FAQ

Westfield Washington Schools Transportation Services 

 

Bus Ridership Information

Bus stops are placed in a location that is best for all riders.  Door to door service is only provided to Special Needs students or specific circumstances related to the unique needs of a student.

 

All students must ride their assigned bus to and from school.  Riding another bus is only permitted in emergency situations. In an emergency situation, a parent may contact their child's school to request that their child ride home with another student. Notes must be provided from each student's parents. The principal will check with Transportation to ensure there is enough room on that bus that day before determining whether the request will be granted. The driver and parents will then be notified. The school bus should not be used as transportation for parties or sleepovers. Parents are responsible for transporting students to events of this nature.

 

Please let the bus driver know of any special health problems your student might have.

 

School bus transportation is a privilege and not a right.  The bus driver is the sole authority on the bus while students are being transported.  It is important that each student cooperate with the bus driver and practice safe bus riding habits at all times.

 

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to help in the supervision of the bus stops since the school is unable to provide supervision.  Students should not arrive at the bus stops extremely early because of the lack of supervision.

Bus Stop Change Requests

 Bus stop change requests must be submitted at least 5 days before the requested date of change.

 

Bus stop changes must be a permanent, every day change.  A student may have a different pick up and drop off locations, but they must be the same all week.  Transportation cannot accommodate intermittent or every other day requests.

 

Bus stop change requests must be within the boundaries of the attending school.

 

WWS Transportation Frequently Asked Questions

For all other questions, please contact our customer service at 317-867-8040

 

How do I get answers to school transportation questions?

Contact the Westfield Washington Transportation Department at 317- 867- 8040. A representative will either answer your inquiry or direct your call to an individual who can best assist you.

 

Can I reach someone in the Transportation Department before 8 A.M.?

 

Yes, our Communication Center is available from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by phone at 317–867-8040.

 

Must a school district transport children who live less than two miles from school if there is a hazard between the home and the school?

 

Legally no, but Westfield Washington Schools currently offer transportation to all eligible students no matter how close they live to their school.

 

Can my child lose his/ her bus riding privileges?

 

Yes. In Indiana, riding a school bus is a privilege and not a right. Each local school district has adopted rules of conduct for waiting at the bus stop and for riding the school bus. If your child does not follow the rules, your child could lose his/her privileges for the entire school year.

 

Why did you suspend my child from riding the bus?

 

Behavioral expectations on the school bus are much like those in the classroom. Then, factoring the mobility of that “classroom” and traffic, added noise and the size of the ”classroom” and you have a potential catastrophe if there are not clear expectations and enforcement. The behavioral expectations on the bus revolve around the individual rights of every person on the bus, including the driver and the collective rights of students and driver as it pertains to safety. Anything that jeopardizes the safety of individuals on the bus is viewed as serious.

 

 

**When there is an infraction, a referral is turned into the school administrators, who are responsible for contacting the student and parent to solve the lack of compliance with bus expectations.  The school administrator is responsible for consequences based on the incident as described by the driver and student.

 

In necessary circumstances of non-compliance the bus driver reserves the right to issue a one day bus suspension to students who fail to comply.

 

 

 

Why does my child have a seat assignment?

 

Seat assignments are a positive way for the ride to be consistent and safe. It is also our procedure for elementary and middle school students to be assigned to a specific seat. This aids the driver with discipline and learning each student’s names at the beginning of the school year. We trust our drivers to let us know when this procedure is no longer effective.

 

 

Why can’t my child get off the bus wherever he or she wants in the afternoon?

 

To avoid multiple problems, the driver requires an Emergency Transportation Request, signed by the parent and school administrator to alter the destination of students. This allows the drivers to focus on driving and safety instead of having to decide whether the student should be allowed to change their routine and get off with a friend or ride to an entirely different neighborhood. This should be the decision of the parent. The driver has no other way to verify that the parent has made this decision. This policy avoids confusion and the chance of students getting lost or running away.

 

Who can ride the bus?

 

All students in grades K-12 who reside in Westfield Washington School boundaries and who attend their zoned school are eligible for school bus transportation.

 

How are bus stops and routes determined?

 

Every WWS student who is eligible for transportation is assigned a specific bus stop and route number.

The Routing Specialists in the Transportation Department use VersaTrans software program to determine required bus stops. VersaTrans considers bus seating capacity, student data, zoning information and safety variables during processing to create the safest, most efficient bus routes possible.

 

I live in an apartment complex. Why does my child have to walk all the way to the main road to catch the bus?

 

Apartment and condominium complexes are considered private property; WWS buses primarily travel on public roadways. Also, the roadways through many apartment complexes are too narrow to safely accommodate a large school bus.

 

My child transferred to a new school; how do I arrange transportation?

 

Make sure your student has been properly registered at the new school. If the registration (transfer) has not been done, please contact the school to assure that the student has been properly registered. If this has been done and the student is a regular education student, the task is complete.

 

Who do I contact if I have a question about a bus stop or route, or need to request a closer stop for my child?

 

If you need to request a bus stop for your child, please contact the WWS Transportation Department. Our Routers will review your request and let you know as soon as possible if a new stop will be added.

