1. When should I be looking for my bus?

We ask that parents / students be ready at your designated bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to the arrival time that has been given.  The Transportation Department strives to provide safe, efficient, and on time service; however, there are unforeseen circumstances that do arise that are out of the driver’s control that may cause the bus to arrive or drop off late including breakdowns, weather, traffic, discipline, etc.  With the number of students that can ride a bus it is hard to contact every parent of each child if the bus is running late.  The Transportation Department just asks that if you have concerns about the arrival of your bus to feel free to contact the office at 799-1821.  There will be someone to answer calls from 5:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Monday – Friday during the school year. 

   2.    How has a bus stop been designated?    
The Transportation Department looks at many factors when setting up student bus stops.  These factors include safety and time efficiency.  Setting bus stops at every residence is not necessarily the safest and or time efficient.  We try to eliminate the time most students have to ride the bus, but that too is limited due to the location of certain students.  We also try to set up community / group stops to eliminate time and mileage, but at the same time it can be considered safer to have students together at the same stop instead of only one student.  If your student has been assigned to a community stop and you are concerned about safety we encourage the parents to accompany their student(s) to their stop.  If there are any questions in regards to a stop the parents are encouraged to contact the Transportation Department
 

3. How many students can ride a bus?

Each bus has what is called manufacturers capacity limit.  In looking at different age groups it is a rule of thumb that 3 elementary students and/or 2 junior high and high school students can comfortably sit in a seat.  The bus will seem to be full if these students are in every seat.  It is beneficial to the district to use as much of the room on the bus as possible, but the students’ safety is of the utmost importance and we will continue to work towards making sure the bus load is not over the bus capacity limit.  Our bigger buses have capacities of 71 and 77 passengers. 

4. How are my students safe on the bus?

The bus has been built incorporating a safety structure called “Compartmentalization”.  This is obtained by providing high backed seats that are evenly spaced which absorbs the impact of an accident.  School buses have long since been considered the safest mode of transportation and it is due in part of compartmentalization.  There may be further / changed information due to new laws from the Texas Government.

5. Does someone need to be at the stop location when my child is delivered?

Students will be dropped off at their assigned bus stops with or without a parent being present for the exception of Pre-K and Kindergarten students.  The Transportation Department will not let off any Pre-K or  Kindergarten student at their stop unless a parent, an authorized caretaker is present, or the parent has informed the Transportation Department of different arrangements being made. 

6. Is there a monitor on every bus?

There is not a monitor on every bus.  Most of the monitors that are available go on the routes that have students who may have certain medical or other needs.  With the other monitors we have they are assigned accordingly to rotate throughout the other routes.

7. If I need to speak with my child(s) driver how do I go about that?

The Transportation Department encourages communication between drivers, monitors, and the students’ parents.  This ensures that we are all working together in providing the best service for all students.  Parents are not to approach the bus to ask the driver questions while on route due to delaying the route and also to protect other student’s confidentiality.  Contact the office at 979-799-1820 and the driver will be given the appropriate information.

8. How will I be informed on changes to my child(s) route and time?

If there is a minor time change the driver will inform their students of this.  If there is a big difference affecting the student’s time or route, documentation will be sent home with the student to pass along to their parents.  The appropriate schools will be informed as well.  Changes usually occur due to timing issues, or student counts.