Transportation Center (330) 673-6550
Late Bus? Call 330-689-5200 ext. 8300 for a message
Although your school bus drivers train extensively and are experienced in the many different facets of pupil transportation, they need the cooperation and assistance of both students and parents to ensure the safest trip possible.
The transportation policies of the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education are
aimed at providing a safe and efficient method of transporting students to
and from school. It is the desire of the Board that transportation be scheduled
so that the best educational interests of the students are served.
The district will furnish school bus transportation to all elementary and secondary
school students to the extent determined by the administration and approved by
the Board.
This may vary due to the safety conditions that prevail in certain areas of the
district.
Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools operates a fleet of 71 buses. 55 of these buses transport 5,400+ students to and from our public schools. We transfer more than 1,500 students to 22 non-public schools. These students are transported in a two-hour window. The Board employs 55 regular operators, four mechanics, and eight substitute operators. Seven buses are reserves - available for field trips and breakdowns.
School District size - 28 square miles
Total miles driven/year - 545,760
Average mileage/day - 3,200
Daily runs - 40 - Elementary; 7 - Shuttle routes; 56 - Secondary; 20
Parochial.
Average age of buses: 12 years
Total cost of operation - $2,721,872 (2003-04)
Forbidden Cargo
- 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. They must be played as not to disturb others. 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.
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.
Riding the Bus
No student is permitted to stand while riding a school bus. Since there may be
three students to a seat, it is important to share the space. Students will
have assigned seats. Do not move from your seat unless instructed to do so.
LOADING: Wait for your bus in a safe place, approximately 30 feet away from the
roadway. You should line up single file and board the bus in an orderly manner,
going immediately to your seat so that the bus will not be delayed and others
may board. Do not stand or kneel on seats or sit on seat backs, as you could
be injured if the bus stops suddenly, and it damages the safety seat cushions.
UNLOADING: When arriving at school, remain seated until instructed by your driver
to exit the bus. Stand and move only after the bus comes to complete stop.
CROSSING THE ROADWAY: When it is necessary to cross the street or road before
getting on or after getting off the bus, you must cross at least ten (10)
feet in front of the bus. Always wait for the bus driver’s signal to
cross the street or road, as the bus driver is in a position to see traffic
from
both directions.
After the bus driver signals you to cross, look in both directions before
moving into a traffic lane. Remember, if your driver sounds the horn, its
means DANGER!
EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS: Your driver will hold practice drills for emergency evacuations.
To insure your safety, you must become familiar with the proper procedures. If
you cannot participate in a practice drill, your parent must send a written note
to your school office.
Reminder: There is a “Danger Zone” 10 feet
around all sides of the bus. Do not run after a moving bus or stop to play
or pick up dropped
items in
this area.
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.
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:
1. A note from the parent/guardian should be sent to the building principal
requesting that the child/children be transported to a friend or relative’s
home.
2. The note must state the reasons for the request and specify where the parent/guardian
can be reached if necessary.
3. This note should be presented to the school office in the morning for the
principal’s signature.
4. The note must be presented to the bus driver by the student before the child
can be transported.
5. Students cannot be transported outside of their school attendance area.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Students are not transported to job sites.
The following rules are for the purpose of ensuring a safe and pleasant ride
to and from school. You will find that some rules are obvious and reflect nothing
more than common sense. These rules have evolved from state and national guidelines
for safety on buses.
• The student conduct code for schools also applies to students while riding
a school bus.
• When boarding, the student should go directly to a seat.
The bus driver will assign seats.
• Students are not to use profane, vulgar, and/or improper
language.
• Students must remain seated keeping the aisles clear.
• Students must be at their approved bus stop five (5) minutes in advance
of normal bus stop time.
• Students must only bring items onto the bus that they can
hold on their laps.
• Eating, drinking and chewing gum is prohibited.
• Students are not permitted to use tobacco, alcohol, drugs
on the bus.
• Students are not permitted to throw objects on, from or into
the bus.
• Students are to keep their heads, hands and feet inside the
bus.
• Talking should be kept to a conversational tone.
• Students must obey all reasonable requests made by the
bus driver.
• Students should cross the street only on the driver’s signal.
Violation of any of these rules can result in disciplinary action up to and including
removal from the bus.
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:
1. 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.
2. The alternate location is along a regularly scheduled route at a regularly
scheduled stop.
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This page was updated 8/2/2005