Frequently asked questions about transportation

Frequently asked questions

Will my student need to register to ride a school bus?

All students must be registered and assigned to a bus prior to riding a school bus. Bus transportation requests are made ONLY through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

https://lancastercsd.powerschool.com/public


Complete Forms 1-9 (Transportation is Form 6)

This updates contacts, medical and all information for communication.


How do I find out my child’s bus number?

Bus numbers and estimated pickup times will be posted to your PowerSchool Parent Portal.


What time should my child be at the bus stop in the mornings?

Students should be ready to board the bus when it arrives, any delays might make an entire bus late. The driver is not allowed to blow the horn for late students, but the horn will blow automatically on some of the newer model buses after students board or exit the bus for safety purposes. Students should stand at least 12 feet (6-8 giant steps) from the road while waiting for the bus. Students must wait for the bus to come to a complete stop, the door opens and the bus driver has motioned for the student to board the bus. Please note that actual bus arrival times will vary during the first few weeks of school. We ask parents to be patient as bus routes are established. Also, unexpected traffic congestion or bus mechanical breakdowns could also cause delays in arrival times. If your child’s bus is considerably delayed, please contact your area Transportation Office or the main Transportation Office.

 

Why are buses delayed at the beginning of the school year?

Bus routes are delayed at the beginning of the school year due to many students are transitioning to new schools and new buses. Also, delays can occur when new routes are provided to the driver. Traffic, construction and other factors outside of the driver’s control can cause delays. We ask parents to be patient as bus routes are established.

  


Who can I call if my child’s bus has not arrived or is late dropping my child off?

Our school district has four area transportation offices to serve our students. Each office is assigned schools within your school’s attendance area. These offices will have the most up-to-date information on your child’s bus. To find the contact information for your area transportation office click here. If you are unable to reach someone at your area Transportation Office, you may call the main Transportation Office.

  


Do I need to fill out a bus transportation request if a bus already comes to my neighborhood? Can my child just get on the bus?

For the safety of each child, all students must be registered and assigned a bus prior to riding a school bus. You must complete a bus transportation request ONLY through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Once bus transportation is received by our Transportation Office please allow 48 hours before service will begin.

  


When do I need to fill out a bus transportation request form through PowerSchool?

Bus transportation requests should be completed:

 


We have moved or I need to change my child’s address for bus service. How do I do this?

If your family has moved or you have a change of address in your child’s drop-off, you will need to complete and re-submit a new Bus Passenger Registration Form. Please mark that this is a change. You may access the online form by clicking here. You should allow 48 hours for the change to be implemented. You should follow-up with your area Transportation Office concerning bus information.

 

Why can't you notify parents when you know the bus will be late?

There are as many as 60-78 students assigned to each school bus. That would be at least 60-78 phone calls to make to parents in a short period of time. We do post on the LCSD Transportation Facebook page each morning and each afternoon of any bus delays. Please note that sometimes mechanical breakdowns, traffic, weather conditions and accidents happened while our buses are on their routes. We may also use the Remind to notify parents if there is a delay that would impact multiple schools. We will do everything we can to transport your child to and from school in a timely manner. Feel free to contact the main Transportation Office with your concerns.


Why is my child’s bus sometimes late?

School bus drivers can experience the same reasons as all drivers for being late. Traffic delays, mechanical breakdowns, weather conditions, illness or accidents are a few reasons for buses to run late. Sometimes our bus routes must be doubled out or have to run a second load due to the regular bus driver being absent. Please know that we are doing everything possible to have all our buses running on schedule every day. In the event that your child’s bus is running late, please allow 10 to 30 minutes before calling your area Transportation Office or the main Transportation Office.

 


If my child’s bus is late in the mornings, will my child be marked tardy?

Students are not marked tardy if their school bus arrives late to school. Our goal each day is to transport students safely and to get them to school on time for instruction. 


If I am not waiting at the bus stop, is it true that the bus driver will not let my child off the bus?

For the safety of the children, parents of pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade students are asked to be at the bus stop or at least visible to the bus driver when the bus arrives to drop off their child. If a parent/guardian is not at the bus stop to receive their pre-kindergartner through 2nd grader, the child will remain on the bus until the bus driver can return the child to school. 

 


Can I get on the bus to talk to my child’s bus driver?

