Seat assignments are a positive way for the ride to be consistent and safe. This will also assist the driver regarding discipline and damage done on the bus.

No, unless there are extenuating circumstances. There are as many as 70 students on a bus. That would require at least 70 phone calls in a short timeframe to parents who are possibly at the bus stop waiting. You may choose to call the Student Transportation Call Center at 860-443-0317 after 15 minutes beyond the scheduled stop time.

The parent/guardian is responsible for the safety and conduct of their child/children on the way to and from, or while waiting at the bus stop.

If your child does not arrive home in the afternoon, the first step should be to contact the school to see if the child is still there. If the student is not at the school, call Transportation at 860-439-7878. Calls after normal business hours should be directed to Student Transportation Call Center at 860-800-5617

A special needs student's right to be eligible for special transportation is based upon two federal statutes enacted by Congress. Services are based on an individual need to children from the age of 3 through 21. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) established by a multi-disciplinary team qualifies a student for special education services which may include the need for transportation.

Each driver receives 48 hours of behind the wheel training and 40 hours of classroom training. All drivers receive the same all-inclusive training in anticipation of having to drive any type of bus and manage various students with differing behaviors and/or limitations. Each driver is also required to complete 10 hours of annual in-service training prior to the start of each school year.

Buses generally come in various lengths, widths, heights and weights. The length and turn radius are what limits a school bus's ability to maneuver in cul-de-sacs and tight places. Most subdivisions are not designed with school bus transportation in mind. The placement of general education bus stops within communities can present safety risks, private property damage and traffic issues.

Bus stops are placed in centralized locations. Stop locations must be clear of any hazards, allow space for students to stand single file as they await the bus and be visible to the approaching school bus driver and other drivers. When you receive your child’s bus stop information by written notice or phone, two intersecting streets and corner are often indicated. Instruct your child to stand on the street listed first on the stop description.

This answer varies depending on the size of the bus. Typically, a large bus will carry up to 50 high school students, 60 middle school students and up to 70 elementary students.

There are many factors that may affect the time a driver arrives at a given stop. Daily traffic patterns and student loads are unpredictable and may cause a driver's time to vary. These situations, plus differences in clock times have proven over the years that arriving 10 minutes early gives a student an adequate window of time to ensure they catch the bus.