Springfield Elementary Schools

1. Springfield Elementary Schools Transportation Information Contact: Lisa Hall 885-5141 ext. 20 Bus Garage: 886-3001 School Hours for Elm and Union Street 8:30 AM-3:30 PM Delivering, Receiving, and Departing of Union Street Students Contact: Union Street 885-5155

2. Bus Expectations Review bus expectations with your child often. Bus expectations are also posted on each bus. Bus expectations help keep everyone safe on the bus.

3. Essential Expectations Stay seated on the bus. All school and classroom “DREAM” expectations apply on the bus. Keep all hands, feet and objects to yourself and inside the bus. Secondary expectations apply. These are posted on each bus.

4. Different Bus is Needed A bus variation form must be filled out five business days in advance. A new variance is necessary each year. These forms are available in the office of each of the schools and on the school website (on the bus schedule page). Send the completed form to the school office and it will then be faxed to the bus garage and the transportation coordinator. Acceptable reasons for variances are after school child care or shared custody. .

5. Bus Schedule The schedule is posted on the school website and in the Springfield Reporter. Bus stop times are apt to change slightly as the school year progresses because of new children being added. Always have your child at the bus stop 10 minutes early. Remote area students need to notify the bus garage immediately in the morning if the student is not riding the bus. There are several early release days scheduled when your child will be home early – keep the dates handy so you can make plans for these days.

6. Early Release Days- 12:30 PM September 18, 2013 October 9, 2013 November 6, 2013 December 11, 2013 January 15, 2014 February 12, 2014 March 12, 2014 April 23, 2014 May 14, 2014

7. Request for Bus Stop Change Complete a Request for Bus Stop Change Form and send to the Transportation Coordinator The administration will review your request. A decision will be based on the merits of the request and State Transportation Safety Regulations. A decision will be made within two weeks of the request filing date.

8. Kindergarten Bus Riders Our district has a policy that all kindergarten children who ride the bus must be met by a parent or designated adult at the bus stop. In the event that an adult is unavailable at the stop there will be 3 attempts to reach you by phone while your child remains safely on the bus. As a last resort, if there is no response, your child will be delivered to the police station and they will keep your child until you can be contacted for pick up.

9. Parent/Guardian Phone Numbers Provide your child’s school with up-to-date information as soon as your phone number changes. It is important to have approved family members or a neighbor listed as a back-up if you are unavailable. If there is a change in your approved back-up and/or custodial person let us know immediately.

10. Bus Write Ups Riding a bus is a privilege. This privilege can be revoked for various periods of time if your child refuses to follow the expectations and receives a bus write up. Your child’s principal or Reflection Room designee will review the write up with your child and notify you of any actions that need to be taken. Talk with your child about bus rules on a regular basis as we want all children who ride the bus to be safe at all times.

11. Emergencies We have two scheduled bus evacuation drills each year to help children learn what to do in an emergency. Drivers are instructed to call 911 if there is a medical emergency with your child. Drivers are prohibited from administering first-aid or any medications. We must have an up-to-date phone number to contact you or a custodial adult.

12. If Your Child Does Not Arrive Home at the Scheduled Time Immediately call the Bus garage at 802-886-3001. There are times when the bus can be delayed and there is a tracking device at the bus garage that can tell exactly where the bus is at all times. Your child must get off at their designated stop at all times. Sometimes children get off at the wrong stop and we will work together to locate your child quickly. Should your child need to get off at a different stop please send a note for the driver and school. Always make sure that your child’s school has information about any change of plans for that day.

13. Bus Assignments All children in grades K – 5 from the same household will be assigned to the same bus and will arrive home at the same time. The exception is the Special Needs bus.

