Rider and Parent Resources

BVSD Transportation loves the arts. Sometimes, however, transporting musical instruments (especially larger ones) along with our students can pose some challenges.

As a result, we limit the instruments allowed on the bus during regular routes to those listed below.
 

Allowed on the Bus

Any Instrument that can fit into a standard child’s backpack and not stick out, in addition to the following:

• Alto Saxophones
• Bassoons
• Clarinets
• Flutes
• Mini Baritones
• Oboes
• Piccolos
• Soprano Saxophones
• Tenor Saxophones
• Trombones
• Trumpets
• Violas
• Violins
   

Not Allowed on the Bus

Instruments are prohibited if a student cannot hold securely on their lap without obstructing their face and upper torso or place them under the seat parallel with seat bottom, including the following:

• Baritones
• Bass Clarinets
• Basses
• Cellos
• Drums
• Euphoniums
• French Horns
• Guitars
• Tubas
   

Additional Notes

• Drivers are not allowed to store instruments under the bus in the compartments because this would leave the driver’s area unattended while loading occurs.
• Trips are exceptions because sponsors can provide student management or load instruments while someone attends the driver’s area.
• This list is for current school year but safe transportation is always under review.

The Space Available program provides an opportunity for students who are not transportation-eligible to apply for a seat on a school bus, if there is available capacity. Space Available applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applying for a seat on the bus via the Space Available program does not guarantee a seat on the bus.

The Space Available application for the upcoming school year will open on August 1st on Infinite Campus.

Applicants will be notified via email if a seat is available on the bus. Routes will be evaluated in September and applicants will be notified thereafter.

The following procedures and practices were updated for 2018-19.

Walk boundaries-based on home address to school of attendance via the shortest walk path

• K-5 1.5 miles walk boundary
• Middle Level 2 miles walk boundary
• High School Level 2.5 miles walk boundary

There is no space available available for preschool students unless they are a sibling of a transportation qualified preschool student.

• Please contact the Transportation Department directly for more information.

Adult to student ratio for preschool students on the bus

• Follows preschool regulations, which is a 10-1 ratio

In order to provide safe transport of preschoolers:

• Bus services cannot begin without a photograph of the child in the possession of transportation
• Expect to be asked to show a photo ID at the stop when your preschool child is being dropped off to ensure the appropriate people are receiving the children
• A preschool child must be met by an adult individual, defined as 18 years of age and older
• The school and transportation need to have documentation in place for each individual receiving a preschool student, name and contact phone #. Please communicate with your preschool liaison to add any individuals to this list. The school will communicate with transportation.

Transportation strives to have a child with special needs on a bus within 3-5 business days after receipt of the transportation request. There are times of the year, due to the high volume of requests, it may take longer to have the student’s routing processed.

Student with dual residences

• IF the addresses of both parents are in the neighborhood school’s attendance boundary, transportation will provide service from both residences, according to the parenting schedule.
• If one parent resides outside of the neighborhood school’s attendance boundary, the primary address within the attendance boundary, listed in IC, will be the address used for transportation. As students with special needs are placed at schools according to their IEP program needs, rather than neighborhood schools, co-parenting situations will be reviewed on a case by case basis, with bus service determined by a transportation supervisor or director.
   

In education, there are many laws, rules and regulations that dictate the service that must be provided, but few of them offer directions or suggestions as to how the service is to be provided.

Transportation policies and procedures should be developed, adopted by the governing board or superintendent, as appropriate, and periodically updated to reflect changes in federal, state and local regulations. Despite such policies and procedures, an individual student’s IEP or Section 504 plan or a behavioral intervention plan (BIP) may override specific provisions. National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures.

Transportation, as a related service, should be established as the mutual responsibility of parents, transportation and service providers. It is to be provided based on the documented needs of the student.