Public School Transportation  Services

Important phone numbers and information:

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As parents, you are an important part of the total safety awareness program for our students who travel to and from school by bus. Our students can benefit from learning to become safe pedestrians and passengers.

Here is how you can help your child or children:

• Allow enough time in the morning for unhurried, calm school preparation time.
• Prepare as much as possible the night before.
• Have your children wear bright, contrasting colored coats; or put a piece of reflective tape on backpacks or coats.
• Help your children to leave on time. Allow for weather, and plan to arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
• Go with your younger children to the bus stop, or have an older child assist.
• Tell your children to walk in groups, if possible.
• Remind your children to walk on the sidewalks.
• Teach your children to stop, look left, right and then left again before crossing the street.
• Running games, shoving or horseplay is too dangerous at the bus stop and around traffic.
• Tell your child to stand at least six feet (three GIANT STEPS) away from the street when waiting for the bus.
• They should wait there until the bus driver says it is OK to board the bus.
• If ANYTHING is dropped during loading or unloading the bus, the child MUST tell the driver and wait for instructions before attempting to retrieve it.
• Six feet on either side and 10 feet in front of the bus are considered the DANGER ZONE. This is the area most difficult to SEE children around the school bus. Remind your children about the Danger Zone often.
• Teach your children to STOP and look to the bus driver for any additional instructions before hurrying away from the bus as they exit at the end of the day.
• No objects will be thrown from the bus windows or door.

If you can't find an answer to your question here, call 330.761.1390.

Why is my child's bus late? Weather, traffic, road construction, driver absenteeism, maintenance difficulties and unforeseen incidents are responsible for school bus delays. When a regular driver is absent, a sub driver may be driving the route, which can also lead to delays. In the event your bus does not arrive as scheduled, please allow 10 to 30 minutes before calling the Transportation Office or the school.

Why did you suspend my child from riding the bus? Behavioral expectations on the school bus are much like those in the classroom. Anything that jeopardizes the safety of individuals on the bus is viewed as serious. Most drivers have bus rules posted on the bus; and, when there is an infraction, a bus incident report is turned in to the school administrators, who contact the student and parent to discuss the infraction. The school administrator is solely responsible for consequences based on the incident as described by the driver and student. Most buses have video cameras, which sometimes can be used to verify incidents. Our goal is not to deny any student transportation to and from school, but we must maintain safety for all students and the driver.

Why can't you call when you know that the bus will be late? With as many as 70 students on the bus, it is not feasible to contact everyone. Typically, our buses are on time; and we diligently work to keep routes on schedule.

Why does my child have a seat assignment? Seat assignments are a positive way for the ride to be consistent and safe. The driver or the school may institute seat assignments to help with discipline and learning student names.

Why does my child have to have his/her bus pass to ride? Middle schools use bus passes. Bus passes teach responsibility and assure that only students authorized to ride board the bus. The safety of each student is enhanced when we can verify the student belongs on that bus. Sub drivers do not know each student and rely on the passes. Passes are issued and reissued only by the student's home school. Students need to show their bus pass each time they board the bus.

Why can't my child get off wherever he/she wants in the afternoon? State law and the Transportation Office require a note, signed by the parent and school administrator, to alter the destination of students. A courtesy call to the coordinator of transportation from the school assists in the altered schedule. The note will be given first to the school, then to the driver. The driver will then turn in the note to the Transportation Office. This allows the drivers to focus on driving and safety instead of having to decide whether the student should be allowed to change their routing and get off with a friend or ride to a different neighborhood. This should be the decision of the parent. The driver has no other way to verify the parent has made this decision. This policy avoids confusion and the chance of students getting lost or running away.

How do you decide when school will be closed due to inclement weather? Who decides and how is the public notified? The Superintendent of Schools is responsible for the final decision to close schools due to inclement weather. The decision is made after administrative staff report road conditions and additional factors such as school facility information (heat, water, power), school parking lot conditions, temperature and wind chill, snow and ice build-up on main and secondary roads, and weather forecasts and predictions. A decision will be made by 5:30 a.m.; and the public will be notified by various media sites, by an all-call to homes, on the APS website and on our Facebook page.

What is a zero tolerance policy? Zero tolerance means that, when a discipline infraction occurs under the policy, the student is subject to a mandated expulsion or suspension with NO exceptions. Specific zero tolerance infractions include drugs, weapons, assault of a staff member, setting or attempting to set a fire, persistent or flagrant violation of the Code of Student Behavior, use of alcohol or tobacco, possession or use of explosives or fireworks, trespassing, theft, or gross insubordination. The suspension designated for each offense is listed in the Akron Public Schools Code of Student Behavior. This information is also available in school handbooks and student folders.

How can I become a school bus driver? We are always looking for good drivers to train to become school bus drivers. Applications are available at the Transportation Office, 500 E. North St., Akron, OH 44304.

