditions. Traffic congestion, road construction, inclement weather and population changes may cause minor adjustments in pick-up times. Parents will be notified of any major changes in bus schedules that will affect their child.

What if my child needs to be dropped off at a different stop? 
Students will not be picked up or dropped off at a destination other than their assigned bus stop. Students are only allowed one pick up stop and one take home bus stop. For example, we receive requests from parents for their student to be dropped off at one stop two days a week and another stop three days a week. Multiple drop off sites are not permitted. 

Please read through the Transportation Frequently Asked Questions (above) before making a route change request. If you feel you have a request that is not answered in the this section, you may complete the form below or submit your request in writing to: 

Please note that bus drivers are not allowed to make bus stop changes without approval from the transportation office. Bus stop changes are not made during the first three weeks of school except to accommodate new students moving into the district or those with daycare changes.

School District 197 Transportation Department
1145 Medallion Drive
Mendota Heights, MN 55120