Frequently Asked Transportation Questions

 

Non-Public and Private Schools

 

Will the District transport my K-12 child to a non-public or private school? 
Yes, if the school is not beyond 10 miles of the border of South Park Township.

 

What if I want to change my child’s bus stop? 
Please contact your non-public or private school that your child attends. They will then contact the South Park School District to have this request reviewed.

 

Kindergarten Programs

 

My child is starting kindergarten; will the bus pick my child up in front of the house? 
There are no special laws or requirements for transporting students enrolled in kindergarten. They will follow the requirements for all other students.

 

Am I required to be at my kindergarten student's assigned bus stop for discharge? 
Yes. If no adult is present the bus driver may return the student to the child’s school and the parents will be contacted to pick up their child.

 

If I am required to be at my kindergarten student's assigned bus stop for discharge, what if I am late or unable to be at the stop at the designated time?
The bus driver is not permitted to discharge kindergarten students unless an adult is at the stop to receive the student. If no adult is present the bus driver may return the student to the child’s school and the parents will be contacted to pick up their child.

 

Special Education Student Transportation

 

I have a question about my child’s transportation, who should I contact?
Please contact the South Park School District’s Special Education Department at 412-655-3111.

 

Daycare and Special Situations

 

Can my child be picked up in the morning or dropped off in the afternoon at a daycare or care giver’s residence? 
Your child’s caregiver/daycare must be in South Park Township in order to have bus transportation provided. The schedule must be consistent throughout the school year and may have no more than two designated stops total for the entire school year. Custody case requests will require court documents with the submission of this request.

 

Bus Stop Change/Addition Requests & Questions

 

Request For Stop Assignment Change Form can be accessed here. Please allow 3-5 days for processing. Please contact your child’s building for other concerns/questions and for further instructions.

 

Often the following questions are asked:

 

The bus drives right past my house. Why can’t the bus stop at my house?

All bus stops are centrally located. Parents must recognize that bus stop assignments cannot be customized to meet every individual need and still be part of an efficient and economical transportation system.

 

I think my child has too far to walk to the bus stop, can the stop be moved closer to my house?
Bus stops and schedules are not changed for this reason. Pennsylvania State Law allows a district to ask a child, regardless of age, to walk up to a mile and a half to a bus stop.  Please refer to Board Policy 810 Transportation for criterion to establish a new stop.

 

I think my child’s ride is too long; can the bus schedule be changed? 
Bus stops and schedules are not changed for this reason. There is no time limit set by the Pennsylvania State Law or regulations.

 

My child is the only student at the stop this year, why can’t the stop be moved closer to my house? 
Once bus stops are established, stops are not changed for the convenience of an individual or a small number of students or families. It is important for reasons of safety and efficiency to maintain as much consistency as possible from year to year.

 

I have younger children at home; can the bus stop be moved to our driveway so I don’t have to take them to the bus stop? 
Bus stops are not changed for this reason. It is the parents'/guardians' responsibility for making arrangements on how they handle the supervision of their children at home and at the bus stop.

 

I have to care for an ill family member all year and cannot go to the bus stop with my child. Can my bus stop be moved to my house? 
Bus stops and schedules are not changed for this reason. We cannot make special accommodations for every family’s special circumstances. It is the parents'/guardians' responsibility to make arrangements on how they handle the supervision of their children getting to and from the bus stop.

 

My child’s caregiver has a medical condition and cannot accompany them to the bus stop. Can you add a stop at the house? 
Bus stops and schedules are not changed for this reason. We cannot make special accommodations for every family’s special circumstances. It is the parents'/guardians' responsibility to make arrangements on how they handle the supervision of their children getting to and from the bus stop.

 

I can’t see my child while walking to the bus stop; can the bus stop be moved closer to my house? 
Bus stops are not changed for this reason. Pennsylvania School Law permits student walking distance up to 1 ½ miles. South Park School District only requires students to walk up to 1/2 miles. 

 

What if I think that my child’s walk to the bus stop is unsafe? 
The Director of Transportation will review safety concerns. This review may involve a site visit. Based on a review of conditions, the stop may be kept or a new stop location created. Requests for new bus stops will be evaluated from a traffic standpoint only using criteria listed under PA Department of Transportation for criteria for determination of hazardous walking routes.

 

New to District

 

We’re new to the District, what do we do to arrange bus transportation? 
The first step is to enroll your child. The school office will then notify the Transportation Department. You will be notified by your child's school once transportation has been arranged. Please allow 3-5 days for processing.

 

Bus Safety

 

Why does the Transportation Department try to avoid bus stops in cul-de-sacs? 
Except for Special Education circumstances, buses are generally not routed into cul-de-sacs. Cul-de-sac stops are considered unwise, because cul-de-sac stops create blind spots often causing students to enter or exit in a danger zone around the bus. Different styles, sizes of buses and sizes of cul-de-sacs make maneuvering difficult. In addition, parked cars and other obstacles create road hazards that may not be seen until entering the cul-de-sac and backing up a bus is dangerous.

 

Can a child be suspended from riding the bus? 
Yes, transportation is a privilege, not a right. Discipline is handled by the school principal.

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