State laws prohibits parents or other adults to interfere with the operation of a school bus by boarding a bus, restricting movement or using physical or verbal threats to the driver or any passenger while the bus is engaged in the transportation of students to and from school or any lawful school activity. This also includes while students are boarding, leaving or waiting for the bus.  If you need to speak with a bus driver, you should contact your area Transportation Office to arrange a meeting with the driver.


Why can't the school bus come down my road or come further into my subdivision?

School buses come in various sizes ranging from 25 to 36 feet long, 20,000-26,000 pounds, 12- 13 feet high and 6-9 feet wide. The length is what limits the school bus to be maneuvered in cul-de-sacs and tight places. Smaller buses can turn in a shorter radius, while longer buses cannot maneuver the same without backing the bus, which is avoided in routing if possible. Residents sometimes park cars, trucks, boats, and trailers on the streets in a manner that limits bus access. Some subdivisions are not designed with school bus transportation in mind. We travel down hundreds of subdivision streets and if streets are blocked it not only delays our buses but means some students may not be able to be picked up or dropped off. Our bus drivers who attempt to slide through blocked streets risk having accidents and jeopardizing their personal driving record and insurance. This is totally unfair to them as they are attempting to serve our children. Please work with us so we are not forced to limit pick-up locations due to dangerous conditions. Please know that we will establish our school bus routes to be safe for our students. The safety of our students must be our top priority.

Also, school buses are restricted from using certain private roads. Private roads may only be used with the permission of the property/driveway/roadway owner by completing the Waiver and Release of Liability Form. This form may be obtained in the Safety and Transportation Office.


Why can’t the school bus come closer to my house and why don’t some students receive school transportation services?

Unfortunately, we cannot provide door-to-door service. School bus routes are designed in compliance with state regulations. Students who live within 1.5 miles of the school they are zoned to attend are not eligible for state-funded school transportation service. Buses cannot leave the route to pick up and drop off students unless it is three tenths of a mile or more. State law requires that the school bus cannot stop more frequently than every two-tenths of a mile and at least 150 feet from intersections.

Exceptions: Students with disabilities that live within the 1.5 mile zone may be eligible to receive transportation depending on the relationship between the student’s disability and transportation. Students that live within the 1.5 mile zone that are required to walk through traffic hazard areas may qualify for service. State law requires that the school district show a direct correlation between the student’s safety and either railroad or highway traffic. These funds are very limited so the state encourages school district to serve the youngest, most vulnerable students first. Remember, “hazard” only means traffic hazards. Other possible hazards such as wild animals, sexual predators, etc. are concerns that must be handled by parents and law enforcement or other public agencies.

Exceptions: Students with disabilities may qualify for special transportation services and may be eligible to receive transportation in front of their residence, assuming a safe stop can be identified.


What can I do to make my child safe while at the bus stop?

Have your child put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won’t drop things along the way. Have them wear bright, contrasting colors so drivers will see them more easily. Make sure they leave home on time so they can walk to the bus stop and arrive before the bus is due. Running can be dangerous. Walk your young child to the bus stop and have older children walk in groups. There is safety in numbers; groups are easier for drivers to see. This would also be true for the afternoon while waiting for the bus to arrive. State law places the responsibility for a child’s safety on the parent until the school bus arrives at the bus stop in the morning and after the bus leaves the stop in the afternoon.

 

Will I be notified if the school bus my child rides is involved in an accident?

In the event your child’s school buses is involved in a bus accident, the Safety and Transportation Office and law enforcement are notified immediately to investigate. The school district will make every attempt to notify you and give you pertinent information, if necessary. The Bus Passenger Registration Form that you completed prior to this school year provides us with the necessary information to accomplish the task.

 

Who routes school buses?

We are not allowed to stop in front of every child’s home. School bus routes are established by each local school district in compliance with state law. Bus stops are not to be closer than two-tenths of a mile apart at safe points. Students may be required to walk up to a three-tenths of a mile to access their school bus route. In cases where students live more than three-tenths of a mile from an existing bus stop, an additional stop would be added. Stops must have clear visibility of 600 feet in each direction. 

 


Who do I call if I have with concerns of student behavior on the school bus or questions about school bus transportation?

