Columbia County School District
Transportation Department
Touching Tomorrow Through Teamwork Today
School Bus Safety Week October 18-22
Hear messages from local leaders about Bus Safety...
During the summer months the Transportation Department reroutes and reassigns buses where needed. Please do not assume your child will ride the same bus as he or she rode last year. If you have any questions concerning what bus your child will ride call 755-8060 or 755-8062 or 755-8064.
Monday-Friday
6:00 am - 4:00 pm
Drive Carefully!
F.S.
316.172
Any person using, operating,
or driving a vehicle on or over the roads or highways of this state
shall, upon approaching any school bus which displays a stop signal,
bring such vehicle to a full stop while the bus is stopped, and the
vehicle shall not pass the school bus until the signal has been
withdrawn. A person who violates this
section commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter
318. Any person using, operating, or
driving a vehicle that passes a school bus on the side that children
enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop
signal commits a moving violation, punishable as provided
in chapter 318, and is subject to a mandatory hearing under the
provisions of s.318.9. The driver of a
vehicle upon a divided highway with an unpaved space of at least 5
feet, a raised median, or a physical barrier is not required to stop
when traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus which is
stopped in accordance with the provisions of this section.
Remember
they are transporting the most precious cargo, our children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Routing
is based upon the legal address the school has on file for a student.
It is the parent’s responsibility to provide documentation of
their 911 address to the school (s). Transportation will assign a bus
stop, in alignment with School Board policy and State guidelines.
How far will my child be required to walk?
Walking Distance
CCSB Policy 8.13 states when a student lives within 1.5 miles of the school he/she attends, the student will walk to that school. When a student lives more than 1.5 miles from the school he/she attends, but within 1.5 miles of any school, the student will walk to the nearest school and go by shuttle bus to the school he/she attends. When a student lives more than 1.5 miles from any school, the student will walk to the bus stop designated by the Director of Transportation; provided no student will be required to walk more than .5 miles to a bus stop. Students will be required to be at the place designated on the loading side both morning and afternoon and ready to board the bus at the time indicated on the bus schedule.
Why is the
bus late?
School
bus drivers can have the same reasons as motorist have for being late.
Traffic delays, weather conditions, accidents or driver illness are
just a few reasons. School buses also have mechanical breakdowns or
“no starts” that cause delays in picking students up on
time. The school bus driver must run the
entire route in the morning regardless of any delays.
If a bus arrives at the school late the
driver will send a note to the front office. The
school bus driver will make every effort in the morning to be at each
bus stop and assigned schools at the same time as much as humanly
possible. If your child’s bus is
continuously operating off schedule, please call the transportation
office at 386-755-8062 or 755-8064.
My
child needs to go home with a friend or get off at a different bus stop
from his/her assigned bus stop?
Bus
passes can only be issued for an existing bus stop on a temporary basis. Parent/Guardian will need to send a written
request to the principal for approval. If
request is approved student will hand pass to bus driver upon boarding
bus. Bus driver cannot accept hand written
notes from parent/guardian, request must be approved by principal.
Is
my child required to wear a seat belt?
Yes,
FS 316.6145 require the use of seat belts by all students on a school
bus with safety belts or restraint systems shall wear a properly
adjusted and fastened safety belt at all times while the bus is in
operation. The law requires the proper
usage of the safety belt, therefore the passenger must be seated in a
seat with a operable belt.
Can
my child use his/her cell phone on the bus?
Wireless
communication devices must not be visible, in use, or
turned on while a student is on a school bus or in a school board
vehicle.
Can
I get my student off the bus at a stop other than their designated stop?
For
the safety of all students, no student may depart the bus at any
location other than his/her assigned bus stop and/or school.
