Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Are there assigned seats on the school bus?
A. Yes, Board Policy authorizes the driver to assign seats using whatever arrangement works best for the safety of students and drivers.
Q. May a parent board the school bus?
A. Pennsylvania legislature passed a Bill in 2001 with the following provisions:
"Any person who shall enter a public school bus or public school activity bus after being forbidden to do so by the authorized school bus driver in charge thereof, or the school principal to whom the public school bus or public school activity bus is assigned shall be guilty of a class one misdemeanor.Any person who shall unlawfully and willfully stop, impede, delay, or detain any public school bus or public school activity bus being operated for public school purposes shall be guilty of a class one misdemeanor."
Q. Are the buses permitted to enter a cul-de-sac?
A. Except for special education circumstances, buses are not routed into a cul-de-sac.
Cul-de-sac stops are not used for the following reasons. Styles and sizes of buses make maneuvering in a cul-de-sac difficult. The rear of a bus has the potential to swing around close to cars and sidewalks. Parked vehicles and obstacles create hazards that are not seen until entering, creating the possibility of a difficult exit.
Q. Why is there an address stop on the route if buses do not make house stops?
A. House stops may occur for special needs students on a regular route, or on a four lane road, or a State declared hazardous road.
Q. Why do you not call when you know the bus will be late?
A. There are as many as 50-60 students on each bus. It would be impossible to contact all the riders in a short time and many parents are not home or are waiting at the stop.
Q. What can cause my child's bus to be late?
A. Traffic and weather conditions, along with absenteeism, maintenance difficulties and unforeseen incidents are responsible for delays in arrival of school buses. We strive to have all buses running on schedule each and every day. Please allow 20 minutes before calling transportation for information concerning a late bus.
Q. Why can't the bus stop at my house? I cannot watch my child get on the bus.
A. In order to be consistent and fair in placement of bus stops, we are not able to establish stops based on personal circumstances.
Q. Due to heavy backpacks and large musical instruments, why can't the bus stop be closer to my home?
A. Bus stops are centrally located for all students along a route. We cannot make bus stop changes to accommodate one or more students because they may displace other students further from their home.
Q. Why is my child's bus crowded when other buses have fewer students?
A. Each bus route is carefully planned based on information from school registration, previous similar routes and Department of Transportation data. Distance from school, number of buses and drivers and grouping of students are all factors that are considered.
Q. When may my child be dropped off at a location other than his/her bus stop?
A. Any parent requesting transportation to other than the child's scheduled bus stop or bus must obtain a pass from the school office and give to the bus driver.
Q. What is the penalty for not stopping for a school bus loading/unloading students?
A. If convicted, a motorist receives a 60-day driver's license suspension, 5 points on their driving record and a $250 fine.
Q. What is a "Late Run"?
A. Late runs are a courtesy service the school district offers to middle and high school students staying for approved activities (i.e. athletics, extra curricular activities). Late run stops are located at the more populated stops in a geographical area. Each stop serviced on the regular morning and afternoon routes is not covered. Stops serviced by late runs are displayed on this website titled "Activity Stops".
Q. My child cannot enter or exit the bus due to an injury. What can I do?
A. If the injury is acute, the parent is expected to provide transportation until the child is medically able to enter and exit the school bus.
Q. If my child does not ride the bus to school in the morning can I assume that he/she will be picked up in the afternoon?
A. If we do not transport your child to school in the morning, we will presume the child is absent and he/she will not require transportation at dismissal time. However, if you transport your child to school in the morning but will require transportation home, you must notify First Student at 610-337-1092.
Q. Is it permissible for my child to wait inside the house until the bus arrives?
A. No. Please be sure your child is waiting at the curb 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time. Students should not wait inside their front door until the bus arrives. Buses will not return to your stop if your child was not outside.