Q: How do I request a bus change?

A: Contact the school for a change, and the school will contact Transportation at 706.485.5798. Please note that the bus manager cannot authorize the change.

Q: What if I want my child's bus stop location changed?

A: Bus Managers are not authorized to change bus stops. Please contact Transportation for a bus stop review. Bus stops are normally only changed for safety reasons. The following are not considered reasons for changing the stop location: The proximity of the stop to your residence, the parent's ability to see their students at the stop, the fact that the bus passes your house to get to the stop, the lack of sidewalks or that it may be dark outside.

Q: What if my child is late or does not come home in the afternoon?

A: Call your child's school first, and then the school will call Transportation.

Q: How are bus stops determined?

A: The locations of bus stops are determined by authorized Transportation staff utilizing board policy. The safety of students is the first consideration when determining bus stop locations. This consideration takes precedence over all other routing criteria. Students are not permitted to cross multi-lane roads (greater than 2 lanes). Students can be required to walk up to 3/10 of a mile to a bus stop.

Q: What if I have a concern regarding my child's bus driver?

A: Please contact Transportation at 706.485.5798. Due to bus schedule responsibilities, drivers cannot hold lengthy conversations while driving their route. Also, State of Georgia law prohibits interference with school bus safety and/or impeding the school bus assigned schedule.

Q: What if my child is being bullied on the bus?

A: The student should inform the driver and parents immediately. Additionally, the parent/guardian should contact the school to follow up with the bus driver. 

Q. What if my child’s bus is not on time?

A: Buses are considered on time if they arrive within five minutes before or after the scheduled pickup time. Weather, traffic, driver absenteeism, maintenance difficulties, and unforeseen incidents may be reasons for delays in the arrival of school buses in the morning and afternoon. If your bus does not arrive as scheduled, please allow 10 minutes before calling the transportation office or the school.

Q: What do I do when my student needs to ride a different bus/get off at a different stop?

A: Please send a note or contact the school administrators, and they will provide the driver an authorized bus pass. This allows the drivers to focus on driving and safety instead of deciding whether the student should be allowed to change their routine and get off with a friend or ride to an entirely different neighborhood. 

Q: Why was my student suspended from riding the bus? 

A: All disciplinary action is handled by the school administration. Bus rules and conduct expectations are posted on each bus. When there is an infraction, a referral is submitted to the school administrators, who are responsible for contacting the student and parent to solve the lack of compliance with bus conduct expectations. Most buses have video cameras, which are used to verify incidents.

Q: Why can't the bus come further into my subdivision?

A: Bus stop procedures are set per Board Policy EDD.

Q. Why does my student have a seat assignment? 

A: Seat assignments are a positive way for the ride to be consistent and safe. Elementary and middle school students are assigned to a specific seat to promote positive behavior and safety for all students. This aids the driver with discipline and learning each student's name at the beginning of the school year. 

Q: How is the decision made when it is too dangerous for school buses to transport students to school due to inclement weather? Who decides? How is the public notified?

A: The Superintendent is responsible for the final decision to close schools due to inclement weather. The decision is made after administrative staff reports from various positions in the county regarding road conditions. Other factors considered are school facility information (heat, water, power), school parking lot conditions, temperature, wind chill, snow and ice build-up on main and secondary roads, and weather forecasts and predictions. A decision will be made, and the public will be notified in a timely manner by utilizing the district website and local media.

Q: Can my student get off the bus without a parent/guardian/designee there to meet them? What happens if I am not there to meet the bus?

A: Pre-K students and Special Needs students must have an authorized person available to meet them at the bus stop. These students will be returned to their school in the afternoon if a parent, guardian, or parent/guardian designee is not present at the bus stop to receive them or if they otherwise appear to have no appropriate supervision. This is in accordance with the Department of Family and Children Services Guidelines for the safety and supervision of children.

Q: What are the laws that apply to drivers/citizens in relation to school buses?

A: Some of the laws governing school buses can be found on the official Georgia Code website.

https://www.gadoe.org/Finance-and-Business-Operations/Pupil-Transportation/Pages/School-Bus-Safety.aspx

https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/buses/kidsschoolbus_en.html