 

How long will it take for my child to receive transportation?

 

At peak times, under normal conditions, it may take up to 2 to 3 days from the time transportation receives the request for your child to be placed on a transportation route. Following the first few weeks of school and depending on the specific equipment needs of a special education student, it more typically takes up to 3 to 5 days from the time Transportation receives the request. The parent is expected to be responsible for their child’s transportation during this period.

  

 

Why did my child’s bus stop change?

Each year the WWS Transportation Department evaluates bus stop locations, safety concerns, and ensures that we are compliant with all state and federal laws. This may require shifting bus stops from year to year.

 

My child has special needs. Who do I contact to make transportation arrangements?

 

If your child qualifies for Special Services, transportation arrangements must be made through the office from which your child receives these services. Please contact your Administrative office at 317- 867-8000 to make these arrangements.

 

What is the average time length of the ride for special needs students?

 

Our goal, for students within the Westfield Washington School district, is no more than 25-45 minutes.

 

Why are the buses overcrowded?

The bus routes are designed using routing software. This gives our staff the ability to monitor how many students are routed on each bus.  The buses are manufactured of a rating of three students per seat. High school and middle school students we strive to only route 2 students per seat. However, when you add jackets, band equipment, back packs and other items the buses appear to be full when they are below capacity. Students need to keep their backpack on their lap or behind them but not next to them. Failure to not do this takes up space for students to sit. If you have concerns over your child’s bus route please do not hesitate to contact us and we will consider each concern.

 

Why can’t last minute changes be granted?

 

Safety is our main goal and concern. Changes may be granted for consistent schedules within the child’s regular route.

 

What if the bus doesn’t show up on time?

 

Mornings: We recommend students be at the bus stop by at least 5 minutes before their scheduled pickup time, and wait at least 5 minutes beyond the regularly scheduled time before assuming there is a delay. Then, call our Transportation Department at 317-867-8040. Our dispatchers will contact the driver to find out the bus status. In the case of a mechanical breakdown, a backup bus will be dispatched immediately. Students should remain at the bus stop until the backup bus arrives.

 

Afternoons: If it is more than 15 minute past the scheduled drop-off time, you should contact your child’s school to find out if the bus’s departure from school was delayed for any reason. If there was no delay, or you are concerned you may have missed your child’s drop-off, please contact our Transportation Department at 317-867-8040. Our dispatchers will check with the bus driver to see what is causing the delay.

 

Why is my child’s bus late?

 

Weather, traffic, driver absenteeism, maintenance difficulties, and unforeseen incidents are responsible for delays in the arrival of school buses in the morning and afternoon.

 

Sometimes the bus routes must be doubled out or run as a second load to or from the school due to the regular driver being absent.

Drivers check buses before their routes and sometimes find mechanical problems that can cause delays and require driving another bus that day. This can cause the bus to not be punctual.

 

 

 

Why can’t you call when you know the bus will be late?

 

It is simply a numbers problem. As many as 55 students are on each bus. That is at least 55 phone calls in a short time frame to parents who are quite possibly at the bus stop with their children. It is just not feasible. Please know that there is a bus on the way and that we will do everything humanly possible to transport your child to and from school in a timely manner every day. If your scheduled bus is more than 10 minutes late, please allow for the time that is required for the route to be driven as a second load.

 

Will the bus leave the stop without my child if she/he is not waiting at the bus stop location?

 

Yes! The student must be waiting at his/her stop at least 5 minutes prior to the designated time, regardless of weather conditions.

 

My child did not get off the bus at his/her stop. What do I do?

 

You should contact your child’s school immediately to make sure he or she got on the bus after school. If your child did get on the bus as usual, you or the school can contact our Transportation Department at 317-867-8040. Our dispatchers will immediately check with the bus driver to see if your child missed his or her stop, or got off at a different stop.

Each driver has a list of students eligible to ride his or her route, and is expected to let students off only at their assigned stops. Please explain to your child that he or she is to get on and off the bus ONLY at the assigned stop.

 

Should the bus wait until the student enters the home or someone receives the student before the bus leaves?

 

Regular education students are dropped off at the appropriate corner stops. Student Transportation provides curb-to-curb transportation for special needs students and it is the parent’s responsibility to both bring the student to and from the bus.

 

My child is being threatened by another student on the bus. What do I do?

 

All school bus discipline problems should be immediately reported to the Principal of your child’s school. Students who continue to cause problems can be removed from the bus for a period of 1 to 10 days, or permanently, depending on the nature of the disciplinary problems.

 

The Bus driver won’t discuss a concern I have. Why not?

We ask all concerns to be addressed through the Westfield Washington Transportation Office.  Our drivers have a schedules they must follow and any lost time will cause them to run late.  Our Office Staff is always available to address any concerns.  Once we become aware of a situation we will consult with your bus driver, administrative team, and our consultant.  This will expedite the process and ensure all concerns are handled in a timely manner.

I saw a bus traveling in an unsafe manner. Who do I call?

 

You should call our Transportation Department at 317- 867- 8040 immediately. Please take note of the bus number and the route number, if possible, and be prepared to give the exact location of the bus, and the nature of the problem.