Welcome to Columbia Public Schools' Transportation department. Our mission is to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable transportation service for the children of our school district. The district contracts with Student Transportation of America (STA) to provide transportation services.
About
The Columbia School District provides transportation to and from school for all students residing within their attendance area based on residence based on:
Kindergarten through eight grades (K-8) who reside one (1) mile or more from their school of attendance
Nine through twelve grades (9-12) who reside two (2) miles or more from their school of attendance.
Parents of students ineligible for transportation per the above-referenced policy may, on an individual basis, contract with Student Transportation of America for transportation service at their discretion. This service may be provided if requested by parents, but only in those cases where the number of students and the routes of travel justify such an arrangement. Pay ridership will not be considered if it requires additional bus routes or a deviation from an existing route. The per-student cost of pay ridership is determined by STA and per semester.
Bus routes, schedules, and stops will be developed under the direction of the superintendent following procedures set by the State Board of Education. The purpose of bus scheduling and routing will be to achieve maximum service with a minimum fleet of buses and to render reasonable and equal service to all eligible students.
Board Policy EEAB states Bus routes will:
Follow the most direct roads practicable for bus travel to serve those students entitled to transportation service.
Where an alternate route may be selected without sacrificing efficiency or economy, preference will be given to that route serving the largest number of students more directly.
Attention will be given to creating safe routes to schools that encourage walking or biking by students.
The Board encourages bus routes and schedules that incorporate a short distance of safe walking into every student's transportation plan.
Routes will be designed to:
Eliminate as many turn-around points as possible
Employ as nearly as practicable the full carrying capacity for each bus trip.
No bus will be overloaded.
New routes will be established only when the capacity of the existing routes has been reached or is imminent.
Authorized bus stops will be located at convenient intervals for students and in places where students may board and get off, cross highways, and await the arrival of buses with the utmost safety permitted by highway conditions. The location of the students' residences, the age and grade of the students, the road conditions, and the funds available will be considered when determining bus routes.
Students will ride their assigned buses, getting on and getting off at their regularly assigned stops, unless a note from their parent or guardian authorizes students to depart at other than their regular stop or to ride a bus other than their assigned bus. Requests will be subject to approval by the building principal and must be submitted in advance. In unusual or emergency situations, parents/guardians may request to have their child picked up or dropped off at a different spot by directly communicating to their child's school.
If you have questions or concerns and would like to speak with your child's bus driver, please phone Student Transportation of America. Do not:
Step onto your child's bus - boarding a school bus without prior permission from the district is considered trespassing in the state of Missouri.
Delay the bus by attempting to speak with the bus driver at the bus stop, as he/she has a schedule to maintain.
Stop Change Request
Parents or Guardians may request a review of the student's assigned school bus stop for relocation consideration by clicking on the link below and submitting the requested information to STA.
Examples of situations that cannot be considered by the District for stop changes:
Walking distance to the stop if less than:
Secondary Students: Walk of less than 2,640 feet to stop
Elementary Students: Walk less than 1,200 feet to stop
Visibility of stop from residence
Issues with overseeing non-school-age children
Parent work schedules
Lack of sidewalks
If you have questions regarding your child's transportation, please contact Student Transportation of America at (573) 214-3860.
The safety of all students riding the bus to and from school is a responsibility we all share. It takes all of us working together to ensure safety: students, parents, bus drivers and school officials. The District has established the student conduct expectations listed below to ensure all of our students are transported in the safest environment possible. Students who fail to observe these expectations will be subject to disciplinary action. Their failure to do so may affect the safety of others. Failure to follow bus expectations and regulations may result in suspension of bus riding privileges as well as school consequences, depending on the seriousness of the violation.
