Pupil Transportation SOCSD Informational Session Presented by Ann Vaccaro Teich, Deputy Superintendent May 13, 2015
The Board of Education affirms its goal of providing a safe, efficient, and economical transportation system for all district students
SOCSD Transportation Staff Lymarie Colon Transportation Assistant 845 680 1662 transportation@socsd.org www.socsd.org/pupiltransportation Website has forms, handbook, etc. Dennis Rankin Transportation Supervisor 845 680 1016 transportation@socsd.org General day to day routing & stop information Changes in schedule Driver and bus issues Reviews stop locations Provides guidance Assists parents in resolving issues Oversight of contractors
Changes for 2015 16 Alternate Site Request Form Communication Deadline July 20th Bus Notification Letters Timing Week of August 10th Stop location Bus Pass for all students and photo Adjustment to Routes: Change in Bell Times Consolidation of Grade 3 Conversion to New Routing Software Transfinder: Used by all school districts in Rockland County Updated Maps/GPS Web based More Efficient SOCSD WILL HAVE ACCESS TO BUS CONTRACTOR GPS SYSTEM Small Buses (VANS) will have cameras
1. School Messenger 2. Digital Newsletter and Messages 3. Website Communication, Communication, & More Communication 4. PTA 5. BOE 6. New Bus Letters and Bus Passes for students 7. Updated New Transportation Handbook 8. Superintendent s Blog/Twitter
1. Alternative Site Form MUST BE RECEIVED by July 20 to be reflected on bus cards for the start of school. 2. Notification of HS students ineligible for transportation June 1 st, less than 1.5 miles from HS (not including child safety zones) Communication, Communication, & More Communication 3. Bus Letters look for them the WEEK OF AUGUST 10 th 4. BELL TIME CHANGES: 1. Elementary 9:15 am to 3:40 pm 2. Secondary 8:15 am to 3:00 pm 5. AFTER & BEFORE SCHOOL OPTIONS IN SOCSD FACILITIES 1. YMCA 2. Children s Corner
Communication, Communication, & More Communication Communication to Transportation Office during August & September: 1. E mail is best for non emergencies: a) Confirmation e mail will automatically be sent b) Reasonable response time one day c) Changes to schedule, depending upon the issue,will have to wait until after the first two weeks of school 2. Phone Calls immediate concern about your child being picked up or dropped off a) 680 1662 external phone line that will roll over to five lines b) Temporary substitutes to answer calls starting at 6:30 am to 6:00 pm c) Transportation staff will investigate and respond
Bus Contractors Note: Contractors cannot make changes to the routes or bus stops Student Bus 22 Routes, 66/72 passenger Large Buses serving 2 tiers to 4 buildings Peter Brega 24 Routes, 22 passenger small buses (Vans) transporting to private, special need schools, and to areas that cannot accommodate large buses BOCES Transports 53+ special education students Shared Buses The District shares bus routes with other local public school districts, where possible
District School Information WOS CLE MS HS Grades K,1&2 3,4&5 6,7&8 9,10,11&12 School Start Time 9:15 am 9:15 am 8:15 am 8:15 am Bus Pick up School End Time Bus Drop off 8:35 am to 9:15 am 8:35 am to 9:15 am 7:35 am to 8:15 am 7:35 am to 8:15 am 3:40 pm 3:40 pm 3:00 pm 3:00 pm 3:40 pm to 4:20 pm 3:40 pm to 4:20 pm 3:00 pm to 3:40 pm 3:00 pm to 3:40 pm Parent Pick up Time 3:30 pm 3:25 pm 3:00 pm 3:00 pm Parent or designee required to meet Bus Universal busing at centralized stops YES NO NO NO YES YES YES NO Busing if within 1 ½ mile of HS, Exception Child Safety Zones Walkers Permitted NO YES w/permission Late Bus NO NO Senior Parking YES 4:15 pm M,W,TH YES 4:15 pm M TH YES
Pupil Transportation Eligibility: Within District Grades K 8: Universal transportation At Centralized Stops Per voter approval VOTERS approved mileage limit reduction from state requirement of 2 miles to zero miles Grades 9 12: Students are eligible for transportation if they reside farther than 1.5 miles from the TZHS. At Centralized Stops Per voter approval VOTERS approved mileage limit reduction from state requirement of 3 miles to 1.5 miles. Entering 9 th graders who are within 1.5 miles of the TZHS will receive a letter indicating they are not eligible for transportation. Exceptions: Child Safety Zones and students who have approved classifications that require transportation
