Parent Resources
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District Responsibilities & Procedures
The following procedures were established to facilitate safe and efficient transportation for students with disabilities. On occasion, the Transportation Department receives requests from parents to deviate from these procedures. The Transportation Department reserves the right to authorize or deny parental requests.
The Transportation Department may adjust any existing route as necessary to accommodate load, equipment needs, and safety. At times, the adjustment may change existing bus routes and/or the size or type of bus.
Medical Emergencies:
- In the event of a medical emergency, 911 will be contacted.
- After assessment by emergency personnel:
- If a medical concern is found, emergency personnel will have the authority, per School Board policy, to transport the student to an appropriate medical facility.
- If a medical concern is not evident, student will be returned to the bus and continue to their destination.
Pick-Up/Drop-Off:
Curb-to-Curb Service:
- Under most conditions, specialized transportation provides curb-to-curb service for students with disabilities. This means that the buses will pick up/drop-off at the curb in a safe location relative to the student’s residence of record or provider as appropriate.
- In accordance with national best practices, buses do not back up.
- Due to road conditions (dead-end roadways, cul-de-sacs, condominium/townhouse/apartment complexes, dirt or gravel roadways, or narrow roadways), it may be necessary to place the pick-up/drop-off site at a safe location away from the home or daycare keeping the bus on public roads.
- Every effort will be made to have the bus stop as close as possible to the home or daycare.
- The bus driver or attendant is not responsible for escorting the student to or from home and/or the school.
- In rare instances, the pick-up/drop-off location may require the student to cross the roadway. If necessary, the bus attendant will escort the student across the roadway to and from the pick-up/drop-off location.
Loading/Unloading:
Private Driveways and Parking Lots:
- Buses do not use private driveways or parking lots as pick-up/drop-off points.
- Gated communities: Bus Drivers must have a gate access code to enter/exit gated communities. Additionally, the gate code must be accessible to the driver via the bus driver’s front window. Bus drivers may not exit the bus to access a keypad. If a code is not available or access to an area is restricted, pick-up and drop-off services for students will be provided outside the main gate area or the area closest to the main gate.
- Property managers and Homeowner Associations, on occasion, deny school buses access to their property. In these cases the pick-up/drop-off place will be at a safe location closest to the entrance of the property.
- Wheelchair lifts must be dropped on level ground.
At the Pick-Up/Drop-off Location:
- Drivers are permitted to leave students only at the designated drop-off location or the school.
- It is the responsibility of the driver and attendant to load/unload students at the pick-up/drop-off locations.
- At times, the parent or guardian may be asked to assist with the loading and unloading of the student when requested by transportation staff.
- Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to communicate to the bus driver and attendant any information about the student that would help facilitate safe loading/unloading.
- The Transportation Department will not accept a soiled child and are not able to wait for the student. The bus may return for a soiled child after they have been cleaned up if the schedule allows.
Communication with the Bus Driver:
Although the bus driver may share their cellular telephone, parents must be mindful that drivers are required to maintain a time schedule and may not talk on the cell phone while operating the bus, per HCPS Driver’s District Policy.
Bus Evacuation Plan:
Students with disabilities who are able to get on and off the bus unassisted or with minimal assistance are expected to participate in bus evacuation drills.
Student Behavior:
It is the school district’s responsibility to provide safe transportation for students who ride school buses to/from school and on school-related trips. In the absence of a teacher or school administrator, the bus driver is responsible for ensuring that stu-dents behave in a safe and responsible manner. Any behavior that interferes with the safe transportation of students must be reported. The safety of all students is the primary concern of Hillsborough County Public Schools.
- Behavior problems are handled in accordance with federal and state law, local rules and regulations, IEP recommendations and procedural safeguards.
- Drivers and attendants are to use the Bus Conduct/Incident Report to refer inappropriate behavior to school administrators. Administrators are expected to follow district discipline procedures.
Dangerous Behavior on the Bus:
The following are Transportation Department guidelines for bus drivers responding to unsafe behavior on the bus:
- A warning/referral will be submitted to document the incident.
