Transportation FAQs
How early should my child be at the bus stop?
Students should arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the bus is due. In order to maintain a dependable time schedule, bus drivers have been directed not to wait for tardy students.
What do I do if the bus does not come?
Some circumstances such as weather, traffic, and other unforeseen incidents may cause delays. Important: We ask that you please give the bus 10-15 minutes beyond the normal pick up time before calling the Transportation Department to report a late or missing bus. The first few days of school, the PM routes will run a little behind as staff members are helping students find their correct bus.
How can I look up my child’s bus route?
Routes may be found on the Transportation tab in Powerschool. Routes will be placed in PowerSchool up to three days prior to the first day of school. We ask that parents check PowerSchool the night before school begins in case a change had to be made to their students’ route.
What is and is not considered when creating a bus stop?
- Bus routing is designed with buses traveling main roads through neighborhoods, with students picked up and dropped off at central locations. Bus stops are typically located at corners or intersections and positioned to accommodate a neighborhood as a whole.
- It is not possible to provide bus stops that are within sight of all students’ homes. We do encourage parents to be out at bus stops to promote proper bus stop behavior.
- A house stop will not be made simply because the bus goes past a student’s house. Many routes travel past students’ houses on the way to or from school. Adding additional stops negatively impacts the efficiency of a route and will often result in a route that is consistently late to school. Additionally, the higher frequency of stops made by the bus often results in impatient motorists driving around the bus, causing a safety concern.
- A house stop would not necessarily be made because there is only one student at the stop. Other students may be assigned to the stop but ride infrequently. Additionally, stops are made at corners for efficiency and to accommodate other students who may move into the neighborhood.
- A stop would not necessarily be moved because there is only one student at the stop. Other students may be assigned to the stop, but ride infrequently.
- Except for special education circumstances, buses are generally not routed into a cul-de-sac. A school bus requires 115 feet to make a safe turn, and cul-de-sacs typically lack sufficient space for safe access. Driving into a cul-de-sac often forces the bus to back up, which is not compliant with bus driver procedures in the State of Illinois.
- Weather conditions are not part of the criteria for a bus stop change. We encourage parents to plan accordingly on inclement-weather days.
- The District does not guarantee bus stop locations from year to year. As neighborhood enrollments change, the District must change bus stop locations to ensure centralized stops and to maintain efficient routes.
- According to the Illinois School Code, bus stops may be up to 1.5 miles from a student’s residence. While the District does not require students to walk this far to a bus stop, students may need to travel one or more blocks to the closest centralized bus stop. Bus stops will be more frequent and located closer to students’ homes at the elementary level. Middle and high school students may be expected to walk further to the closest bus stop.
How do I know if I am eligible for free transportation?
Students are eligible for free transportation if they live more than 1.5 miles from the school of attendance. Students may also be eligible for free transportation if they live less than 1.5 miles from the school of attendance, if it is within an approved hazard area.
What if I am not eligible for free transportation?
Parents may choose to pay for bus service for students who are not eligible for free bus service. Paid ridership is dependent on the availability of seats on an existing bus. Paid riders will be picked up at the closest existing stop on a route. Parents are responsible for ensuring their student travels safely to the assigned stop. The bus fee must be paid before the student can be placed on a route.
Who does Batavia Public Schools contract busing through?
We currently have a three-year contract with Illinois Central School Bus.