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Transportation Update

Posted on: August 15, 2021
Important

Our routing for the start of the 2021-2022 school year was finished this weekend.  We processed nearly 1,000 changes over the past week resulting from new enrollees, parent requests, address changes, and a variety of other reasons.  These changes put several bus routes over capacity with some routes adding nearly 30 students just this week.  As a result a lot of bus information has changed since bus information was first pushed out last week.  Parents should again log into Final Forms to see their child’s updated bus information for the coming year.  To view this information, please log in via the Online Forms portion of the Abre Parent/Student Portal and access Final Forms.  Once you click on your child’s name, you will click “Forms,” and then click on the “Transportation Information” tab.  Keep in mind that these times will be a bit off the first week or so as drivers learn their new routes, stops, and assign seats. 

As a reminder, a release of information regarding transportation for the 2021-2022 school year was sent out in mid-July following our board meeting.  This release included information on the federal mandate that requires all students to wear masks on the school bus.  It also noted that COVID protocols in place from last year have been recommended again for this coming school year.  For the purpose of routing buses, students were permitted one pick-up and one drop-off location.  Drivers will complete seating charts for each route based on when students get on/off the bus on the route and who lives in each household or exits at each bus stop.  Cleaning and sanitizing protocols will also continue this school year to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and give us the best chance to keep our students in face-to-face instruction.  Parents are encouraged to take student temperatures each morning and keep students home if they are feeling ill.

One of the COVID recommendations that SLSD did elect to modify at the board meeting was that of bus capacity.  Our district had no known students considered close contacts on the buses test positive last year – a testament to the effectiveness of the protocols we had in place.  With masks continuing to be worn this school year, we felt comfortable expanding the capacity limits by a bit in order to bring back some of the transportation that was cut last year.  Students who live within two miles and not in the “walk-zone” for each school will now be eligible for bus transportation.  Additionally, the district will provide transportation to commercial and in-home day care locations within the attendance area for each school.  No transportation will be provided for students outside of the attendance area for each school due to some limitations on capacity, hundreds of additional students receiving transportation, the number and location of routes, timing of school arrival/dismissal, and the new boundary lines. 

If your child will not be riding the bus this year, please pass along that information so that we can free up room on the bus for other students who may need it as we continue to get new enrollees and expect additional changes in the coming week.  Future changes can be submitted via the “School Bus Transportation Request Form” found on the Transportation Department webpage of the district website.  These changes will not be made prior to the start of the school year but will be processed as soon as possible. 

We can’t wait to see everyone on Tuesday and thank all of our families in advance for their patience this week as our drivers learn new routes and student names.

-        SLSD Transportation