- When the behavior of a student poses a potential danger to others, the driver will immediately call the HCPS Security (K-6) office and/or call 911 for police response.
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Equipment
Restraint Devices:
There is a degree of flexibility in determining the appropriate type of seat and/or seat arrangement to be used for each student on the bus; however, the Transportation form must be completed to reference the team recommendations.
- Most small children with disabilities can be secured in a Safety Vest. Many larger children with disabilities that have the ability to sit upright without support can use regular restraint (safety) belts installed in school buses.
- A safety vest may be utilized for students whose challenging behaviors require restraint while on the bus. The safety vest is attached with a strap secured to the bus seat. Parents will be notified and/or a meeting will be held to discuss and document specific needs of the student.
- It will be the responsibility of the parent and school staff to ensure that the student comes to the bus with the safety vest on.
- Students will receive their vests at the first pick-up and will be expected to return to the Transportation Department at the end of the year or upon moving.
- Parents are responsible for the safety vest and must report any defects or changes to the Transportation Department so that the safety vest can be replaced.
For Students Using Wheelchairs:
- In order to provide the safest transportation possible, students with disabilities who utilize a wheelchair must have serviceable equipment.
- Generally, multiple pieces of equipment cannot be transported due to safety and limited space.
- Parents are responsible for serviceability of the wheelchair.
- Seatback of the chair must be firmly attached.
- Seat of the chair must be attached to the frame.
- Trunk support systems must be present with serviceable buckles and straps.
- Lap belts must be used and attached to the frame.
- Book bags and ventilation/suction machines must be attached to the chair.
- Anti-tip bars and footrests must be present and properly positioned.
- Brakes must be present and in working order to properly hold the chair in a fixed position.
- Tires must be properly inflated.
- Headrests must be present and properly positioned to rest the student’s head.
- Batteries, if present, must be properly fixed to the chair.
- Trays should not be attached to the wheelchair during transportation services.
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Magnet Ramp Locations
Magnet Ramp Locations
Procedures for Pick-up / Drop-off at Transfer Ramps:
- 40th Street Bus Ramp - Contact (813) 982-5500, option 5
- HDA Bus Ramp - Contact (813) 982-5500, option 1
- Tampa Bay Tech Bus Ramp - Contact (813) 982-5500, option 4
- Yukon Bus Ramp - Contact (813) 982-5500, option 2
In case of emergency, please contact (813) 982-5500, option 9
Transportation strives to create a safe, caring environment. We want you to know that until students and parents become accustomed to the procedures, it is not unusual for magnet school buses to run 45 or more minutes late. We ask for your patience as we ensure the safety of your student.
Network (Neighborhood Bus)/Transfer Bus
In the morning, network (neighborhood) buses transport all magnet students (living two or more miles from the school) from a neighborhood bus stop to an assigned transfer point where students board a transfer bus to school.
In the afternoon, students board the transfer buses from school back to the assigned transfer ramp. The students then board their network (neighborhood) buses which takes them to their neighborhood bus stop.
You are allowed to send water in a spill-proof container with your student so that he or she will be as comfortable as possible while waiting at the transfer ramp.
Bus Transfer Ramp
All ramp transfers are inside gates and are monitored and supervised by school security, drivers, and magnet lead ramp drivers. No bus is allowed to leave until we account for all students.
Parents must designate the appropriate afternoon pickup and drop off location. Gates will be locked once transfer has been called and students will not be released (The 2,000 - 4,000 students on a transfer ramp cannot be held on the ramp waiting for a tardy parent so please be on time). Students not picked up at the transfer ramp will be transported to their network (neighborhood) stop location.
In the interest of safety, parents/guardians are not allowed to send a note or make a telephone call to the school authorizing a student to be placed on a different bus or to get on or off at a different stop. All students must board and exit the assigned school bus at the same location every day.
Parents and students who fail to follow the magnet ramp procedures for this safe, caring environment may forfeit magnet transportation privileges.
Questions
If you have questions, contact your area office.
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Parent/Student Responsibilities
Parent Responsibilities:
- Submit accurate address, telephone, and emergency contact information to the school when a change occurs. Please do not call the Transportation Department. Incorrect or untimely information delays the placement of transportation services.
