Bus Registration

School District 197 offers a fee-based transportation option to all students in grades K-12 who are attending public or private school and live within district walk boundaries. Students may still walk to school; however, they also have a choice to ride a bus for the full school year or seasonally (November 15-April 15) for a fee.

• Full Year: $235 per year/per student
• Seasonal: $117 per year/per student
• Family Cap: $470

Families receiving free or reduced-price meals can request this service and receive a 50% fee waiver ($117 per year per student or $58 per student seasonal, family cap of $235).

The Fee for Transportation Service is an option for students in: 

• Grades K-4 who live .75 mile or less from school
• Grades 5-8 who live 1 mile or less from school
• Grades 9-12 who live 2 miles or less from school

Forms and payment must be received by August 1. Students will be placed on a bus on a space available basis. Families will receive a full refund if their child is not placed on a bus route. No refunds will be given if a student is suspended from riding privileges for discipline infractions, or in the event that a student is placed on a route, but service is not fully utilized.

Forms received after August 1 will be put on hold until after the first two weeks of school and space availability on buses is known. Complete one form per child.

Postcards with bus information will be mailed to homes in late August (October for seasonal riders). If you have questions about registration, please call the Transportation Office at 651-403-8320.

Complete a registration form below and return it with payment to any school main office for it to be inter-office mailed to the transportation department. If a family is paying for transportation for students attending multiple schools they only need to use one check for all their students for the total amount due. We will need all the names listed on the form. Families may also pay online by CLICKING HERE.

If your child has special needs or requires special transportation services, please call the Transportation Office at 651-403-8320 to request an emergency health information card.

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

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

If your child needs transportation to or from any location other than your home, you must fill out the daycare portion of the Transportation Registration Form. We cannot transport your child anywhere other than his or her legal residence without the completed daycare information, which gives us your written permission to do so.