You should contact your area Transportation Office with your concerns of student behavior on the school bus or if you have questions about your child’s bus transportation. If you are not satisfied after speaking with your area bus coordinator, please contact the Safety and Transportation Office.

 

How do you decide when it is too dangerous for school buses to be on the road to transport students to school due to inclement weather?

From time to time weather conditions exist such as snow, sleet, freezing rain, flash floods, thunderstorms and other violent types of weather that create hazardous driving conditions. When these conditions exist we are checking road conditions and school parking lots first hand, monitoring weather reports and collecting information from local law enforcement and the Department of Transportation. Once this information has been collected, the Superintendent of our schools makes the final decision to close schools due to threatening weather conditions. Remember, not only do we have buses on the road but we also have student drivers. If schools are closed, the decision will be made as soon as possible and announced by local news media, our school district website, through the Remind, social media and Blackboard Connect. We want everyone to know the safety of our students and staff is number one and we will always err on the side of safety.

 


How do I find out who is the bus supervisor for my child’s bus?

Our district has four area transportation offices to serve our students. Each office is assigned schools within your school’s attendance area. To find out who to contact for your area Transportation Office click here.

 


Why can’t my child bring their band instrument or other carry-on items on the school bus?

Our primary goal is to provide safe transportation for our students to and from school and school related activities. Any items carried on a school bus must be able to be transported in the student’s lap. Any item such as a school project, musical instrument or other item that would create a hazard or block the aisle or vision of the bus driver is prohibited on the bus.  Items brought on the bus must be under the control of the student at all times in case of an accident or an emergency. Loose items on the seats or floor, or anything which obstructs the aisle, the doors and the emergency exits endanger all passengers on the bus.

 

Why did you suspend my student from riding the bus?

Bus safety depends on riders following the rules. Much like a classroom there are behavioral expectations on the school bus. Anything that jeopardizes the safety of others on the bus is viewed as serious. When there is any misconduct or any violation of the driver’s instructions a bus discipline notice is turned into the Transportation Coordinator. The Transportation Coordinator is responsible for determining if a warning or a bus suspension from all buses will be issued based on the incident. Most of our buses have video cameras, which are used to verify incidents.  Our goal is to not deny a child transportation, but we must maintain safety for all students and the driver on the bus.

 

Why can’t my child have more than one drop-off address in the afternoons?

Students can only be assigned to one bus route. Having multiple drop-off addresses creates confusion not only for the child but for the bus driver. This allows the drivers to focus on driving and safety instead of having to decide if the child is on the correct bus route for that day. This policy avoids confusion and the possibility for students getting off at the wrong address and getting lost.

 

Are school buses safe?

School buses remain the safest form of transportation on the road. One of the primary reasons school buses are so safe is because their safety standards are above any other vehicle on the road. These safety standards include the use of compartmentalization designed to protect children with high backed, closely spaced, well-padded and energy-absorbing seats. This design is among the safest and main reason school buses are so safe. Along with all the bus safety standards our bus drivers go through extensive training on how to operate a school bus. Our drivers must pass a criminal background check and have a clear driving record. They must complete classroom training in school bus operation, pass written exams and driving tests, must be able to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical, must pass the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) driving test and must obtain a CDL with P (passenger) and S (school bus) endorsements. They are subject to random drug and alcohol testing at any time. Our drivers are required to attend all additional bus driver training and in-service each year to receive their state issued school bus certificate. Our drivers must balance between driving a large vehicle while monitoring the students on the bus. Safely transporting children is their top priority.

 


Can my child be required to sit in an assigned seat while riding the school bus?

Students can be assigned to sit in a designated seat while riding the school bus. Assigned seating helps control behavior on the school bus as well as helps the bus driver learn each student’s name at the beginning of the school year.

 

Why do school buses stop before crossing a railroad track?

Bus drivers are required by state law to stop before crossing any tracks of any railroad. Not only will the bus driver come to a complete stop at all railroad crossings but they will open their door and side window and listen as well as look in both directions for an approaching train and will only proceed when it is safe to do so.

 


If my child left something on the bus, how do we retrieve these items?

Drivers check their buses after each run. All items found on the bus are turned in to the Transportation Office assigned to your area. You should contact your area Transportation Office to see if any items were found on the bus belonging to your child.  It is helpful if your child’s name is marked on all their belongings that they take to school.