FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What are the policies regarding kindergarten and first-grade students at the bus pick-ups?

A: Kindergarten and first grade students must have a parent or guardian at the stop to pick them up. To allow your children to get off with an older sibling or without a parent/guardian present please visit the Elementary school front office to fill out the required forms. This form must be signed by the parent, the front office, and then turned into the driver. The front office will keep a copy while the original goes to the driver. If your child rides multiple buses a copy of this form must be given to each driver of each bus.

Q: My child has a large item that they need to bring in to school, where can they store it safely?

A: All large or dangerous items (i.e. scooters, ski poles, skis, ice skates, duffels, etc.) must be stored in the under storage compartments. If the item is too large to fit, it must be brought in through other means. As per Colorado State Regulation (C.S.R.) 15.00

4204-R-15.00 Transportation of Miscellaneous Items

15.01 A school transportation vehicle operator shall make a reasonable and prudent determination that all carry-on items are properly handled in order to minimize the danger to all others.

15.02 All baggage, articles, equipment or medical supplies not held by individual passengers shall be secured in a manner which assures unrestricted access to all exits by occupants, does not restrict the driver's ability to operate the bus and protects all occupants against injury resulting from falling or displacement of any baggage, article or equipment. Oxygen cylinders secured to a wheelchair shall be considered to be in compliance with this subsection, provided they do not impede access to any exit.

Q: What are the bus rules?

A: We have visible rules posted on each bus to remind students. Our rules are as follows:

• Classroom behavior at all times.
• No eating or drinking on the bus.
• Remain seated and facing forward.
• Keep hands, objects, and bodies to oneself.
• Follow the directions of the driver.
• Be respectful, kind, and polite.
• Store all harmful/large items underneath the bus.
• Pick up after yourself.

Q: How early should I get my child to the bus stop in the morning, and when should I get there in the afternoon?

A: School policy is to arrive at your appointed stop five minutes prior to pick-up time. This should be followed for the afternoon drop off stop as well.

• Late arrivals to the stop cause the bus to become delayed for all following stops, as such continued tardiness will result in a ticket.

Q: How do I sign up for notifications regarding my child’s bus?

A: Transportation communicates late buses, stop changes, or traffic issues directly with parents through the CrisisGo app. You must subscribe to the route your child will be using to receive updates regarding that individual route. Please click here to receive the instructions for subscribing to our routes.

Q: Am I allowed to ride the bus into school with my child? And can I get on the bus to check for my child?

A: Unless you have prior authorization, that the transportation department has been made aware of in written approval, no one besides district personnel, students currently enrolled in the district, and law enforcement may get on our buses at any time. Please refer to C.S.R. 13.00

4204-R-13.00 Authorized Passengers

13.01 Only district or charter school personnel, students enrolled in a district or charter school, or law enforcement officials or individuals that have received prior authorization from the school district, charter schools or service providers may be passengers on any school transportation vehicle.

Q: How can my child safely cross the road to get to or from the bus stop?

A: In 2017, a study conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) had 29 participating states and over 104,000 school bus drivers. In a single day, they recorded 77,942 illegal passes. Over a 180-day school calendar year that equals roughly around 14 million illegal passing of stopped school buses (“National Stop Arm,” n.d., para. 3). Student crossings can be the most dangerous situation a child encounters on a bus ride and ensuring your child’s safety is our number one priority. Please follow these procedures:

• When crossing, always cross in front of the bus and acknowledge the driver and make eye contact. Once eye contact is established, wait for your driver to give you a signal to cross. This will be with their hand, not just a head nod or eye contact. Always wait for the driver to let you know it is safe to cross!

For more information regarding this study please see the results here and here.

Q: An item was left on the bus, where do I go to retrieve it?

A: Each bus will keep soft objects like hats and jackets on the bus for one week. All other items and the items left for over a week get turned into the Lost and Found at the Bus Barn. Before breaks and at the end of the quarter we bring our Lost and Found up to the AES.

• Expensive items such as phones, tablets, computers, etc. will always be brought into the Bus Barn office, and must be picked up there.

Q: My child participates in school sports/activities, where are the pickups along CO-82?

A: Approved pick and drop off stops are as follows:

• School Property
• Intercept Lot at Brush Creek/ CO-82 intersection
• Aspen Village Firehouse
• Basalt Park and Ride RFTA stop
• El Jebel Park and Ride RFTA stop

Stops are contingent on a variety of factors, and any changes must be approved through the Transportation Department prior to scheduled events. Parents must be present to pick up students from drop off locations.

Q: Can I request a stop be moved or added?

A: At any time you may contact the Transportation office to discuss stops on a route. Our priority is seeing the students safely transported to school, home, and their activities in a timely manner. Our drivers are not allowed to move or change a stop without prior authorization from the Director of Transportation. Please contact the office with any questions, concerns, or requests.

Q: What is the ticket system and what does it mean when my child receives one?

A: The ticket system is the disciplinary action taken to violations of bus rules and policies and district policies. They can be found in-depth on the transportation page of the school website, JICC, JICC R-1, JICC –R2, and JICC-R3

• 1^st ticket: warning with a report to the student’s parents.
• 2^nd ticket: The student’s principal shall be notified and a conference with the student and a report sent to parents will occur.
• 3^rd ticket: Automatic suspension of riding privileges. The school principal, with information gained from the bus driver, parents, and the student will determine the length of the suspension.

Q: How do I check where the closest stop is located to where I live?

A: There are two options:

• Online under the Quick Link section, Bus schedule/Transportation, on the district homepage.
• Contact the Transportation office.

Q: How do I check if there is a snow day?

A: Snow Days are announced on the district website and sent out via the emergency notification system. In addition, the announcement will be played on the local radio stations. Calling the bus barn will not always result in an answer, as we are generally out plowing if it is a snow day or out driving if it is not.

• To join the emergency notification system please contact your building secretaries and provide an email address and phone number if you would like to receive phone calls and text messages.

• Gary Vavra, Director of Transportation: (970)925-3760 ext. 4010, gvavra@aspenk12.net
• Reghan Mahaffey, Assistant Director of Transportation: (970)925-3760 ext. 4014, rmahaffey@aspenk12.net
• Fax: (970)925-6484