- If the address change requires rescheduling, a minimum of 3-5 working days may be needed to establish a new route and time schedule.
- Ensure that the student is at the designated stop 15 minutes prior to sched-uled pick-up time.
- Buses are scheduled to arrive within a few minutes of the designat-ed time each day. The bus driver is not required to wait or to re-turn for a tardy student.
- Communicate with private daycare and/or after-school care centers that students must be greeted by an authorized adult upon pick-up and/or deliv-ery of the student to that center.
- The bus driver and attendant do not escort students into the desig-nated delivery site and/or sign students in. Failure to comply with this request may result in an alternate transportation service for the student or removal of such services. Facility staff are acting on behalf of the parent.
- Hand-deliver all prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, diaper bags and related materials directly to appropriate staff at the school.
- Bus drivers are not allowed to transport medications and/or as-sume responsibility for other related items that are not secured within the student’s backpack.
- Transport the student’s wheelchair (if applicable) from the school if the stu-dent is sent home by school staff due to illness, public health concerns and/or other related safety issues.
- Should not interfere with the driver or attendant while they are performing their duties.
- Should not send students to the bus with food and/or drink to be consumed on the bus (unless prior approval is obtained and identified in the IEP) or extra items that cannot be safely secured.
- Communicate to the school administrator any concerns related to transpor-tation services.
Student Responsibilities:
- Obey the rules established by the bus driver and the bus attendant.
- Respect the rights of the other student passengers and adults on the bus.
- Be at the bus stop 15 minutes prior to the designated pick-up time.
- Inform the bus driver or attendant of any personal needs.
- Communicate to parents or school administration any concerns related to transportation services.
- Submit accurate address, telephone, and emergency contact information to the school when a change occurs. Please do not call the Transportation Department. Incorrect or untimely information delays the placement of transportation services.
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Roosevelt Sidewalk Stompers
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Route Standards
In order to serve students in the most efficient manner, the following route standards are in place:
Pick-up and Drop-off Locations:
- Students with disabilities must be served at the same address in the morning and afternoon.
- A parent choosing to transport their child for either morning or afternoon is allowable. However, this procedure must be implemented Monday through Friday.
- Siblings of students with disabilities may ride the bus if there is space available and they attend the same school site. If space becomes unavailable, the family will be notified by telephone and the student must be removed within 48 business hours.
- Students with disabilities may be assigned to a regular education route.
- An authorized adult (18 years or older) is required to be at the bus stop, on time, when the child is picked up/dropped off. It is important that school and transportation staff be informed if an alternate adult is going to accompany the student. If no authorized adult is at the drop-off location:
- The bus driver will wait three minutes and continue on the bus route.
- Attempts to deliver the student at the end of the bus route will be made.
- If there is no authorized person to receive the student after the second attempt, the driver will return to the campus of enrollment and contact the Hillsborough County Department of Security.
- Transportation services may be suspended if this is a continual concern.
Before and after-school care facilities:
- Students that are dropped off at an after-school facility must also establish that facility as the morning pick-up location.
- Location of before and after-school care facilities must be within the boundary of the assigned school as determined by the Individual Education Plan (IEP) Team. Verification of whether a facility is within the school boundary can be found at the district website’s school locator.
- If a student moves to another school, services to the facility may be discontinued at the discretion of the school district, unless the facility is located within the boundaries of the new school.
- Students with disabilities must be served at the same address in the morning and afternoon.
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School Transportation Resources
Walking School Bus and Bike Trains
An organized group of students walking or biking together to school, led by an adult guide such as a parent, are called walking school buses or bike trains. These groups are organized by schools and/or parent groups.
A group of children are assigned to walking/biking routes, and then that group is led by an adult, which adds an extra level of security.For more information on starting a Walking School Bus or Bike Train go to:
Drivers Education Bike/Pedestrian Safety
The FDOT is scheduled to present to all of the driver’s education classes in each of the 27 high schools throughout Hillsborough County. The presentation includes bike and pedestrian education.