Pupil Transportation Eligibility: Out of District Students attending Non Public Schools are eligible for transportation PROVIDING: The required form (on website) has been submitted to the Registration Department by April 1 st. The school is not greater than 15 miles from student s residence Pick up will be at Centralized Stops Routes will be established in the most efficient & economical manner Special Needs Students attending an out of district school are eligible for transportation PROVIDING: School has an approved special education program Not more than 50 miles from the student s residence Pick up at Centralized Stops, unless IEP indicates otherwise Divorced Parents Sharing Custody: Student can only have a single residence for school purposes Per Commissioner of Education District is only authorized to transport from one location Students can only ride on their assigned bus Students must carry their Bus pass with them
District s Centralized Stops School Bell Times Child Safety Zones Bus Routes are Established Efficiently Based on a set of Parameters Mileage Limits Speed Limits Bus Capacity No Dead End Streets Bus Run Time between 30 45 minutes No Cul de sacs less than a ¼ mile Sex Offender locations One Way Streets Student Addresses, Grade Level
Bus Routes are Established Efficiently Based on a set of Parameters Based on the parameters Software Automatically GEO codes, per updated maps Assigns the student to a bus route and stop Software Calculates how long each stop takes In order to determine the length of a route The more stops, the longer the route On average, a bus stop takes 2 3 minutes Transportation Department & the contractors verify every route. Bus Contractors do dry runs of the route District does test runs of routes throughout the year and verify routes through GPS There are over 200+ routes
Examples of Factors that affect the creation of stops: Centralized Bus Stops are created after balancing issues of: safety, distances from homes, routing efficiencies, & cost School buses are not permitted by law to enter dead end streets Buses will only enter cul de sacs that are greater than ¼ mile Whenever possible, stops will be at the intersection of two streets Numbers of students at bus stops will be varied according to the concentration of riders in an area, the degree of traffic, the presence of stop signs, speed limits, and bus turn around requirements. Stops are designed to minimize road crossings Private Roads The District is not permitted to enter private roads Stops have to remain consistent year to year to avoid confusion and inefficiencies Stops cannot be moved for the convenience of parents, i.e., inability to take child to Bus Stop due to having multiple children, being disabled, caregiver is elderly, etc. The District strives for consistency and fairness.
What Determines a SAFE Bus Stop http://www.p12.nysed.gov/s choolbus/parents/htm/scho ol_bus_stops.html
Evaluation of Bus Stop for Safety Please see website for required form to be completed. However, please keep in mind the following: NYS does not require sidewalks for a stop to be considered safe Evaluation of a Bus Stop Not seeing your child from your home does not constitute unsafe Bus Stop. Bus stops will not be changed to your home unless there is an approved classification from the Special Education Department. Upon Completing and submitting the form, via e mail only. The transportation department will acknowledge its receipt. Evaluation at the beginning of the school year will take at least a week or longer before a response is provided.
Parent Responsibilities
Bus Letters and passes sent out will reflect the bus stop for the student s legal residence Alternative Sites for Drop off & Pick up If an Alternative Site for drop off and/or pick up is required: Complete application on website Submit by JULY 20 th for the alternate locations to be in place for the start of school. Bus letter and pass should reflect the alternate site if received in time Submit the application through e mail Positive confirmation will be sent that it was received CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS DO NOT CARRY OVER INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR If the request is not received in time: Parents must make alternative arrangements for the first two weeks of school After the start of the school year, requests generally take 72 hours to put in place Changes must be consistent and be for five day increments.
Childcare Options at SOCSD Sites
QUESTIONS?