Early Dismissal: In extreme emergency situations, it may be necessary to close school buildings before the end of the school day. If there is a need for early dismissal, the following procedure will be in effect:

• Radio stations will be notified at least 90 minutes prior to the emergency dismissal time.
• Selected staff will remain with those students who are not picked up or do not have adult supervision at home.
• School transportation will follow in the same order as a regular school day. Elementary students will go home first; and the middle schools will follow, all on their regular assigned buses and following the regular established route.
• Special education van transportation will follow as normally as possible as soon as all assigned drivers can report to the assigned schools.

Special Needs Transportation FAQs:
How can I receive transportation for my special needs child? The child's Individual Education Program (IEP) team, who is already involved in a student's education, determines transportation needs. After it is determined that the student would benefit from being transported apart from the mainstreamed students, the IEP coordinator will complete and send a special needs transportation request to special education for processing to transportation.

How long does it take to set up transportation for my special needs child? Three to five (3-5) work days, after transportation receives the request, are needed to obtain all emergency information, process routing information, contact drivers, and communicate with parents and other professionals involved. Once school begins in August through September, it could take longer than five work days to schedule transportation.

How do I change my child's pick-up/drop-off location? The parent is to call the Special Education Department at 330.761.3146. Changes take three to five (3-5) work days, after transportation receives the request, to process.

Why can't last-minute changes be granted? SAFETY is our main goal/concern. It takes three to five (3-5) work days after we receive the change to process routing information, contact drivers, and communicate all routing and student changes. Changes may be granted for consistent schedules within the child's regular route on a case-by-case basis.

What is the average time length of the ride for special needs students? Our goal, for students within the Akron Public Schools district, is no more than 60 minutes, maximum of 90 minutes. However, location of the student's home, school assigned, and availability of buses or vans can impact the length of time the student is on the bus.

Can I reach someone in the Transportation Department before 8 a.m.? Yes, someone is available from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, 6-8 a.m. is reserved for issues relating to that morning's transportation due to limited personnel. Regular business may be taken care of after 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

It is the policy of the Board of Education to provide transportation for those students whose distance from their school makes this service necessary within the limitations established by state law and the regulations of the State Superintendent of Instruction. Such laws and rules shall govern any question not covered by this policy.

The Board shall furnish transportation to all school students, grades K-8, living more than two miles' walking distance from school and when the Board considers it necessary to disabled children and others as the Board may determine.

Transportation between home area and school will be provided for each resident child attending a state-approved, non-public school within the district on the same basis as public school children. If transportation cannot be provided, payment in lieu of transportation will be offered for those living in our district, two miles or more from their school of attendance.

Bus routes shall be established so that walking distance to a bus stop should not exceed one-half mile; this may be facilitated by an easement walkway.

The Board authorizes the installation and use of video recording devices in the school buses to assist the drivers in providing for the safety and well-being of the students while on a bus.

The Board of Education holds that busing is a privilege, not a right, which may be removed from any student who violates the rules of the district or who conducts himself/herself in a manner which is considered dangerous to persons or property or a threat to the safe operation of the school bus. Students may be suspended from the bus and not be suspended from school. It will be the parent's responsibility to transport during the suspension.

Transportation is a privilege and should not be abused. Safe, efficient transportation service requires teamwork from parents, students, bus drivers, school staff members and administrators. Without such teamwork, there exists an increased risk of injury or death.

Bus stops

• A bus stop is where students wait for the bus; the bus does not wait for the students.
• Students should be at their bus stops, ready to load, not waiting in vehicles, five (5) minutes before pick-up time and waiting 10 minutes after the bus pick-up time for the bus. Buses will only pick up students standing at designated bus stops.
• Inclement weather, ice and snow, and traffic tie-ups can delay the bus arrival time at stops.
• Once the bus door is closed and the bus is in motion, the bus will not stop for students who are late.
• Parents are responsible for supervising students at bus stops.
• Students are picked up and returned to the same ;bus stop to ensure their safety.
• Parents should accompany kindergarten and first-grade students to the bus stop in the morning and meet them in the afternoon. If an adult does not meet the afternoon bus, students will be transported back to school.
• At the beginning of the school year, young students should wear name tags pinned to their clothing -- with their name, address, phone number and school -- to ensure they are dropped off at the correct location.
• Stops are established according to state laws and regulations and are approved by the Board of Education.
• We recommend you know your child's school, bus number and bus driver's name. For the safety of students on the bus, adults are not permitted to board the bus.

Bus conduct

• Safety of students is the first concern of the driver. Students must obey the driver's instructions at all times.
• Students will locate their seat and remain seated for the entire ride.
• State law prohibits any food or beverage being consumed on the bus at any time.
• Cell phone use on the bus is strictly prohibited.
• Pupil behavior that distracts the driver is a hazard and jeopardizes the safety and welfare of all passengers.
• To ensure that a student understands that bus rules have been violated, the bus driver will first issue a verbal warning to the misbehaving student.
• Continued misbehavior will be written on a School Bus Incident Report and given to the school principal. Schools will notify parents of a student's misconduct and disciplinary action.
• Misbehavior or irresponsible actions are sufficient reason to suspend transportation services to those students.
• If a student's transportation is suspended, the student is still expected to attend school (ORC 3327.014 and BOE Policy 8630).
• Buses may return to the school if students cannot control their behavior.