14. Union Street Procedures Delivering, Receiving, and Departing of Students Contact: Union Street 885-5155

16. Vehicle Traffic Pattern Entering Enter from Union Street. Cars stay to the right up the hill. Buses stay to the left up the hill. Crossing guards will direct children crossing at the bottom and top of hill. Keeping to the right, cars circle to the parent drop-off/pick-up zone. Parents stay in line and in their cars. Students will be met by a greeter in the drop-off/pick-up zone. Students exit vehicle on passenger side only.

17. Vehicle Traffic Pattern Exiting Once child is out of the car follow the traffic director’s signals. Stay out of the bus lane that is directly in front of the school. Buses must be able to enter the bus lane. Vehicles must exit using the left side of the parking barrier. Exit slowly to the bottom of the hill. Watch for traffic when turning to avoid backing up other traffic.

18. Supervision 8:30-8:50 AM 20+ adults 2-3 traffic guards- (1of the 3 is being hired) 1 bus greeter 1+ breakfast supervisor 1 greeter of the students that are dropped by parents 1 door monitor for parent 1 director of traffic 10+ playground supervisors In addition, 1 on 1 Para-professionals to accommodate children with special accommodations.

19. Delivering and Departing: Crossing Guards All crossing guards are on site as assigned before 8:30 AM. 1 on corner of Park and Union Street (open) 1 at the bottom of Union Street school entrance 1 at the top of Union Street bus and parent drop off area 19

20. Delivering: Buses All buses arrive between 8:30-8:45 AM. Recess and breakfast are from 8:30-8:50 AM. Bus greeter meets and assists in unloading of each bus. Students all go inside and report to either the breakfast area or walk through the hallway past the office to go to the outside recess. (weather pending-report to classrooms) Walkers come through the front door and report either to breakfast area or outside recess. (weather pending-report to classrooms)

21. Delivering: Vehicles Director of traffic person is positioned in the passing lane and directs vehicular traffic. Director of traffic greets parents. Director insures that students exit vehicles safely. Director insures that all drivers stay in their respective lanes and do not pass one another. Only four vehicles may unload at a time. Prevention of unnecessary delays is monitored.

22. Delivering: Students Adult greeter meets vehicle and opens the passenger side door for students. Students go to breakfast or outdoor recess (weather pending). Adult greeter and door monitors supervise entry door. No unauthorized individuals may enter through this door. After 8:50 AM parents drop off at the main entrance.

23. Receiving: Students 10+ adults are on duty at playground area. Adult supervision for breakfast students. Adult supervision for bus area.

24. Departing: Students 3:25-4:00 PM Bell rings at 3:25 PM and staff deliver students to designated areas. Over 10 staff members supervise the designated areas. Bus and LEAP students line up inside of gym. Students that walk home are lined up in the library. Students that are picked up by parents line up in the hallway near the parent pick up/drop off site.

25. Departing: Bus Students Students are lined up by class and escorted into the gym and asked to sit and/or visit quietly. Students sit in lines/according to their bus numbers. Roll call of classes is taken. Children may visit softly while waiting for buses. All buses will arrive between 3:25 and 4:00 PM

26. Departing: Bus Students Continued… 1 adult calls into gym when bus is approaching 1 adult assists students in boarding the bus 5+ adults are supervising students waiting in gym

27. Departing: Walkers Students line up in the library between 3:25-3:30 PM 3 + adults supervise line up 2 adults walk students down the sidewalk and off of school property 1 adult at the front of the line 1 adult at the rear of the line Adults return to school to help supervise in bus area.

28. Departing: Parent Pick Up Students line up in hallway by parent pick up site. 2 adults outside 1 director of traffic 1+ adult inside The outside adult calls into inside when parents arrive. Inside adult(s) monitor students and calls students’ names when parents arrive.

29. Departing: Parent Pick Up 1 outside adult assists students so they can safely be loaded into cars (4-5 cars at a time) Should a parent be later than 4:00 PM the child waits in the main office. Office is open until 4:30 PM. We will do three attempts to contact parents/guardian before having your child delivered to the local police station. There your child will be safe until parents can be reached.