In many bicycle crashes, the contributing cause of the crash was the cyclist not following the State’s Bicycle Laws. The presentation explains the laws that are most often broken: lights required on bikes during dark hours, three foot law for motorists passing bikes, shared lanes, riding with traffic, and obeying traffic control devices. We encourage students to walk bikes through crosswalks and to use caution when riding on sidewalks.
The presentation covers important safety tips: walk facing traffic, most pedestrian crashes are at an intersection and involve a turning vehicle, avoid crossing midblock where a crossing is not designated, using an aerial of a signalized intersection students are taught how to cross an intersection safely.
Contact: Gary Tait, Tindale Oliver, FDOT Consultant
WalkWise
WalkWise Tampa Bay is a grassroots initiative that provides innovative pedestrian safety education to citizens, including parents and high school students. WalkWise consists of a free 30-minute presentation with time for discussion to anyone living or working in select Florida counties.
WalkWise Tampa Bay is managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida and funded by District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation.
To request an interactive presentation contact:
Julie Bond
Center for Urban Transportation Research
University of South Florida
(813) 974-9799
Walk Wise Tampa Bay
St. Joseph’s Children’s Wellness and Safety Center
The Bike and Pedestrian Safety Programs implemented by St. Joseph’s Children’s Wellness and Safety Center (SJCWSC) are provided by a Safe Routes to School grant from FDOT. The programs are offered to elementary and middle school physical education classes in Hillsborough County and meet the new Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.
Elementary School Programs:
Bike/Ped Safety Clinic and Trailer- This Clinic is offered to 50 elementary schools each year. The Trailer provides equipment, scooters and bikes and is delivered by SDHC Transportation Services to be used by the PE teacher for a week. A SJCWSC staff will provide set-up and classroom assistance on the Monday morning of the reserved week.Walking School Bus Training- A SJCWSC staff can provide training for those adults interested in beginning a Walking School Bus program at their school.
Middle School Programs:
Bicycle Safety Clinic and Trailer- This 3-day Clinic is offered to 20 middle schools each year. The Trailer provides equipment and bikes, and is delivered by SDHC Transportation Services to be used by the 6th grade PE teachers for the scheduled week. Three SJCWSC staff will assist the PE teacher during the on-bike days of the program. The goal is to teach students traffic and helmet laws, teach ways to be visible and predictable and develop and practice on-bike handling skills.Bike/Ped Safety Presentation- This one-day, assembly-style, interactive power point presentation by SJCWSC staff is implemented during the PE period inside of the gym. It highlights common bike/ped safety issues often ignored by middle school students. Humorous and serious videos convey important messages, questions are asked with students responding by using “clickers” and competitive activities emphasize the effects of a concussion.
If interested in having the programs come to your school, please contact,
Kristi Nalls, Safe Routes to School Coordinator
St. Joseph’s Children’s Wellness and Safety Center
Telephone: (813) 615-0938
Safety and Health Programs Exclusively for Kids
More Health
MORE HEALTH, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, trains instructors to deliver interactive, exciting health education lessons to students, at no charge to school districts, through funding from local businesses, foundations, and state and federal grants.
All MORE HEALTH lessons are matched to the Florida State and National Health Standards. Each presentation has pre and post activities including books, videos, and vocabulary words. Additionally there are suggested activities the classroom teacher can use to enhance the safety message.
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety 1, Safe Walkers and Safe Wheels Lesson taught to first grade uses an 8'x8' Safe Streets mat to help students learn how to cross the street, driveway safety, walking without a sidewalk, and school bus safety.
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety 2, Rules of the Road Lesson taught to fourth grade opens with a challenging Street Smarts Jeopardy game.
Schools interested in scheduling the MORE HEALTH Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Lessons, Contact:
Carlene Lemaster, More Health Operations Manager
(813) 288-0378
Safe Routes Information
Bike/Walk Tampa Bay Coalition
Bike/Walk Tampa Bay is a grassroots regional coalition of citizens, advocates, professionals and allied organizations providing pedestrian safety education to the Tampa Bay area.
A source of information for all bicycle and pedestrian related activities.
