Busing Guidelines

  • Bus stop locations are determined based on the home address of the student, with transportation available to the assigned school within District boundary and attendance areas, unless the address falls within the walk zone. 

    District policy allows transportation to and from daycare sites. The address of the daycare must be within District boundary and attendance areas of the school the student is assigned and not in the walk zone. The pick-up and drop-off addresses may be different from each other but they must remain consistent five days per week. For this reason, only one morning and one afternoon stop is permitted. If the daycare situation changes in the course of the school year, a new form must be submitted to enact the change. 

    To request an alternate pick-up or drop-off (daycare) address that meets the above criteria, please complete the Transportation Form and submit to Vision Transportation. At the start of each new school year, a Transportation Form must be completed and in the hands of Vision Transportation by June 1. There is no guarantee that Vision Transportation can accommodate daycare transportation once routes have been set for the start of school. To make a change after the start of the school year, complete the Transportation Form and submit it to Vision Transportation at least 5 school days in advance. 

    To ensure student safety, students may be picked up or dropped off at a destination other than their normal bus stop only in cases of emergency. Parents or guardians are urged to contact Vision Transportation as soon as possible. Transportation for social activities is not allowed and is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

    The goal of Vision Transportation is to consistently identify bus stops in neighborhoods on the basis of safety, efficiency, and distance between stops. Generally bus stops are located at an intersection in order for the driver to have a wide area to scan for traffic and students, to create efficient routes, and to minimize buses backing up. 

    Kindergarten

    • If your child will be attending a daycare program, including the district’s EdVenture Club (at the school), submit a Transportation Form no later than July 1 to assure your child’s transportation needs are communicated. It is extremely important for you to know that parents/guardians or daycare providers must provide supervision and assume responsibility for student(s) to and from the bus stop. It is also important that for safety and security purposes, parents and guardians monitor their children while boarding and departing the bus. Because of time and safety issues, parents/guardians are not allowed on the bus.
    • Bus stops will be less than one-quarter (¼) mile away from a student’s home (or pick up/drop-off) address and will be centrally located to accommodate as many student riders as possible at one stop.
    • Students living outside of the assigned school attendance area or within the walk zone are not eligible to receive bus transportation.

    Grades 1 - 4

    • If a student daycare address (for pick-up and/or drop-off) has been added to a student’s transportation record, busing will remain in place from the previous year, unless a change is requested. 
    • Bus stops will be less than one-quarter (¼) mile away from a student’s home (or pick-up/ drop-off) address and will be centrally located to accommodate as many student riders as possible at one stop.
    • Students living outside of the assigned school attendance area or within the walk zone are not eligible to receive bus transportation. 

    Grade 5

    • Grade five (5) students who live in the assigned school attendance area for Hassan Elementary and Rogers Elementary will attend Rogers Middle School. Grade 5 students who live in the assigned school attendance area for Otsego Elementary and Prairie View Elementary will attend Prairie View Middle School. 
      • If a student daycare address (for pick-up and/or drop-off) has been added to a student’s transportation record, the busing location will remain in place from the previous year, unless a change is requested.
      • Bus stops will be less than one-half (½) mile away from a student’s home (or pick-up/drop-off) address and will be located to concentrate as many student riders as possible at one stop.
      • Students living outside of the assigned school attendance area or within the walk zone are not eligible to receive bus transportation.
         
    • Grade five (5) students who live in the assigned school attendance area for Lincoln Elementary, Meadowvale Elementary, Parker Elementary, Twin Lakes Elementary, Westwood Elementary and Zimmerman Elementary will remain at their assigned elementary school. 
      • If a student daycare address (for pick-up and/or drop-off) has been added to a student’s transportation record, the busing location will remain in place from the previous year, unless a change is requested. 
      • Bus stops will be less than one-quarter (¼) mile away from a student’s home (or pick-up/ drop-off) address and will be centrally located to accommodate as many student riders as possible at one stop.
      • Students living outside of the assigned school attendance area or within the walk zone are not eligible to receive bus transportation. 

    Grades 6 - 10

    • If a student daycare address (for pick-up and/or drop-off) was previously added to a student’s transportation record, busing information will revert to the home address. A new form must be submitted each year if an alternative pick-up and/or drop-off address is desired. 
    • Bus stops will be less than one-half (½) mile away from a student’s home (or pick-up/drop-off) address and will be located to concentrate as many student riders as possible at one stop.
    • Students living outside of the assigned school attendance area or within the walk zone are not eligible to receive bus transportation. 

     

    Grades 11 - 12

    • Students (in grades 11 and 12) must register for busing if needed using the Transportation Form. A new form must be submitted each year (for students in grades 11 and 12).
    • Bus stops will be less than one-half (½) mile away from a student’s home (pick-up and/or drop-off) address and will be centrally located to accommodate as many student riders as possible at one stop.
    • Students living outside of the assigned school attendance area or within the walk zone are not eligible to receive bus transportation.

Questions?

  • Kari Schugel
    ISD 728 Transportation Operations Manager
    p: 763-241-3477
    e: kari.schugel@isd728.org

    Vision Transportation
    p: 763-441-4420

    a: 12508 Elk Lake Road,
    Elk River, MN 55330