Bus To School

About Us:

Our team consists of personnel who established and have been successfully running parent funded bussing for regional programs. Together with Laidlaw Education Services since 2002 we have been successfully providing affordable bussing services for regional programs. We help your child to focus more on their studies by bussing them from home to school and back with a quick and safe method. Our goal is to provide the most economical, efficient and dependable transportation system possible for as many regional program students as possible.

Our Partners:

Bus to School Program is at present using Laidlaw Education Services as their service provider. Laidlaw is a very well known company whose services are being used by all School Boards across Ontario. They are the largest service provider for school transportation in North America. They have recently become World's largest school transportation provider after their merger with a U.K. company FirstGroup PLC. Every school day, more than 2.3 million children are passengers on Laidlaw school buses. Locally, they transport more than 50,000 students per day.

School Bus Safety Rules:

The "School Bus Safety Rules" have been prepared using the guidelines of the District School Board's and the Regional Police. These rules have been created to ensure the safety of all students and the intention is to support the bus drivers in maintaining a safe environment on the bus.
Students Must:

Carry their Bus to School Bus Pass at all times.

Be at their pick-up point 5-10 minutes before the designated time. Remember that times given are approximate and can vary due to road/ weather conditions.

Listen to the bus driver when getting on and off the bus, especially when a road must be crossed.

Go directly to their seat and remain seated at all times until they are let off the bus by the driver.

Follow all instructions from the bus driver, especially about placement of their personal belongings. Students are responsible for the safety of their belongings and in no case shall bus to school or the bussing company be held responsible for lost or stolen belongings.

Not smoke, eat or drink, fight, or use loud, offensive, or abusive language or make obscene or objectionable gestures, or display printed or hand drawn signs in the bus windows.

Not open or close windows unless the driver permits it.

Keep all belongings inside the bus at all times.

Not damage or deface the bus (student will be held financially responsible).

Respect private property while waiting for the bus.

Not distract the driver while the bus is in motion unless absolutely necessary.

Radios, cassettes and CD Players are not allowed on the bus unless equipped and used with a personal headset.

Discipline Process:

The following will be adhered to, and depending on the severity of the situation, and at the discretion of Bus to school and the School, the process may be accelerated. Bussing privileges may not be offered in subsequent years to riders who have received a suspension from bussing. Discipline reports are maintained and carry over from year to year. The Bus to school and the schools will keep driver reports on file. No refund will be made if the rider is suspended for disciplinary reasons.

1st Driver's Conduct Report
Student, parents, and the school are notified. An attempt will be made to reach the parent by phone.
2nd Driver's Conduct Report
Report by registered mail to parent with a warning of suspension of bussing privileges.
3rd Driver's Conduct Report
1-week suspension from bussing privileges.
4th Driver's Conduct Report
1-month suspension from bussing privileges.
5th Driver's Conduct Report
Permanent suspension from bussing privileges for the balance of the year.

Routes and Stop Locations:

Each year the bus routes are structured to best accommodate the students enrolled in regional programs as per boundary defined by school boards. The bus routes will be set up to best serve the needs of the majority and routes are decided based on applications received up to April 30 each year. Students are expected to meet at their designated stops and not ask to be dropped off or to be picked up at other points. Safety and efficiency are the prime considerations in setting up bus stops. Drivers are not permitted to make any changes in stop locations. Students can expect the average walk distance from home to the bus stop to be 1 km or less.

Applications received after April 30, are processed only after all prior applications have been accommodated and only if space is still available. Routes are not altered to accommodate late applications and parents will be responsible for getting students to existing stops as late applicants, one way and one semester riders are accommodated on existing stop locations they may have to walk distance more than 1 km.

Bus Pass:

Bus passes will be required to board the bus. All applicants who have paid in full (postdated cheques processed) by August 1st shall receive their bus pass with their name and route number. This shall be mailed to you in the second week of August. If you do not receive your pass by August 20th please contact Bus to School via e-mail or telephone.

If you lose your bus pass you will need to send us a written request along with a cheque for $25 to send you a duplicate bus pass.

Bus Cancellation Information:

Bus to School program observes the same bus cancellation policy as the District School Boards. Therefore, if the District School Boards cancel bussing due to weather or any other conditions, the Bus to School buses will also be cancelled. This applies not only to bussing in the morning to school, but also applies if the District School Boards decide to pick up students early in the afternoon due to weather condition.

For more information Please call (905) 275-1615.

For the info on District School Boards please visit their individual sites:
http://www.dpcdsb.org
http://www.peelschools.org/schools/closing.htm
http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
http://www.haltondsb.on.ca

Address Change Policy:

The Bus routes for next school year are created by May 15 and if a student changes his/her address after May 15 preceding the school year, bus to school will make every effort to accommodate this student on an alternate route, subject to availability and the student shall be accommodated on an existing stop location.

However we request parents if they are aware of the new location then they should fill the application accordingly. Once routes are final all address changes are subject to availability on existing routes and stops. No refunds. Address changes are accommodated on existing stop locations and may have a longer walk distance.

Any request for address change after May 15 for the starting school year shall have to be made in writing along with a cheque for administration fee of $50.

NSF Cheque Policy:

Application processing is stopped if your cheque is returned back to us as an NSF. All NSF cheques must be replaced immediately by certified cheques and must include the $50 NSF service charge.

Refund Policy:

Parents must commit to the bussing program for a full year. If a student withdraws from the program or does not require bussing any more, NO REFUND will be made.

If a student changes his/her address after May 15, bus to school will make every effort to accommodate this student on an alternate route, subject to availability and shall be accommodated on existing stop locations. However we request parents if they are aware of new location then fill the application accordingly. Once routes are created all address changes are subject to availability on existing routes and stops. No Refunds.

Exceptions:

Two-way riders will receive an official confirmation letter stating your pick up location and time in mid July. If the target ride time or walk distance as mentioned in the application package is not achieved, you will have the option of a full refund provided you notify the Bus to School program in writing within 10 days of the date of your confirmation letter. However this clause is not applicable to one way, one semester, and late applicant riders and address change riders as they are accommodated on existing stop locations.

We may not be able to provide bussing for each and every student who requests it. If we are not able to place a student on a bus route, we shall notify you and a full refund will be given.