Vision Zero
At the core of the worldwide Vision Zero movement is the belief that traffic death and injury is preventable – in other words, that crashes aren’t “accidents,” but are the result of poor behaviors combined with unforgiving roadway designs.
The Hillsborough MPO has taken the lead locally and developed a Vision Zero Action Plan with the help of local agencies, businesses, and citizens. Everyone must do their part to keep the movement going, whether participating in an upcoming event, booking a presentation, joining the Speaker’s Bureau, telling a traffic crash story, or simply signing the Vision Zero Pledge. In less than a year since adopton several projects and programs in the Action Plan have been completed: a soldout regional safety summit was held, we marched in a Walk of Silence, held two community awareness half-day events along two of the top 20 severe crash corridors, brightly painted an intersection mural and crosswalk, demonstrated a pop-up bike lane and a pop-up sidewalk, affixed bike lights in a community of concern, developed a Speaker’s Bureau, and presented Vision Zero to almost 20 community groups.
To request a speaker or more information contact
Gena Torres at 273-3774 ext 357
Hillsborough County Vision Zero
MPO The Ride Guide and School Transportation
The Ride Guide: Your Guide to Getting a Ride in the Tampa Bay Region. This brochure contains information about services offered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and through each county’s transportation disadvantaged program, as well as other mass transit options available to people throughout the region.
The Ride Guide can be downloaded from the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) websites. https://planhillsborough.org/the-ride-guide/
Close collaboration between schools and transportation is important in Hillsborough County. In 2015, the Hillsborough MPO added a Hillsborough County School Board member as a voting member of the MPO, to enhance the lines of communication. Next the MPO formed the School Transportation Working Group (STWG). The group holds regular, periodic meetings of transportation-focused professionals representing local governments, transit agencies, public safety organizations, and several functional groups within the School District interagency partnerships vital for problem-solving on a host of topics, from traffic circulation to walk/bike safety to school-pools and transit.
The STWG provided stakeholder input into the MPO School Safety Study, which conducted multimodal safety and walk/bike access reviews to identify opportunities to enhance the safety and comfort of getting to and from school. The prioritization methodology of school areas for safety improvements included the following factors: student age, school hours/days pedestrian and bicycle crash histories, proximity to bus stops, socioeconomic and demographic data (e.g., equity (communities of concern), percent of free or reduced lunch, income, percent minority, automobile ownership, etc.), presence of a crossing guard, amount of lighting, condition of existing multimodal facilities, potential for use of public transit to access schools, the general concentration of non-bused students in the immediate area, location and size of school speed zone, and the number of students impacted by the elimination of non-funded (courtesy) busing.
For a copy or more information contact
Lisa Silva at 273-3774 ext. 329
MPO School Transportation Working Group (STWG) -
Specialized Transportation
Exceptional Student Education Students Who Receive Specialized Transportation Services
The safe and efficient transportation of your child relies on the cooperation and efforts of the school, Transportation Department, Exceptional Student Education Department, the student, and the parent.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide parents with a source of information that addresses responsibilities and concerns related to specialized transportation services for students served in Exceptional Student Education. It is intended to provide important information related to procedures and services used when specialized transportation services are provided.
Should you have questions that this webpage does not address, feel free to contact the Transportation Field Office or Exceptional Student Education Supervisor in your area.
AREA
TRANSPORTATION
FIELD OFFICEESE SUPERVISOR
AREA I
(813) 982-5500 Option 1
(813) 272-3796
AREA II
(813) 982-5500 Option 2
(813) 631-4056
AREA III
(813) 982-5500 Option 3
(813) 558-1412
AREA IV
(813) 982-5500 Option 4
(813) 558-1097
AREA V
(813) 982-5500 Option 5
(813) 744-8636
AREA VI
(813) 982-5500 Option 6
(813) 707-7056
AREA VII
(813) 982-5500 Option 7
(813) 740-3717
AREA VIII
(813) 982-5500 Option 8
(813) 658-1981
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Start a Walking School Bus
Why develop a walking school bus?
Studies show that fewer children are walking and biking to school, and more children are at risk of becoming overweight. Changing behaviors of children and parents require creative solutions that are safe and fun.
Implementing a walking school bus can be both.
