• Transportation


     

    Dr. Christopher Dillon, Assistant Superintendent for Business

    Seth Brown, Transportation Supervisor

    Laura Arianas, Clerical

     

     

    The Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD’s Transportation Office strives to provide safe, reliable, efficient, and equal transportation for all eligible students.  Students, families, and community members are viewed as our “customers” and we pride ourselves, not only on school bus service, but also on customer service.

     

    Many of your transportation questions can be answered by reviewing our FAQs below.

     

    General Questions

     

    Q: Where can I find my child's bus information?

    A: Bus information is found in each student's Infinite Campus record. Log into Infinite Campus here. Once logged in, click “more” on the left-hand side of the screen, and then click “Transportation”.

     

    Q: When should my child be at the bus stop?

    A: Students should be at their bus stop 10 minutes prior to the bus time. This will reduce the chance of a student being injured running after the bus and will reduce the chance of missing the bus. Posted bus stop times are approximate and could occasionally vary due to sub drivers, weather, or unforeseen variables.

     

    Q: Can my child use a different bus, as example if they are going to go home with a friend?

    A: Students are only permitted to use the bus they are assigned to.

     

    Q: Is my child required to use the bus every day? Is (s)he required to use the bus both in the morning and afternoon?

    A: Students are not required to use the bus daily, nor are they required to use the bus in both directions.

     

    Q: Is my child allowed to get off the bus unattended?

    A: District policy requires an authorized adult to be at the bus stop to meet kindergarten students, but there is no such requirement for students in grades 1 – 12.

     

    Q: What is the maximum allowable time my child can be on the bus?

    A: New York State Education Law does not contain a maximum length of time a student is expected to be on a bus. That said, POB CSD uses 60 minutes as the maximum allowable time on the bus. Bus routes for schools within the district’s boundaries generally do not exceed 30 minutes in length.

     

    Q: Can I request afternoon transportation for my child to go someplace other than my home (e.g., an after-school activity or a childcare location)? 

    A: Transportation is arranged to and from a student’s primary residence only.

     

    FAQs About Bus Stop Locations

     

    Q: Can I ask for the bus to pick my child up at our home?

    A: This service is referred to as “a house stop”. House stops are provided in some cases for students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and / or 504 plans. If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan, please contact your child’s school directly to discuss a house stop.

     

    Q: The bus passes my house while on its route. Can it stop there?

    A: It is very common for buses to pass student homes on the way to or from a bus stop. Drivers are only authorized to provide service at listed bus stops. 

     

    Q: My child is the only child using the bus stop.  Can we change the stop location?

    A: Bus stops locations were established by weighing several factors including safety considerations, routing consistency, and routing efficiency. Bus stops are used for all three school levels (elementary, middle, and high school) and typically encompass between a dozen and two dozen homes in the area. In some cases, for a particular school, there might be only one student using the bus stop, however, for consistency & efficiency purposes, we cannot change the stop location or add another stop.  

     

    Q: What is the maximum allowable distance a bus stop can be from my home?

    A: While New York State Education Law allows students of all grade levels to walk more than a half-mile to get to their bus stop, POB CSD uses shorter distance limits for most grade levels.  The maximum allowable distance to a bus stop varies by grade level. Click here for those details. 

     

    Q: Can I ask for a bus stop location change?

    A: Bus stop changes can be asked for, however, very few requests are accommodated. Current bus stops are at safe locations, and the walking distance for all families to all bus stops is within the distance limitations. After reviewing the FAQs about bus stop locations, and after reviewing the district’s bus stop guidelines, if you think a request is justified, please email AskTransportation@POBschools.org.

     

    Other General FAQs

     

    Q: What should I do if my child leaves something on the bus?

    A: Please first consider the item might have been left at school or at home (or someplace else).  However, if you have realistic reason to believe the item might have been left on the bus, please email AskTransportation@POBschools.org to inquire.  Please be sure to include your child’s name, the school they attend, the bus # they were on when they left the item and a description of the item(s) lost.

     

    Q: How do I request transportation for my child who goes to a private or parochial school?

    A: Full details about requesting transportation to private and parochial schools can be found here.  As per New York State Education Law, the deadline to request transportation to a private or parochial school is April 1st for the following school year.

     

    Q: Will the special transportation requirements on my child’s IEP or 504 plan be followed?

    A: Yes. The Pupil Personnel Services Office, The Transportation Office and the schools all work very closely together to ensure individual student-specific needs are met.

     

     

    If you still have any questions or concerns, please email AskTransportation@POBschools.org or call 516.434.3074.