Buses & Transportation

Here Comes the Bus is a free app you can download to see where your bus is and get alerts when the bus is getting close to your stop.

With the ‘Here Comes the Bus’ app parents can:

• View the real-time location of their student’s school bus
• Ensure their student gets to the bus stop at the right time, every time
• Know when and where their child boards or exits the bus - Students ID badges will be scanned when they board and exit the school bus.

Parents can easily download the ‘Here Comes the Bus’ app. Once downloaded, select whether you would like email, push notifications or both, regarding your student’s school bus. You can also select what you would like to be notified of.

Please download the app. And enter 85861 for the school ID code

On way to and from the bus stop:

• Cross streets at the corner.

• Use crosswalks whenever possible.

• Obey traffic signals.
• Look both ways before crossing the street.
• Stay on the sidewalk.

At the bus stop:

• Stay on the sidewalk and don’t play in the street.

• Stay back from the curb as the bus approaches.

• Always cross the street in front of the bus.
• When you get off the bus, move away from the bus.

Back to school:

• Attend Open House at your student’s school for additional route information for the new school year.

• Take your child to the bus stop prior to the start of school.

• Make sure your child knows his/her name and address, if not, write this information inside their backpack.

What are our expectations for student conduct?

Inappropriate conduct at bus stops, on District vehicles, or in the process of boarding or exiting from a vehicle may result in student disciplinary action including, but not limited to, denial of transportation privileges.

Listed below are some general rules to follow:

• All student conduct policies apply at bus stops.
• Obey the driver's instructions.
• Keep the aisles clear.
• Remain seated until the scheduled stop.
• Keep all body parts inside the vehicle.
• Do not yell or use vulgar or abusive language.
• Be respectful to the driver and others.
• Do not throw anything inside the vehicle or from the vehicle.
• No food or drink on the bus. (water ok).
• Tobacco use not allowed.
• School ID required to ride the bus.

Please refer to the Student Handbook for more information on transportation rules and regulations, and consequences for failure to comply with these rules. At the beginning of the school year all students receive the Awareness Contract, which includes policy regarding student conduct on district vehicles.

Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right. Suspension of bus riding privileges does not relieve parents of the responsibility of sending a child to school.

A: Bus arrival times can vary due to traffic and if other students are absent. The bus arrives at the drop-off location, will wait two minutes after the scheduled pick-up time, and then depart. Please do not wait until you hear the bus before going outside to the drop-off point. We do not call the home or walk to the door if nobody is outside to receive your child. Your child will be returned to school and must then be picked up by the family.

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A: Call Transportation day or night if you do not need service. The number is 480-497-3311.

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A: You should be outside with your child ready for school five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. If the bus arrives early, the driver will not depart until your child is on-board or until two minutes after the scheduled pick-up time, whichever comes first. After the bus has waited past the pick-up time, they will leave and will not be sent back to pick up your child that day.

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A: The bus will pick up your child at the assigned bus stop, which may be in front of your home, or at the end of the street if you live in a cult- de-sac or at a centralized location if you live in an apartment complex, mobile home park, etc.

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A: Transportation special education monitors are provided only for students who have a specific need identified in their IEP (individualized education plan). It is rare that a TRF (transportation request form) will specify that a bus monitor is required.

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A: There are several parts to this answer. If you move to a new address, you must contact your child’s school to arrange for a change in services. If you have made before or after-school daycare arrangements, be sure that the address of the day care provider is within the boundary for your child’s assigned Special Education Program boundary. We can pick up and drop off your child at an address other than the home address if it’s within the assigned Special Education Program boundary, but we can only route with one pick-up and one drop-off address. Pick-up and drop-off may be two different addresses, but only one pick-up and one drop-off address is allowed. Again, there are no alternating day options and no temporary changes allowed.

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A: You have several options. Your child should always be met at the bus stop by a parent. You may, however, authorize us to drop off your child with other family members, friends or neighbors if necessary. Please have your child’s IEP team reflect these details on the IEP Pro Transportation Form. This is dependent upon the child’s age and disability of course and requires that you communicate clearly during the IEP meeting.  In the event you need another adult to receive your student at PM drop-off, we require written notice emailed to bus@gilbertschools.net.