If you have any issues or concerns and need to talk with your child's driver, it is best to call the STA Office at (573) 214-3860 to schedule a time or email: CPSTransportation@cpsk12.org. If you need to approach the bus, please do not step onto the bus. Signal to the driver you would like to talk to and proceed to the driver's side window. For the safety of all bus riders, our drivers are instructed to close the entrance door when approached and direct you to their side window. Keep in mind the bus has other stops and a schedule to keep, meaning the driver has limited time at individual stops. Under Missouri Law, unauthorized entry on a school bus is trespassing. For the safety of the students we transport, the Columbia School District supports this law and has posted warnings on all buses and will prosecute violators.
Safe riding expectations and tips for a safe school bus ride
In accordance with Board policy JG-R1 any offense committed by a student on transportation provided by or through the district shall be disciplined in the same manner as if the offense had been committed at the student's assigned school. In addition, transportation privileges may be suspended or revoked.
Follow the bus driver's directions
Be at the bus stop 5 minutes before and stay at least 5 minutes after your stop time
Keep hands, feet and other items to yourself on the bus
Line up in a single line at the side of the road
Ensure your student knows the danger zone outside the bus
Speak quietly to each other
No food/drinks/gum/candy on the bus
Sit in your assigned seat, not on your knees or backpack
The safest stop is a stop with an adult present
Students are expected to help keep the bus clean and not purposely or carelessly destroy transportation equipment
Damage resulting from misbehavior shall be paid for by the student/parent. Suspension from the bus will occur and continue until all damage is paid for
Students will show consideration for other students and the bus driver by being courteous and well mannered
No profanity or other abusive language
Any action that would create an environment contrary to the District’s, Schools and Transportation Department’s missions will not be acceptable. If the action creates an environment in which learning, safety and caring for others are not the primary focus, disciplinary action will result, including possible loss of bus service. Students are expected to follow safe riding expectations listed above.
Mobile Electronic Devices
At the discretion of the school bus driver and Building Principal, electronic devices may be permitted to be used on the school bus for educational purposes. If permitted, the user must follow the expectations outlined in Board Policy and School Handbook. Sound must be muted or earphones and/or similar devices must be used.
No other mobile electronic use is permitted.
It is important for all parents/guardians to discuss the DANGER ZONES with their children. Please instruct your children to stay 10 feet away from where the bus stops in the morning and to step 10 feet away from the bus when exiting. If students must cross the street, they must always cross in front of the bus. Never cross behind the bus.
Trips to and from the school bus stop:
Your family should plan the safest route to the bus stop.
When available, cross streets at corners using the crosswalk. Look in all directions before crossing. Always obey traffic signals.
Conduct at school bus loading zones and bus stops:
Stand in a straight line or in a group facing traffic so you can see the bus approach the stop. Stand 10 feet away from where the bus will stop. Do not approach or rush to the bus until the driver opens the bus door.
When loading at school, follow the directions of the bus driver and/or the teacher on bus duty.
Never go under a bus to retrieve something you may have dropped. Tell the bus driver.
If you are running late and miss your bus, never run after the bus in an attempt to catch it.
If parents wait at the bus stop in their automobile, they should be careful not to park in the loading/unloading zone.
Students should always respect the rights and property of residents at or near the bus stop.
If you cross the street at the bus stop you must always cross in front of the school bus; never cross behind the bus. Always be cautious of the DANGER ZONES.
Parents/guardians are responsible for the supervision of their children to, from, and while at school bus stops. Parents and neighbors should consider creating a neighborhood watch to help younger children get to and from bus stops safely.
When transportation staff encounter incidents of unsafe, inappropriate and/or unacceptable behavior, they are required by Board Policy to report these incidents to the school administration using the form below.
Students not conducting themselves in a safe, orderly and appropriate manner cause disruption and distraction to the driver, causing them to lose focus on the road and, as a result, place themselves and other students they share the bus with in danger.
Riding the school bus is a privilege that can be lost. This form outlines the progressive consequences for those students conducting themselves in an unsafe and inappropriate manner.
