Transportation

Winslow Unified School District Transportation Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide safe, reliable, and professional transportation services that support student success by ensuring every child arrives at school and returns home safely. We are committed to excellence through teamwork, integrity, accountability, and respect while transporting the leaders of the future.

BUS PASS

As we begin the new school year, we want to remind everyone about the importance of your child having their bus pass with them each day when riding the school bus.

Your child’s bus pass is required to ride the bus to and from school. Students will always be allowed to ride the bus from home to school, if they forget or do not have their pass; however, after the third occurrence, the student will no longer be allowed to ride the bus home and will be left safely at the school they attend.

Please remember that the bus pass your child received last year will continue to be used throughout their school years with Winslow Unified School District. There is no need to request a new pass each year unless a replacement is needed.

If your child needs a new bus pass or a replacement card, a fee of 3 dollars will need to be paid at the front office of the school your child attends. Once payment has been received, the school will provide a receipt or notify the Transportation Department that the fee has been paid. We will then create the replacement card and either send it to your child’s school for pickup or you may come to the Transportation Department to pick it up.

Thank you for helping us keep our bus routes safe, efficient, and organized. Having students prepared with their bus passes each day helps our drivers quickly and safely verify eligible riders.

We appreciate your support and cooperation.

Bus Stop Policy & Permission for the Upcoming School Year

As we prepare for another successful school year, Winslow Unified School District Transportation will be returning to the use of paper Bus Rider Agreements for all students who ride a school bus.

During the first week of school, your child's bus driver will provide each student with a Bus Rider Agreement. These forms must be reviewed, signed by a parent or guardian, and returned to the bus driver within five (5) school days of receiving them.

This agreement serves as an acknowledgment that both parents and students understand the expectations and safety rules for riding the school bus. Returning the signed agreement on time helps us ensure that all students are aware of the procedures that keep everyone safe.

Please note: Bus drivers will begin building their assigned seating charts based on the order in which signed Bus Rider Agreements are returned. Students who return their forms promptly will be assigned seats first. Students who do not return their signed agreement within the required five-day period may be assigned any remaining available seat until the form is received.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us create a safe, organized, and positive transportation environment for all students. If you have any questions, please contact the Transportation Department.

Thank you for your continued support, and we wish you and your family a wonderful school year!

STOP FINDER APP

How to Get Started:

You will receive an email invitation if you have an email address on file in PowerSchool.
The invitation email will include instructions on how to download and set up the app.

Please ensure your contact information is up to date in PowerSchool to take advantage of this convenient tool. Stay connected and keep up to date with all transportation-related information in one place!

TRANSPORTATION RULES & REGULATIONS

WINSLOW UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION

Dear Parent/Guardian:

We’re pleased to be transporting your child to and from school this year. Please remember, riding the bus is a privilege. Therefore, students and parents' cooperation regarding the bus rules and procedures is important. The transportation team is proud of our safety record and professionalism. Rules are intended to increase student safety. Please help us ensure your child’s safety by adhering to the following procedures:

Make sure your child arrives at the designated bus stop five minutes early each day. Children who are late for the bus may panic and chase it, or run into the road. This presents a significant risk to the child.

Provide your child with a backpack or bookbag. Loose items are dangerous for children entering and exiting the bus.

Check your child’s clothing for the presence of long drawstrings, shoelaces that may get snagged in the bus door as your child enters or exits the bus.

Stop times on routes may vary due to seasonal traffic situations, accidents or road conditions in inclement weather.

If the bus is 5 minutes late for your pick up, please call the transportation office.

The driver is unable to return for students who miss the bus.

Insist your child wait for the bus safely, in an orderly fashion, and back ten feet from the roadway. Behavior problems at the bus stop can create hazardous conditions for all children waiting.

When the bus arrives, your child must wait for the bus driver’s signal before boarding the bus. Children are expected to board the bus in a single file line and in an orderly fashion.

Teach the children the importance of sitting quietly on the ride to and from school. It is important for our drivers to concentrate on driving safely. Excessive noise presents a potential danger.

Please note, if anything makes your child feel unsafe at the bus stop, or on the bus ride, please contact the transportation department immediately at (928) 288-8107

WAITING FOR THE BUS

Walk to the bus stop with a parent or in groups of two or more students.
Be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
Stay out of the street and away from traffic.
Respect property in the neighborhood.
Be kind and courteous to others.
Form a line as the bus approaches.

BOARDING THE BUS

Let the bus come to a complete stop before boarding.
Enter the bus one person at a time.
Board quickly, but carefully, without crowding or pushing. Use the handrail. Walk, don’t run, up the steps.
Go directly to your assigned seat and sit upright facing the front.

ON THE BUS

Be courteous and obey the driver’s instructions.
Sit in your assigned seat.
Keep the aisle clear. Stay seated until your stop.
Keep your hands, arms, feet, legs and head out of the aisle and inside the bus.
Talk quietly. Do not yell or use vulgar or abusive language.
Do not throw anything inside the bus or from the bus.
Eating is not permitted on the bus.
All personal electronic devices must be turned off and out of sight. Unless being used for acceptable educational or entertainment purposes with only one earphone in or on silent mode.
Do not abuse or deface the bus or bus equipment.
Keep cases, band instruments and other belongings under control at all times.

LEAVING THE BUS

Stay seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.
Do not push or crowd others.
Walk, don’t run, down the steps.

