Steve Watt, Contract Manager
Steve.watt@firstgroupamerica.com
563-386-1436

Program Goal - Provide safe transportation every school day

Summary of Services
Provide transportation for 6,500 public and non-public K-12 students via 101 regular bus routes..

Staff
The staff is comprised of 110 bus drivers, 10 bus monitors, 5 mechanics, 4 dispatchers, and 2 secretaries.

Hours
During the school year business hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Summer hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Busing Standards

**Note– policy reads “more than” stated miles

Safety Busing
Only students in K-5 qualify for safety busing.

Paid Conditional Busing Guidelines
Based upon the formula of 70% for the first child, 50% for the second child, and 30% for the third child. Rates will be based upon cost per student as a result of state transportation report.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does my student qualify for school bus transportation to school?
  
  Yes, within the students home school attendance area if ….
  
  Kindergarten – 5th grade student lives more than 1 ½ from school
  6th – 8th grade student lives more than 2 miles from school
  9th – 12th grade student lives more than 3 miles from school
   
• How do I find out what the distance is from home to school?
  
  Please use MapQuest at http://www.mapquest.com. Follow the directions for putting in the student’s home for starting location and putting in the school for ending location. Please click “Shortest Distance” button in the Advanced Options area on the right. Remember this is only an estimated distance and any discrepancies or questions should be directed to First Student.
   
• What if my student does not qualify for school bus transportation within my home school attendance area?
  
  The district does offer paid conditional bussing under the following conditions:
  Existing routes and bus stops must be utilized.
  
  Expanding routes or adding additional stops cannot be done even when a family is paying for the service.
  
  If these conditions cannot be met then the service is not available.
  
  In order to apply for paid conditional busing, the family needs to go to the First Student office located at 3640 Davenport Ave. Davenport, Iowa in order to fill out the necessary forms. The cost is $352.00 for one student, $252.00 for the second student in the same family and $152.00 for a third child in the same family. These are the costs for the entire year.
  
  Car pooling is an effective way many parents use to get students to school.
   
• Why does my student have to walk so far to a bus stop?
  
  Stops are created based on efficient use of the bus route. Walking a few blocks to a bus stop can be necessary and not unusual.
   
• Can a student be dropped off at a location other than my house?
  
  Yes, if… the stop is within the student’s attendance area for child care purposes and is on an existing route. The student stop must be either home or child care and becomes the student’s regular stop. There can be no periodic or regular changes to a student’s stop.
   
• Can a student lose their bus ride?
  
  Yes. Behavior guidelines are in place. If students fail to follow those guidelines they can be suspended from riding the bus temporarily or permanently. If a student is suspended from riding the bus it is the parent/guardians responsibility to take the student to school.
   
• What if I need transportation to a school which is not in my “home” school attendance area?
  
  Transportation to locations outside a student’s attendance area is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
   

Bus Conduct and Rules
The following rules must be observed on the bus for the safety of all passengers:

Follow the directions of the Driver (Teacher) the first time they are given. 

• The driver is the authority on the bus. 

• Students must respond promptly to the driver’s instructions and obey any rules the driver feels necessary for the safety of the students. 

• Use of a personal radio/tape player must meet the driver’s approval.  Pets/animals are not allowed on the bus.

Cell phones.

• Follow board policy.  If disruption impacts bus operation they must be turned off.

Sit in your assigned seat at all times. 

• Students will arrive at their assigned bus stop five (5) minutes prior to arrival of the bus and wait quietly off the roadway. 

• Students must board the bus in a single file line and must be on assigned bus.

• Go directly to a seat, remain seated and face forward at all times.

• Students may talk quietly, but keep the noise to a minimum so as not to distract the driver while on the bus.

• Keep feet out of the aisle to allow other students to walk up or down the aisle quickly and safely and, most important, so students can evacuate the bus quickly in the event of an emergency.

 Respect others.

• No hitting, pushing, fighting, swearing or using rude gestures or gang signs on the school bus or at the bus stop.

• Students should remember they are still on school time and should use school manners.

• Throwing objects, horseplay, fighting, bothering others and any other activity that is distracting to the driver and others, is considered disruptive behavior.

• All school rules apply on bus that distract driver.

• Please use your best manners.

Keep all objects and body parts (head, arms, legs) inside the bus and in your seat.

• Do not yell out windows at passing persons or vehicles.

Food, drinks, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gang signs and weapons are not allowed.

• For the students’ safety, they are asked not to eat or drink on the bus.

• Tobacco, drugs, alcohol and weapons are prohibited by the state law.

Damages.

• Any damage to a bus by a student, or students, will be billed to the parent or guardian who will be responsible for payment and the student will have bus riding privileges suspended until payment is received in full.