Frequently Asked Questions

ISD 728 contracts with Vision of Elk River, Inc. (“Vision Transportation”) to provide transportation to area students. The mission of ISD 728 and Vision Transportation is to support the education process by transporting students safely, securely, reliably and in a timely manner to and from school and school events. Our goal is to operate safe, dependable and cost-effective transportation services for our students. We want the student’s ride to be part of a positive educational experience.

If you move during the school year, have a change in daycare locations, or wish to begin riding the bus, please complete a new Student Transportation Information Form through Campus Parent Portal.  Allow up to 10 school days for the adjustment and watch Parent Portal for new routing information to become available.

NOTE: Temporary route changes will not be honored. When making a change, the student must ride for at least twenty (20) consecutive school days before another change can be made. 

Parents/guardians of students attending District 728 schools receive an email around the third week of August each year directing them to the District’s Parent Portal at www.isd728.org/parentportal for bus stop locations, bus numbers and route times for the school their student attends. Occasionally, busing information may need to be adjusted after this initial contact, therefore parents are encouraged to verify this information before the first day of school. Please refer to Busing Guidelines for daycare or alternative pick up and/or drop off locations.

• On occasion, questions arise about what can be brought onto the school bus. Students may bring small musical instruments that can be held on a students lap or between their legs during the bus ride. Toys may be carried on the bus if they are kept in a student’s backpack, but can not be used during the ride to or from school. The goal is for students to have a safe and respectful ride to and from school.
• Some objects are never allowed on the bus, including:  
  • Weapons, explosives, flammable materials
  • Live animals or insects
  • Glass items
  • Large recreational/sports items (golf clubs, bats, hockey/lacrosse sticks, tennis rackets, etc.)
  • Musical instruments that are too large to be held on the lap or in the seat
  • Any items of dangerous or objectionable nature as determined by the District.

In the case of minor transportation adjustments to bus stops, routes and pick-up or drop-off times during the school year, Vision Transportation will notify parents who are impacted through the District's automated notification system. Notifications may be sent via phone call, email or text message.

Understand that bus pick-up and drop-off times are based on good weather and ideal road conditions. Traffic congestion, road construction, and inclement weather may cause delays in pick-up and drop-off times. In the event the bus will be significantly delayed, Vision Transportation will send parent notifications to the primary contact listed in the District’s Parent Portal using an automated system.  To view and/or update your current contact information and preferences visit www.isd728.org/parentportal for details.

Every attempt is made to limit student ride times to less than 75 minutes one way for students living within District boundary and attendance areas.

Vision Transportation is not able to route buses so that all students can wait for the bus on the door side. We recommend that students wait on the side of the street that they reside. The bus will activate warning lights and a stop arm to alert traffic in order to accommodate students that need to cross the street to board the bus.

No. For their safety, students can only ride their assigned bus. Drivers are not allowed to accept notes from students or parents.

Vision Transportation makes every effort to fully maximize bus capacities. On occasion, buses may not be fully utilized due to the nature of the transportation. Special Education transportation and some school schedules prevent fully utilized buses due to distances, timing, and program needs.

A standard bus is rated for 77 elementary students and Vision Transportation aims to load buses to 95% of the appropriate-rated capacity whenever possible. Elementary students (K-5) are expected to sit 3 to a seat and secondary students (6-12) are expected to sit 2 to a seat. Stated differently, Vision Transportation can have 73 students on an elementary route and 50 students on a secondary route and maintain proper capacity.

Student pick-up and drop-off times should remain fairly consistent after the first two weeks of school. Circumstances beyond control could make the bus late occasionally. Vehicle breakdowns, impassable roads, emergencies or drivers becoming ill are just a few reasons that could make the bus late. If the wait is longer than fifteen minutes, a notification will be sent using the District's automated system. Every effort will be made to ensure a bus will be at your stop.

Transportation across district lines or outside of assigned school boundaries is generally not permitted. Route timing, distances, and bus capacities make it impossible to accommodate this type of request. The parent, guardian, or daycare provider would be responsible for transportation arrangements.

• Arrange for your student to be at their bus stop five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. 
• Monitor students from damaging the property of others at the bus stop. 
• Be aware that the bus will pick up and drop off students at the same stop every day school is in session. 
• Help your student learn their route numbers and appropriate paths to/from the bus stop to home. 
• Review the bus safety rules outlined in the Bus Safety information with your student. 
• Accompany younger riders to the bus stop and meet the bus at the end of the day for the first days of
  school, or arrange for an older student or child care provider to be at the bus stop for the first days of
  school.

The goal is to consistently identify bus stops in neighborhoods based on safety, efficiency, least cost, and shortest overall ride times.  Bus stops are central to where all of the students are coming from. Some house stops are made on very busy roads. Generally, Vision Transportation does not send buses into cul-de-sacs or dead-end roads because of lack of safe access or the ability of the bus to turn around. Please see busing guidelines  for specific grade levels.