CROSSING THE ROAD

Cross the street only when the driver has indicated the way is safe. Walk 10 feet in front of the bus so the driver can see you. Never cross behind the bus.
Keep looking to the right and to the left as you walk.
At an intersection, look in all directions.
Do not cross the street at an angle.
Walk briskly across the road, but do not run.

ITEMS BANNED FROM BUSES

Prohibited items include weapons, explosive devices, harmful chemicals, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, vapes, glass objects other than eyeglasses, skateboards and scooters, insects, reptiles and other animals, with the exception of service animals.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE ON THE SCHOOL BUSES

Bus drivers must handle student misbehavior that threatens passengers' safety or distracts the driver. In the case of a violation, your child will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. In addition, a referral will be sent to the Transportation Supervisor, Every attempt will be made to contact a parent or guardian when such issues arise. Therefore, please be certain your contact information is accurately listed. Below is a list of examples of student misconduct that will be addressed.

IGNORING THE BUS DRIVER’S INSTRUCTIONS
BEING OUT OF THERE SEAT WHEN THE BUS IS IN MOTION
EATING OR DRINKING ON THE BUS (Drinking water is permitted)
LITTERING
SHOUTING OR SCREAMING
FAILURE TO KEEP HEAD, HANDS, FEET AND ALL OBJECTS TO ONE’S SELF AND INSIDE THE BUS
FIGHTING, HITTING SPITTING, OR BITING ANOTHER STUDENT
BULLYING, TEASING, OR AGGRAVATING OTHER STUDENTS
MISCONDUCT AT THE BUS STOP, VERBAL ABUSE, OBSCENE GESTURES, THREATS MADE TOWARD OTHERS
ASSAULT OF BUS DRIVER, OR STUDENT (WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR)
DESTRUCTION OF SCHOOL PROPERTY, SUCH AS SEATS, INTERIOR, OR EXTERIOR OF BUS (WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR)
POSSESSION OF TOBACCO, DRUGS, MATCHES, LIGHTERS, VAPES OR WEAPONS (WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR)

1st - DISCIPLINE REFERRAL - VERBAL WARNING

2nd - DISCIPLINE REFERRAL - 5 DAYS SUSPENSION OFF SCHOOL BUSES

3rd - DISCIPLINE REFERRAL - 2 WEEKS SUSPENSION OFF SCHOOL BUSES

4th - DISCIPLINE REFERRAL - SUSPENSION FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR

Please note, the expectations for the students behavior on the bus does not differ from what’s expected in the classroom.

A standard school bus may contain as many as 80 students at a time! The bus driver has an enormous responsibility of operating the bus safely, including analyzing road conditions, while monitoring students. THUS, THE NEED FOR RULES. Our buses are equipped with cameras to ensure safety and protect the students, and our bus drivers. Videos are viewed randomly by the Transportation Supervisor to enhance any investigations. This footage is also used as an evaluation tool. An investigation may be initiated following an incident reported by a student, parent/guardian, employee, or community member.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJUST SUSPENSION TIMES BASED ON SEVERITY OF THE INCIDENT, OR IF MULTIPLE INFRACTIONS OCCUR. A SUSPENSION FROM THE BUS DOES NOT INCLUDE SCHOOL OR EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

Should your students be suspended from their bus route, they will lose all transportation privileges to and from school. Students suspended will NOT be allowed to change bus stops or routes.

Transportation is provided to and from the bus stop closest to the child’s home.

Please teach your student his/her physical address.

Bus routes are not designed to transport students to alternated sites, i.e. piano lessons, dance classes, club meetings, parties or businesses. Multiple and/or varied stops for individual students leads to confusion, and is the leading cause of losing track of students. Daily changes to bus stops will NOT be allowed.

Only in exception of an emergency, i.e. death or hospitalization of a family member, accident, etc., will changes be made.

If a child is a bus rider and a parent/guardian would like to pick them up they need to do this by 2:00 p.m. (11:30 a.m. on early release days) from the school. The parent/guardian must come into the front office to sign the child out. Last minute notices will not be accommodated (unless there is a family emergency).

Once a student is on the bus, they cannot be removed (unless there is a family emergency). Boarded students will be taken to their assigned stop. Removing students at the last minute impedes the process of getting all our student’s home in a timely manner.

Due to the time constraints, buses will not wait for late students. Buses are also unable to return to bus stops to pick up students who may have missed the bus. Please note, our buses operate on a tight turnaround schedule.

LOST & FOUND

Lost jackets, lunch boxes, cell phones, or backpacks are sometimes left on the bus.

Transportation Department procedure is to have your child’s driver hold onto anything found the remainder of the day and the next day. Students should first check with the bus driver to determine if a lost item has been found or whether the driver still has the item.

If your child has left or lost anything on the bus please have them check with the driver the next time they board the bus. Radio communication with the drivers is limited to student transportation matters, i.e. transfers, lost students or emergency communications. Sorry, a missing jacket doesn’t fall under “ emergency communications”, and we are prohibited from giving out a driver’s personal phone

number.

OFFICE HOURS

KINDERGARTENERS ESCORT AUTHORIZATION

For the safety of our Kindergarten students, a parent, guardian, or approved escort must be present at the bus stop to receive them. If no one is available at the stop, your child will be returned to the elementary school for pick-up. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Please Note:
Repeated incidents of having to return your child to the school may result in a 5-day suspension of bus riding privileges.
Siblings or family friends in 1st grade or higher are permitted to escort your child if you are unavailable.