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Transportation

518.583.4700
3 Blue Streak Blvd
Saratoga Springs, NY
12866
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Transportation Home

Transportation Office
587-4545

Cheryl Dalton, Transportation Director
Jeffrey Wainwright, Assistant Supervisor

Harry Groves, Bus Discipline Officer

Transportation mission statement
"To provide safe student transportation, support district programs and maintain conditions on the buses which are conducive to the best interests of students."

Transportation Links

School bus discipline program

Bus driving jobs available for folks who love kids (pdf document)


Bus drivers needed
P.M. drop-off policy
Animal characters help elementary students identify buses
Forms for non-public schools
Transportation changes
Reporting school bus incidents/concerns
Bus schedule information
Transporting large items on school buses
Late buses
Dangerous substances

Assigned Seating on school buses
Use of electronic devices on school buses

 

Bus Drivers Needed
Looking for a part-time job that offers flexible hours, PAID training and the potential for a permanent position with generous benefits? The school district's transportation department has ongoing openings for school bus drivers. The positions are ideal for parents of school-aged children or retired people who are looking for extra income. As a school bus driver, you can be off when your children are on vacation or recess. Starting pay for bus drivers is $13.84 per hour. PAID training is provided, and a bonus is available. No prior experience is necessary. For more information, please contact the Transportation Department at 587-4545.

Transportation Links
 

P.M. Drop-off Policy for Youngest Students
School district regulations require that a parent/guardian or another responsible person be available at the bus stop in the afternoon to meet kindergartners, pre-kindergartners and Head Start students. Due to safety concerns, those children will not be dropped off unless a designated person is available, and will instead be returned to their schools. Responsible individuals include:
Parents
Older siblings
With prior written approval from parents, students will be released to other designated adults.
The regulation applies to public and non-public school students who ride district buses, but does not affect students in higher grades.
Transportation Links

 

Animal Signs
identify buses
Students who attend the elementary schools have animal characters to help them identify their buses. The animal character signs are displayed on the right-side second window on each bus. When bus schedule letters are send out in August, the animal character for that bus will be listed on the letter.
Transportation Links

 

Forms for Transportation to Non-public Schools Due April 1
Parents in the Saratoga Springs City School District whose children plan to attend non-public schools next year should file requests for transportation by April 1.
Forms are available at most non-public schools or can be obtained by calling the district's transportation office at 587-4545. A new transportation request must be completed each school year for each school.

Completed forms should be mailed to the following address:
Saratoga Springs City School District
3 Blue Streak Boulevard
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 12866
Attention: Transportation Director

Completed applications should be mailed return receipt requested for proof of receipt and to ensure delivery.
If a parent is uncertain which non-public school his child will attend next year, he may submit more than one transportation request, or the original request can be used for another non-public school. However, the school district must be notified by May 15 about which school a student will attend.
Detailed busing information will be sent to parents on or about Aug. 15.
Transportation Links

 

Transportation Changes
Student transportation is based on the student's home address, and transportation will be scheduled to and from that address. If transportation is needed to or from another destination on a regular basis (i.e. daycare of joint custody) either before or after school, a "Change of Transportation Request Form" must be filled out by the parent/guardian of the student.
This form must be completed and submitted to the transportation department by June 1 of each year for the upcoming school year, or as soon as possible after establishing district residency. For late forms received after August 17, changes will not be guaranteed by the start of school.  A transportation request will only be honored after the transportation department receives the form. Forms are available here. Please print, complete and return to: Transportation Department, Saratoga Springs City Schools, 25 Duplainville Road, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 12866.
Forms are also available at all school offices or can be obtained by calling the district's transportation office at 587-4545. A new transportation request must be completed each school year for each school.

Board of Education policy
does not allow:

  • Students to ride home with a friend on a different bus (i.e. parties, social functions)
  • Designated "walking" student to ride home with a friend on a bus.
     

Board of Education policy does allow:

  • Students to be dropped off at a different bus stop on the same route only if the bus driver receives a written note from the parent/guardian for that day. The note should also be approved, stamped and signed by the house principal, grade principal or main office of the school the student attends.

