Transportation
School Bus Program Information (2023-2024)
In accordance with policies of the Wakefield School Committee, transportation for Grades K-12 will be available to Wakefield Public School Students and students attending St. Joseph School for a fee of $365.00 per year per student for a two-way pass or $255.00 per student for a one way pass on a space available basis. Please read the following important information:
PAYMENT DATES/INFORMATION:
Transportation payments for your student(s) for the 2023-2024 school year are due by August 28, 2023. For your convenience, you may log on to our website at www.wakefieldpublicschools.org and use our Online Payment system. If paying by check:
Please make checks for pupil transportation payable to the "Town of Wakefield." Complete the online application and then mail your check to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, 60 Farm Street, Wakefield, MA 01880, ATTN: Transportation.
NO CHARGE TRANSPORTATION:
Transportation will be furnished without charge by the School Committee in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws (Ch. 71, S. 68 and Ch. 76, S. 1) to all pupils from kindergarten through grade six who live two or more miles walking distance from the public school to which they are normally assigned (Qualifying Addresses/Streets). Additionally, transportation will be furnished without charge to any student regardless of grade level or distance if the pupil is on Free / Reduced Lunch Status or the pupil’s Individual Educational Plan (I.E.P.) specifies transportation to be provided by the School Committee. Special Education pupils who are eligible for transportation will receive instructions from the Special Education Office.
TRANSPORTATION AVAILABILITY:
Currently, there is no transportation available to the Greenwood or Walton Schools. Out-of-district students are not eligible to participate in any part of the Transportation Program. It is not possible to make additional stops even if the bus is passing your residence. Buses are not authorized to enter cul-de-sacs for student pick-up or drop-off. As soon as school opens and routes have settled, we will review your concerns. Busing will be available for St. Joseph School students according to the Wakefield Public School calendar.
BUS PASSES/SCHEDULES:
Bus passes will be issued to students on the first week of school provided bus fees have been paid in full. School bus rider passes are issued for the exclusive use of the pupil whose name appears on the rider pass and is effective for the current school year only. Bus Drivers will check passes during the second week of School. Students are required to carry their bus passes daily. Bus schedules and stops will be established consistent with the time needs of the school system. Notification of bus routes will be sent via e-mail the week before school begins and will be available on our website at www.wakefieldpublicschools.org
Bus transportation via MBTA is available to Galvin Middle School Students. Half-price fares are available with a MBTA pass that is available at the Galvin Middle School Office. Information on fares and routes is available in the Wakefield Guide and Directory or on the MBTA website (www.mbta.com).
Bus Routes (2023 - 2024)
*Please keep in mind these are approximate times.
Behavior and Safety Guides
The Wakefield school administration requests parental/guardian cooperation in its efforts to carry out the intentions of the school bus safety guidelines and rules of behavior. The goal is to work in partnership so we provide students with safe and timely transportation to and from school. Our bus drivers have a very important job and need the support of students and families. Our superintendent has directed that students who are not well-behaved, or courteous, or who endanger the health and safety of others may face the loss of their bus-riding privilege for up to a full year.
Under the behavior and safety code developed by administration officials, bus drivers, who possess the same authority as teachers, are required to turn in a daily behavior report for each bus trip. Therefore, parents are urged to discuss the following rules and regulations with their children to ensure a safe and pleasant ride to and from school, as well as during extracurricular trips:
Bus stops are established in accordance with school department policies. Littering, defacing property, rough-housing, throwing objects, shouting, smoking, or other objectionable conduct at bus stops is strictly prohibited.
Our superintendent emphasizes that students caught damaging property either at stops or on a bus will be ordered to pay restitution as well as face the possible loss of bus riding privilege.
Students should remain well back from the roadway while awaiting the arrival of a bus. Stops where students are not observing this safety regulation will not be picked up.
Students are asked not to enter a bus when a driver is not in the vehicle.
Students should board a bus in an orderly fashion, go directly to a seat, and remain seated until the destination is reached. Students may not attempt to "save" a seat for others.
As stated above, the same rules of conduct that apply at bus stops also apply while students are en route to school:
Students should never do anything that would disturb or distract the driver from the safe operation of the bus. Nothing should ever be thrown from the bus.
For the safety of the students, all students must request and obtain the driver’s permission before opening a bus window. Students are to keep hands, arms, heads, and other objects inside the bus at all times.
Students will be picked up and dropped off at regularly designated stops only and at the scheduled times. Drivers have been instructed not to wait for late students.
All personal belongings such as backpacks, athletic equipment, books, or musical instruments must be kept from the aisles. Skateboards, rollerskates, rollerblades, or any type of vehicle are prohibited from the bus.
It is important to note that the emergency door may be used during an emergency only and that emergency or safety equipment must not be disturbed or misused.
It is essential that each student fully cooperate with the driver for the safety of all concerned.
Students are asked to carry their bus pass when it is issued by the school and must show their pass at the request of the driver. Bus passes are not to be given to other students and may be retained by the bus driver. School principals will be informed by the driver if any student breaks a rule. Possible results are loss of bus privilege for two weeks for a 1st offense to a year’s loss for a second offense. The appropriate administrator will investigate all infractions and determine the appropriate action.
No smoking, lighting of matches, cigarette lighters, or fireworks of any kind will be tolerated on a bus.
In the event a student loses a bus pass, a new one may be issued at the prevailing costs only after consultation with the principal.
Drivers have been instructed to return any students who misbehave back to the school for administrative action.
Transportation Registration and Forms
Transportation Registration for the upcoming school year will open on July 11, 2023. It will remain open until August 14th. Registration for the 2024-2025 school year will open in July.
Step 1: Submit Bus Transportation Registration Form