Rules for Safe School Bus Riding

BVSD Transportation Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook

Transportation’s mission is to support students' success through safe and reliable transportation by partnering with our school communities to ensure every student arrives ready to learn and returns home safely each day. 

Riding the school bus is a privilege, and we strive to serve as many families as possible. Per BVSD Board guidelines, we appreciate your help in getting students to their stops safely and on time

 

Eligibility to Ride the Bus

Eligibility for general education bus service is determined by the following criteria:

• Living at an address within the attendance boundary for your school
• Living in the bus zone for your school
  • Bus zones are defined by policy for the different grade divisions as follows:
    • For qualifying PK riders 1.0 miles or greater from school
    • K-5: 1.5 miles or greater from school
    • 6-8: 2.0 miles or greater from school
    • 9-12: 2.5 miles or greater from school
• Please contact the school for information regarding bus eligibility for University Hill, Escuela Bilingue Pioneer, and Community Montessori.

 

New Students/New Address  

If you are new to the district, please work with the Enrollment Office to set up an account in Infinite Campus. Once your information is updated in Infinite Campus, Transportation will be able to evaluate your student’s eligibility to ride the bus based on your address.

 

Space Available Ridership for Ineligible Students

Students who are not eligible for bus service, including open enrolled students who live outside of the attendance area for the school they are attending, are allowed to apply to ride the bus on a space-available basis by using an existing stop. 

Applications for Space Available busing are available in Infinite Campus starting June 1. 

• Applications need to be submitted annually. 
• Space Available applications will be evaluated before the start of the school year. 
• Notification as to whether or not the student has been approved will be sent via email. 
• Applications are evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis so it is best to apply early.

 

Transportation Eligible Students with Dual Residences

• If the addresses of both parents/guardians are within the neighborhood school’s attendance boundary, Transportation will provide service from both residences.
• If one parent/guardian resides outside of the neighborhood school’s attendance boundary, they can apply for a Space Available seat on the bus.

 

Bus Schedules

The Transportation department goal is to have the buses arrive at schools within 10 minutes prior to the start of classes and schedule the buses to leave the school 7 minutes after dismissal. 

 

Bus Stops

Your student’s bus stop location and time can be found in Infinite Campus (IC) which is updated nightly.

The location of bus stops is chosen based on the safest and most efficient route for all students using the stop, Colorado Department of Education regulations, Board of Education policies, Transportation department guidelines, and property owner concerns. 

• The distance between bus stops may vary due to safety considerations on the walkpath to the stop and the age of the child. 
• Even though a student may be eligible for transportation, elementary school students may be required to walk up to 1.5 miles, middle school students 2.0 miles, and high school students up to 2.5 miles to an established bus stop or public transportation. 
• Due to weather and traffic, a stop’s drop-off and pick-up time may vary from the scheduled time of the stop

 

Mountain Bus Routes and Stops

In rural and mountain areas, parents/guardians may be required to transport their students greater distances to meet the school bus. Due to the challenge of covering sparsely populated areas on mountain roads, our mountain routes typically combine elementary and secondary students in one route and stops may be located farther from the students’ home addresses than on the plains. 

 

Things to Know For Your First Day of Riding the School Bus

We encourage you to make sure that your child is completely confident in their ability to navigate their transportation details.

• Where is the bus stop location? 
• What does the surrounding area look like?
• How long does it take to walk to the bus stop so they are not late? 
• What are the safest routes to get to and from the stop if walking?
• What time do they need to arrive at the stop to be 5 minutes early? 
• Do they have a plan to make it to the bus within the 7 minute load period after school?

Route number can be found on the black placard on the side of the bus next to the entry door.  

 

Leave early enough to arrive at your bus on time.

AM Arrival: It is the parents’/guardians’ responsibility to ensure that their student gets to the bus stop safely and on time. Students should arrive at the school bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. 

PM Departure: Parents/guardians who wish to meet their students at the bus stop, should arrive 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to drop off their children. Students in grades K-12 will be dropped off at their bus stop regardless of whether a parent or guardian is there to meet them. Note: If you have a qualifying preschool rider, adult supervision with a picture ID (age 18+) is required at all times when receiving the student from the bus.  

 

Wait for your bus in a safe place

• Wait at the designated area. Please report any unsafe conditions or hazards at your bus stop to the appropriate bus terminal. (See Transportation Contact List)

 

Entering and exiting the bus in an orderly and safe manner

• Loading: Once the bus is stopped, students should board and go directly to their seats. 
• Unloading: Stay seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.  

 

Items not allowed on the bus

Any items on the bus during transit must be stored under the seat or on the student’s lap. Bulky items are the responsibility of the parents/guardians to get to school. Such items may pose a safety hazard in the event of an accident. Undercarriage compartments are not to be used unless a field trip sponsor requests it. 

The following items cannot be transported on the school bus at any time:

1. Deadly weapons
2. Knives, regardless of blade length
3. Pressurized aerosoles
4. Scooters
5. Bicycles
6. Skateboards
7. Live animals
8. Glass          

Instruments NOT Allowed on the Bus:

1. Baritone
2. Bass
3. Bass Clarinet
4. Cellos (all sizes)
5. Drums
6. French Horn
7. Euphonium
8. Guitar (acoustic or electric)
9. Tuba

 

Bus Conduct Rules

1. Observe same conduct as in the classroom
2. Be courteous, use no profane language 
3. Do not eat or drink on the bus 
4. Keep the bus clean 
5. Cooperate with the driver 
6. Do not smoke 
7. Do not be destructive 
8. Stay in your seat 
9. Keep head, hands and feet inside the bus
10. Bus driver is authorized to assign seats 

These bus rules create a safe, timely ride for all BVSD students. 

Reminder: we do have cameras on all BVSD school buses for the safety and well-being of everyone.

 

Lost/Found items 

Transportation is not responsible for lost or stolen items. If a student leaves an item on a school bus, the bus driver usually holds on to it. To retrieve a lost item, parents or students should first check with the bus driver and then contact the school or bus terminal.

 

Closures and Delays

Conditions may prompt BVSD to delay or cancel school. If school is canceled or delayed, BVSD will send a notification. You can also check the status of the school by visiting bvsd.org.

 

Student Management on the Bus

The bus is an extension of the classroom, and we ask students to bring the same respectful behavior to their bus ride that is expected at school.

Minor misconduct typically follows these steps:

1. Verbal Warning
2. Assigned Seating
3. Conduct Report to Principal

The school administration, in collaboration with Transportation supervisors, has the right to suspend bus riding privileges at any time to maintain the safety of students. 

 

Medications

Bus drivers and student assistants are not allowed to handle the transfer of medications from home to school and school to home. 

Students with medical conditions that require them, such as self-carrying of asthma medications and EpiPens, should have a plan created by the school. It is important to ensure that students who may need emergency or additional procedures, have a plan that is shared with the school and transportation. 

 

Communications

Transportation sends a message to notify parents/guardians about registration, changes to routes, or when a bus is delayed or for accidents. 

 

Inquiries and Concerns

For non-emergency inquiries, parents/guardians should email transportation@bvsd.org.

Transportation Contact List:

• Boulder Terminal: 720-561-5125 (Geo Region: Boulder and the Foothills)
• Lafayette Terminal: 720-561-5126  (Geo Region: Broomfield, Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, and Superior)
• Nederland Terminal: 720-561-6241 (Geo Region: Nederland and the Peak to Peak and Hwy 72 corridors)