My house is located within one mile of the school, will the District transport?
Generally, the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District will provide transportation for resident students, in Kindergarten through Grade 12, who live more than one (1) mile from the school of attendance and for those students with disabilities for whom school provided transportation is deemed required by IEP. Parents or guardians of students who live within one (1) mile are responsible for transporting their students to and from school.
How are bus stops, routes and schedules determined?
Bus routes, stops and schedules are adopted by the Board of Education. Safety is the primary criteria in establishing the location of bus stops. The law requires that the number of stops must be limited as much as possible. Therefore, where several children from several homes can meet safely at a single point, it must be the only stop.
Students are required to board and leave the bus at their assigned bus stop. In addition, students should be at their bus stop at least 5 minutes early. These requirements are necessary for the safety of the students and the need to get students to and from school in a timely manner.
Bus routes and schedules are designed to provide students with safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation to and from school.
Bus schedules can change during the course of the year. When bus arrival times change more than five minutes, parents will be notified.
Can my child go to a friend's house after school?
Under normal circumstances, students are required to ride the buses to which they have been assigned. Where emergency circumstances arise, provisions can be made. The guidelines for riding buses other than those assigned are:
- A note from the parent/guardian sent to the building principal indicating the emergency and requesting an alternative stop.
- The note must state the reasons for the request and specify where the parent/guardian can be reached if necessary. This note should be presented to the school office in the morning for the principal’s signature. The note must be presented to the bus driver by the student before the child can be transported. Students cannot be transported outside of their school attendance area.
- If there is no note for a change signed by the building principal, a student will not be transported to a different location than his/her approved stop. Students must have notes from parents requesting a different pick-up on the morning ride to school in addition to a phone call to the Transportation Center. Students are not transported to job sites.
When can my child be dropped off at a different location based upon the needs of a family?
Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools Transportation Department may provide transportation to/from an alternate location, provided there is room available on the route and the following guidelines are met:
- The alternate location is consistent five days per week for morning and afternoon. Alternate locations will remain the same for at least one semester. Example: Student may be transported from one location to school in the a.m. and from school to another location in the p.m.
- The alternate location is along a regularly scheduled route at a regularly scheduled stop.
I cannot see my child’s bus stop from the house. Are there state laws that set the standards for bus stop location?
No law requires a parent to see the bus stop from home. Students in Ohio may be assigned to a bus stop up to one-half mile from their home and we encourage parents to accompany their child to the bus stop whenever possible. This teaches the child safe habits of walking to and from the bus stop and may give the parent peace of mind. Bus stop locations are determined by each district’s board of education. Most school districts design stops to service the needs to a neighborhood and parents should not expect individualized services to benefit their needs over the needs of other families.
Are sidewalks required for my child to get to his/her bus stop?
Many students walk alongside of roadways to reach their bus stop and in some instances, no sidewalks exist. While we understand this may be of concern in some situations, the Department of Education does not promulgate bus stop placement. Issues relating to where a child’s bus stop is located and safety concerns along the way to the bus stop must be addressed with the district in which you reside.
I transport my child to a nonpublic/community school each day and just learned a program exists for reimbursement. How can I be reimbursed for transporting my child?
As a parent, you should contact your public school district and request transportation. If it is not practical for them to do so, they will work with you to initiate a process to establish payment-in-lieu of transportation if you are eligible. Parents are not afforded the option of being paid for transporting their own child in cases where the service is provided by the district but is not the service parents prefer.
I make my child wait inside of my house until the bus is at the stop. I have heard this is not allowed – is this true?
Ohio law requires children to be waiting at the bus stop prior to its arrival. Bus drivers count the students at the bus stop before they load and as they get on the bus to ensure all children are safely on board. If students are not waiting at the bus stop the bus driver cannot count them and cannot be certain the students are all safely on board. Waiting at the bus stop before the bus arrives further ensures that no one chases after the bus – this is a very dangerous thing to do. Many districts also instruct their buses to not stop at locations where no students are waiting.
My child has an I.E.P. but transportation is not being provided. Why is this?
A child who has an I.E.P. does not automatically receive transportation unless the I.E.P. team writes this into the related services. If transportation is not included on the I.E.P. your child will be transported similarly to regular education students in your district.
What are examples of items not permitted on the bus?
No glass containers, bottles, aerosol cans, helium balloons, or fragile or flammable items may be carried on the bus. Personal headphone CD/cassette/radios are allowed if permitted in your school. No laser pointers can be used on the bus.
The transportation or carrying of firearms or any other weapons or explosives on a school bus is prohibited by law. Animals are also prohibited, with the exception of those intended for special needs assistance.
Sharp or pointed school supply items (pens, pencils, compasses, etc.) must be carried in a closed container.
Please arrange another means of transportation if you must bring any large, fragile, or forbidden cargo to school. Packages or large musical instruments may be carried if there is sufficient space. Students must check with the bus driver in advance.
