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Transportation » Parent Information

Parent Information

Bus transportation is provided by SWISD as a service to our community.  It is not a right!  We must all do our respective parts to maintain that service.  Safety is our primary concern!  Students must not distract the driver from safely operating the bus. Students must remain seated in their assigned seats, not be excessively loud or unruly and not throw things inside or outside of the bus.  It only takes a second to distract the driver and potentially cause an accident. 

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Transportation is available for children who live two miles or more from their assigned school at no cost to the student. The distance a student lives from their assigned school is measured using the shortest route that may be traveled on publicly maintained roads between the entrance to the campus and the property line of the student's legal residence. Students residing within two miles of their assigned school may have transportation available if their neighborhood qualifies as hazardous under the district's hazardous transportation rating system.
Students living within two miles of their assigned school are not eligible for district bus transportation.However, state law provides a provision and stipulates that a District may evaluate certain traffic conditions and offer temporary hazardous transportation services to students residing within two miles of their assigned school based on the following applicable (basic) guidelines.
 
  • A hazardous condition exists where no walkway is provided and students must walk along or cross a major traffic artery, an industrial or commercial area, or another comparable condition".
  • The district will review all routes annually and provide evaluations and recommendations to determine which students will/will not receive hazardous transportation (temporary) services based on the following points of interest:
  • Description of Area (industrial, commercial, residential, etc.); Description of Streets and Highways to be Crossed or Traveled; Design of Streets and Highways to Be Crossed or Traveled; Distance-Home to School; Traffic Controls Located Between Home and School Which Assist the Student; Traffic Density of Major Roads or Arteries; Speed Limits of Major Roads to be Crossed; Number of Major Intersections to Be Crossed; Number of "Feeder" Streets (streets that carry neighborhood traffic to major streets/arteries) to be crossed; and Condition of Walkway (no sidewalk required)".
 
Special Note: Determination of who (students) will/will not receive temporary hazardous transportation services when a new school will open occurs only after the respective boundary of the concerned school(s) has been presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees.
Bus routes are created to enhance student safety while maximizing route efficiency. Stops are created that allow students to wait off the main roadway for the bus if at all possible. Stops are also created to minimize students walking in highly traveled roadways for long distances without sidewalks.~It is the parents responsibility to supervise their children between their home and the bus stop and while at the bus stop.~~Stops are placed at the street corners. In the case of exceptionally long blocks, stops may be placed in the middle of the block. Stops are not placed in dead end streets to minimize bus accidents while backing (Backing is a very dangerous maneuver for a school bus). Stops are spread as far apart as criteria will allow in order to decrease the number of stops each bus will make on its route thus minimizing riding time for the students. Elementary students may be required to walk up to 1/4 of a mile to a bus stop. Secondary students may be required to walk up to 1/2 of a mile. Bus routes are designed to limit student ride time to no more than 1 hour one-way if at all possible.

The above design criteria is for regular students only.~ Students in special programs are subject to different design criteria.~ See the link to Special Needs for more information.

Regular Routes: The District has established certain criteria to determine the use of various locations for bus stops within District boundaries. While each route composition is unique, the typical walk-to-bus stop distances are:

Walk to bus stop distance

Pre-K, Kinder and Elementary - 0.35 miles

Middle/High School - 0.50 miles

Parents must assume the responsibility for their students traveling back and forth between home and the bus stop

Students eligible for special needs transportation will be contacted regarding transportation information.
Pick Up Time Criteria
Regular transportation attempts to arrive at every bus stop on time.  Due to the variances between individual clocks and changing traffic patterns, students are asked to arrive at the bus stop 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time.  Buses will load students and depart the stop.  Regular buses do not wait for late students under most circumstances. 
All buses will wait at the school in the afternoon for students to board.  Students are expected to proceed immediately to the buses.  Once released by administrators, bus drivers are instructed not to stop or open the door for late students due to safety concerns having students too close to moving bus wheels.  If a bus is more than ten (10) minutes late, please call Dispatch ((210) 623-4901 to report the delay. 

Walking to a bus stop
Bus stops are located at assigned bus stops which may be up to .4 tenths of a mile from their home. Students are expected to be at the bus stop at least 5-10 minutes before the designated pickup time for the bus stop.  If a driver has to wait for a student, the driver is required to make a bus referral. 

Missing the bus
If a student misses the bus, it is the parent’s responsibility to get the student to school.

Dropping at unauthorized stops
Students must get on and off the bus at their designated stops.  In order to drop students at other than their designated stops, parents must request a bus pass from the appropriate school administrator.  This pass (signed by the administrator) must be given to the driver prior to boarding the bus.  
 

Return to School

Pre-K & Kinder students can not be dropped off at designated stops without a Parent to receive them. If no Parent or designated adult is at the stop to receive the student they will be returned to school and a parent will have to pick them up. A student of any age may be returned to school if for any reason they feel unsafe or uncomfortable being dropped off at their designated stop at which the parent will be responsible to pick up students at school.
Parents may also designate a child-care facility or grandparent’s residence as the regular pick-up and drop-off locations for their children.  The designated facility or residence must be on an approved stop or route.  For information on bus routes (including pick-up / drop-off locations go to the infoFinder i page, or call SWISD Transportation and speak to a dispatcher at (210) 622-4901.

Pre-K and K students.  Any Kindergarten/Pre-Kindergarten student(s) who cannot be released to a parent / responsible adult will be taken back to the school office.  It will then be the parent’s responsibility to pick up the student.

The student may lose his/her bus riding privileges after three (3) occurrences if an authorized person is not at the bus stop to receive the student.
a. General.  Students are expected to assist district staff in ensuring that buses remain in good condition and that a safe environment is maintained on the bus.  When riding in district vehicles, students are held to behavioral standards outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.  Misconduct will be dealt with in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.  Depending on the nature of the misconduct, penalties will be assessed up to, and including suspension from riding the bus, and possibly Class C misdemeanors for Disruption of Transportation (TEC Section 37.126).  
b. Expected student behaviors at the bus stop, or on the bus:
See section on Bus Safety Partnership Contract.
c. Riding a different bus.  If a student has a requirement to ride a different bus, the parent must request a bus pass from the school administrator.  The pass must be signed by the appropriate administrator and given to the bus driver prior to boarding.
Students who participate in school-sponsored trips are required to use transportation provided by the school to and from the event.  The principal, however, may make an exception if the parent makes a written request that the student be released to the parent or to another adult designated by the parent.