Holdingford Public Schools Transportation
Transportation to and from school, for field trips, and for athletics, is provided by the District Transportation Department. The entire fleet of busses and vans is owned by the School District. The District’s transportation is governed by School Board Policy #707. In addition, the School Board has a Transportation Committee that is instrumental in reviewing the policy and recommending changes if deemed necessary. Listed below are responses to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding school related transportation. Any questions you may have that are not addressed here may be directed to the District’s Transportation Office by calling Rodney Ebnet, Transportation Director at 320-746-4464 between the hours of 6:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
FAQs
Who do I need to notify regarding an address change?
In addition to notifying your child’s school, you must contact the Transportation Office so that busing changes can be made. We will need to know the name and grade of each of your school-age children, their new address and telephone number and the date the change becomes effective. If the change will affect their bus assignment, the Transportation Office must be notified at least 2 days in advance of the change.
Who do I notify if the change occurs over summer months?
The Transportation Office operates twelve months per year. If you move over the summer, it is very important that you notify the office immediately. Frequently, parents don’t remember to notify the school until right before the beginning of the school year. With the increased number of notifications received from mid-August to mid-September, your change may not be made for up to two weeks.
How am I notified of my child's bus assignment?
In mid-August, route drivers will contact families that are on their routes. The driver will explain your child’s morning and afternoon bus stops and bus numbers. It will also give approximate pick-up and drop-off times. Because these times are estimates, it is important that your child be at their assigned stop at least 5 minutes prior to their designated pick-up time, especially for the first week of school. During that week, routes are “fine-tuned” and times may change slightly. Once the route has been operating for a week, you will better know by observation what time your child’s bus arrives.
Can the bus stop at our house?
In most cases, the school bus will be stopping at your drive way. In some instances bus stop locations are developed according to Transportation Policy #707.
Does a parent/guardian need to be at the bus stop?
The district asks parents to be visible when dropping off younger (especially Kindergarten) students.
Is my child allowed to have more than one bus assignment?
A child is permitted to have one bus assignment in the morning and a different assignment in the afternoon, but they must be consistent every day of the week. Exceptions are made due to split custody arrangements. In the event your child will not be riding on their normal route, the District asks a hand-written note be provided to the driver. Parents also have the option to call Rodney Ebnet, Transportation Director (746-4464) or Christy Gustafson, Elem. Admin Asst. (746-4462) before 2:30. In most cases, the request will be approved providing there is adequate seating available on the bus involved. You are cautioned that due to the high volume of requests received at the beginning of each school year, approval may take several weeks.
How does the district handle custody agreements?
Call Rodney Ebnet, Transportation Director (746-4464) to discuss transportation requests.
Who is responsible for bus discipline?
Students must obey the bus driver at all times while under their supervision. The driver may not remove a student from the bus for disciplinary reasons. However, the driver must report all violations of safety regulations, as well as any behavior problems to the building principal. A bus conduct report is completed by the bus driver and given to the building administrator at their first opportunity. A copy of the misconduct report is placed in the student file and the parents are notified. Specific penalties are included in Transportation Policy #707.
Is there assigned seating on the bus?
Seating charts are often necessary to keep an organized bus. The driver is responsible for and has the authority to create their own seating charts. Parents may request seating arrangements for their children, but the driver has the final decision as far as to the student’s seating assignment. Most drivers make seating assignments by grade level.
Can my child occasionally ride home with a friend?
Bus passes are provided to students by building administration and should only be used for emergency purposes. The parent must send a note to school with the child specifying what bus and stop you wish your child to use on a specified day. The building administrator will issue a bus pass for your child authorizing the ride provided it is an approved bus stop and there is seating available on the vehicle. The student should give the bus driver the bus pass upon entering the bus. If a bus pass is needed for the morning route it is necessary to send a note to school the day before.
Who should I contact if I have a problem with a bus route or driver?
Issues involving the bus route or driver should be discussed with the Transportation Office (746-4464). If you have a problem with disciplinary action initiated by a driver, you should contact Rodney Ebnet, Transportation Director. Please never discuss any issue directly with the driver while on route. The drivers are on a specific time schedule. Furthermore, the bus stop is not the appropriate place to discuss disciplinary issues due to a student’s right-to-privacy.
Why are seat belts not required on school buses?
Buses are designed with safety in mind. They are heavier and experience less crash force than smaller cars and trucks. School buses also have high padded seats specifically designed to absorb impact. More children are injured/killed around school buses than inside school buses. Studies show that seat belts are of little value in the majority of fatal bus accidents. Furthermore, if seat belts are installed there is no guarantee that students will use them properly. “School buses already are the safest form of motor vehicle transportation, with a fatality rate that is nearly six times lower than passenger vehicles. On average, fewer than eight passengers die in school bus crashes every year, even though 474,000 school buses carry 25.1 million children more than 4.8 billion miles annually.” Mary Peters, US Transportation Secretary.