Transportation Links
 

Reporting School Bus Incidents/Concerns
If the incident/concern is related to student discipline and occurs on the school bus, there are several approaches to solving the problem. The first step is to inform the driver. If this does not resolve the problem, inform your principal/assistant principal or call the school bus discipline officer at 587-4545, ext. 1313.
If the incident/concern relates to the bus driver or bus driver assistant, call the assistant transportation supervisor at 587-4545 (inform receptionist).
If the incident/concern involves bus routing or bus stops, call the routing specialist at 587-4545, ext. 1315.
Any other bus concerns may be directed to the bus dispatcher at 587-4545, ext. 1316.
Transportation Links

 

Bus Schedule Information
Prior to the beginning of each school year, the transportation department will send a letter to the residence of each student with schedule information including a.m. pick-up time, p.m. drop-off time and bus number. Times indicated on the letter are approximate and are subject to change. Students should be at their bus stops five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive in the morning.
Transportation Links

 

Transporting Large Items on School Buses
For the safety of all occupants being transported on district school buses, it is necessary to have guidelines and restrictions on the sizes of items that students may bring on school buses. The following information is intended to provide guidance for planning the transportation of these items on school buses:
Musical instruments will be allowed on school buses as long as they are the same size or smaller than a violin. The approximate size of a violin is: 30 inches (length) by 10 inches (width) by five inches (depth).
Musical instruments must be kept on the student’s lap or on the floor between their legs. They must not obstruct the center aisle of the bus or be placed in a seat along side a student, especially if another student needs to sit there.
Hockey sticks and lacrosse sticks must be placed behind the driver’s seat while being transported. Baseball bats must be stored in a suitable bag no larger than the size listed above, and must be in the student’s lap or on the floor between their legs. 
Musical instruments larger than the size listed above, or skis, ski poles, sleds, skate boards, bicycles, fishing poles or large school projects will not be allowed on school buses.
This policy is designed to provide the safest environment for all occupants riding on our school buses. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact the transportation department at 587-4545.
Transportation Links

 

Late Buses
Late buses operate from the high school and middle school.
Schedules and more information


Transportation Links

 

Dangerous Substances
Department of Transportation regulations prohibit aerosol cans, glass containers and flammable substances inside the passenger compartment of school buses. Therefore, students shall not carry these items on school buses at any time. Perfumes and colognes shall also not be discharged on school buses because they can cause an adverse allergic reaction with some individuals.

Transportation Links
 

Assigned Seating On School Buses

The school district reserves the right to assign student seating on school buses for safety, efficiency and disciplinary reasons. In addition, assigned seating is required on all middle school and elementary school buses. Drivers should have assigned seats in place by early October after giving consideration to grade level, compatibility, behaviors, siblings, friends etc.  Assigned seats are also subject to change at anytime during the school year.  If you have questions about your student’s assigned seat, you may contact your student’s bus driver or the transportation offices.       

Transportation Links 

 

Use of Electronic Devices on School Buses
Many students use electronic devices as part of their daily lives. Cell phones, I-Pods, handheld games, portable radios etc., are fun to use and often can make the ride to and from school more enjoyable. Unfortunately, misuse of these items can be detrimental to the safety and well-being of other students and bus drivers. Therefore, the transportation department will enforce the following in accordance with the district’s Code of Conduct.

1. The school district will not be held responsible for the loss/theft of portable electronic devices.
2. I-Pods, Walkman radios, MP3 Players etc. may be used on school buses only if equipped with headphones and the volume is maintained at a level that does not disrupt other students or the driver.
3. Cell Phones and cameras are not allowed to be used on school buses unless in an emergency where immediate communication is necessary and with permission of the bus driver.
4. Cell Phones must be turned off and kept in backpacks while traveling on district vehicles.
5. Any electronic device that is being misused may be confiscated by the driver and returned directly to a parent/guardian.
6. Failure to follow these and any bus rules may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
Transportation Links 
 

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