Transportation
1. Provide transportation for students grade 7-12, who live 1 and 1/2 miles from the High School Campus.
2. Provide transportation for students grade K -6, who live 1 and 1/2 miles from the Elementary Campus.
3. Elementary students will be allowed to shuttle “To and From” the High School Campus.
4. Transportation for Pre-K students and transportation to before/after school daycare programs will no longer be provided.
If you have questions about bus routes please contact the Transportation Department at [email protected]
or by phone 580-279-6222.
The mission of the transportation department is to provide the safest and most efficient transportation possible for the students we transport. We greatly appreciate your assistance to help us provide safe transportation. Please read, be aware of, and discuss the following policies and procedures with your child(ren). Through teamwork and cooperation on everyone’s part, we should achieve our mission of safety. The policies and procedures in need of review are as follows:
General Transportation Policy:
Please fill out the transportation request form for requests and any changes that need to be made throughout the year. Our drivers are not permitted to make address OR route changes. The transportation office needs a three (3) to five (5) school day notice for a change in pick up or drop off address. Please keep in mind this may affect the bus run and make a time change for other students on the bus.
Student Stop Procedures:
Loading and unloading will be at a designated location that is within state, local, and school district guidelines to allow minimum traffic hazard exposure to your daughter/son. If you have questions or concerns about your child's bus stop, please feel free to contact our office.
Pick-Up Procedures:
Students must be out of their home or vehicle and ready to board the bus at their scheduled arrival time. To remain on schedule, our drivers are instructed not to wait past the scheduled time for each stop before continuing on to their next destination. If unusual circumstances occur, please contact the transportation office to make arrangements.
Loading/Unloading:
- Be at the stop 5 minutes prior to pick up time.
- Respect people and their property while waiting for the bus.
- Stand at least 10 feet from the road and wait until the bus comes to a complete halt before approaching the bus.
- Wait for the driver's signal before crossing in FRONT of the bus. ALWAYS cross in FRONT of the bus and always cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus. NEVER, for any reason, stop in front of the bus. If you drop something near the bus, do not pick it up, move away from the bus. Tell an adult.
- Always sit in your assigned seat.
- Never leave the bus anywhere other than your designated stop.
- Hold the handrail while exiting the bus in an orderly manner.
- Students shall respect and follow the direction of the driver. All school rules apply on the bus.
- Remain seated until the bus reaches your designated stop.
- Respect school property. Vandalism may result in immediate loss of transportation privileges. Damages will be paid for by those responsible.
- Keep the aisles clear at all times. Only items that can be safely held on your lap will be allowed on the bus.
- Keep all body parts out of the aisle and inside the window.
- Use good posture as you would in the classroom.
- Talk only in a quiet voice and be absolutely silent at railroad crossings.
- Treat the driver and other passengers with respect.
- Identify yourself upon request of the driver or other authorized personnel.
- Never throw objects inside the bus or out the window of the bus.
- There is to be no use of improper language. No excessive noise.
Inclement Weather and School Closing Policy:
If the school district is on a weather related delay of one hour or more, we will follow the delay schedule.
- We will make every effort to transport your student to their regular scheduled drop off as soon as possible within safety limits.
- When a parent transports or arranges transportation for their student(s) into school, from a closed district, it will also be the parent’s responsibility to arrange transportation back home.
We invite you to discuss any questions you may have regarding transportation with your child’s driver, or you may call our transportation office.
- Cross road correctly
- Food & drink free zone
- Voice level at a 0 on all railroad crossings
- Voice level 0-2 at all other times
- Follow drivers directions
- Use kind words
- Greet & thank driver
- Text, games, music with earbuds/headphones only
- Sit in seat facing forward
- Keep personal items in your lap/backpack
- Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself
- Be on time
- Check your seat to assure you have all of your belongings when you leave the bus
Frequently Asked Questions
Bus Transportation
The bus didn't show up on time for my child. How long should he/she wait at the stop?
Your child should arrive at the stop at least five minutes before the regular arrival time of the bus. If the bus is late, ask your child to remain at the stop. Buses break down, roads are blocked, drivers become ill or have emergencies, but there will always be a bus at every stop. If the wait becomes extreme (approximately 15 minutes), please call the transportation office at 580-279-6222.
My child did not get off the bus. Who should I contact?
Contact your building principal. They will contact PPS transportation if needed. Sometimes students ride home with another parent, have a doctors appointment, ride the church bus (Wednesdays), stay after school for tutoring, detention, choir practice, etc… which can cause a change in travel plans.
My child's bus is overcrowded. Can some children be placed on another bus?
I see buses all the time with only a few children on them. What are they doing?
Buses make several runs into and out of schools each day. The majority of these runs are between the Junior High and High School. Many secondary students have classes that require attendance at another school campus. Another reason is school boundaries. Some school boundaries cover wide land areas that extend bus runs in miles and time resulting in less than capacity loads.
We live very far from the school and there is no bus stop near for my child. How do I arrange transportation?
Submit an online request for transportation. The transportation department will reach out to you once the form is complete.
The walking route to the bus stop is not safe. To whom should I speak about that?
Transportation staff familiar with the area and the traffic patterns, evaluate the walking routes in consultation the Perry Police Department. If you believe an unsafe situation exists, address your concerns to the transportation director at 580-279-6222.
I can't see my child's bus stop from my house. How can I get the bus stop moved closer?
Bus stops are placed at centralized locations that can be safely accessed by a significant number of students to minimize the time length and mileage of the run. If you have concerns about your child's safety you are encouraged to accompany your child to the bus stop or arrange a neighborhood buddy to walk with your child.
My child goes to a day care provider in an area with bus service. May my child ride the bus?
My child is a special education student. To whom should I speak concerning transportation?
Initial transportation for special needs children is established by an IEP team at the time of enrollment. Please contact Jordan Bolay, Special Services Director at 580-336-4471 if you have questions.
My child left an item on the bus. How can I retrieve it?
Drivers check their buses after every run. Items left by students are held by the driver for several days and may be claimed on the bus by the child. Fragile items are often taken out the buses in the evening for their protection, but will be available the next morning. After several days the driver will make an effort to locate the owner. Unclaimed and unlabeled items are donated to charity. You can help by labeling all of your child's school belongings. Please know the number of your child's bus, when inquiring about lost articles.
Why are buses sometimes late?
School bus drivers can have the same reasons as motorists for being late. Traffic delays, weather conditions, accidents or driver's illness are just a few reasons. School buses also have mechanical breakdowns or "no starts" that cause delays in picking students up on time. A school bus may be able to run but have a red traffic light malfunction which would make it unsafe to pick up or discharge students on our highways, before it is repaired. In cases where the regularly assigned bus or driver is unable to pick up students, a separate bus and driver are dispatched to pick up the students. Generally, when a bus starts out late on its first or second run, it continues to be late for its third or fourth run also.
Why aren't buses always available for field trips?
The first priority is to provide transportation to and from school. The school bus fleet does not contain a separate set of buses designated for field trip use. Therefore, whenever school buses are not in use for normal to and from school transportation, they are available for field trip use. Occasionally, in the spring, the demand for field trips can outnumber the drivers and buses available. Transportation staff and requesters of field trips discuss individual circumstances.
Why can't the high school, junior high, and elementary schools start at the same time?
In order to maximize the use of our school bus fleet and to provide a more efficient operation with as few buses as possible, schools have different start times.
How can I arrange to have my child ride a different bus home from school for one day?