In the fall of the 2019-2020 school year, the following changes will be made regarding transportation procedures. We thought it best to make families aware of these changes well in advance. These changes all have to do with creating consistent routes so that we can account for each and every student riding our busses, especially during dismissal, which can be a very hectic time of the day. These changes include:

·         Students in grade K-8 will have established pick-up and drop-off locations for each day Monday through Friday. This will allow the transportation contractor to create consistent bus lists to assure consistent route times.

·         The schools will allow students to use District transportation to attend school-sponsored activities like PKA or after-school band/chorus.

·         The schools will allow students to use District transportation to get to town recreational programs if space allows.

·         The District will not allow students to change day-to-day drop-off locations for the following: trips to friends’ houses, pre-dance gatherings, birthday parties, or other social occasions. Those needs are the responsibility of the parents involved.

Just as has been the expectation during the 2018-2019 school year, parents must notify the schools of drop-off changes by 11:00 AM. Those changes coming in later than this, or changes that do not fit the above criteria, will not be permitted. The District is willing to work with families in extreme cases or emergencies, but these situations should only happen infrequently.

In conclusion, it is very challenging to assure that all of our students, and especially our youngest students, board the appropriate busses at the end of the school day. The more changes that take place, the more complicated the job becomes. We appreciate your support in understanding and following Board policy to assure a positive transportation experience for students and families.