CPS evaluates students' path to school to prevent crossing barrier streets. Transportation provided based on distance and grade, with exceptions for barrier streets. Apply for exceptions via CPS Transportation.
Safety is a shared responsibility for students, parents, drivers, and officials. District sets conduct expectations for bus riders, failure to comply may lead to disciplinary action and suspension of bus privileges. Contact STA Office for concerns, avoid entering bus without permission.
Parents play a crucial role in ensuring school bus safety. They should supervise children at bus stops, teach pedestrian safety, and prepare them for bus rides. Emphasize timely arrival, pedestrian behavior, waiting safely, boarding and alighting precautions, and behavior while on the bus. Have a contingency plan for unexpected situations.
Stop change requests must adhere to board policy EEAB. Requests are reviewed based on specific criteria. Contact Student Transportation of America for submissions and inquiries.
Routes are established based on regulations from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as well as our school district Board of Education policies. Regular Education buses are not to enter cul-de-sacs, dead end and closed loop streets and typically only travel along main thorough-fares.
For the ten (10) school years the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has reduced student transportation funding by over 69%. This results in classroom funds being diverted to cover transportation costs no longer covered by DESE. In order to continue providing transportation free of charge, each bus must be filled as close to capacity as possible. To do this, routes have to be structured to pick up as many students as possible in the shortest amount of time. To accomplish this the following routing guidelines are in place:
Stops will be spaced:
Elementary – minimum of 500’
Secondary – minimum of 1,200’
Buses will travel along main roads when possible and avoid entering cul-de-sac, dead end and closed loop streets
Stops will be placed at intersections and other easily identifiable locations when possible
We appreciate your patience, flexibility and understanding as bus stops may not be as convenient as in the past as we strive to minimize transportation costs to focus more funding into the classroom.
The Columbia School District in accordance with state regulation has a school walk-zone of:
1mile for K-8 th grade
2 miles for 9th – 12th grade
Based on the above the district applies the same principal for maximum walk distance to a bus stop. In most situations the walk distance to a stop is considerably less.
Due to the bus operating in conditions beyond our control such as weather, traffic congestion, road blockages, and mechanical issues we ask parents:
Morning Pick Up
Regular Education: Have their child at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled time and stay until 5 minutes after the scheduled time.
Special Needs, Early Childhood, Lottery and other Districtwide Programs: to have their child at the bus stop 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time and stay until 10 minutes after the scheduled time.
Afternoon Drop Off
We do not post drop off times for the same reasons as stated above and due to various reasons the buses may leave the schools at inconsistent times.
We request parents to be ready for the child at school dismissal time. As the year goes on times will become more consistent.
The district does permit one (1) alternate address for transportation. Parents need to be aware the alternate address will override the home address for the portion selected (AM, PM or Both). This will result in in the home address not being permitted for transportation.
If the bus stopped at every home that it drives past the has students riding the buses would never get to school in the time allowed. In addition, every stop location has been reviewed to ensure it is as safe as possible for the students who utilize the location. There are several factors that are considered when establishing a stop such as; Is the street safe for students to cross with good visibility in both directions? Do buses and motorists have a good view of the stop from both directions?
This is one of the recommendations from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. These areas are dangerous because of the large number of small children that play in them, the confined space and blocked turn rounds. If basketball goals or vehicles are parked in the courts, there may not be enough room for the bus to successfully turn around without having to back up. Backing up can be dangerous in a school bus, especially if a small child were to run into the street. Backing up often results in accidents causing damage to the bus, personal vehicles, mailboxes and results in delays for other students.
Bus stops are changed regularly to provide the most efficient routes possible. Major changes are implemented during the summer. However, if a problem or safety issue arises during the school year, immediate changes may be necessary. Typically no route/stop change requests are processed the first 15 days of school to allow time for route and ridership data to be reviewed.
Buses will not enter new construction areas until the construction has progressed enough to allow the buses to travel safely, consistently through the streets without blockage or having to maneuver through large construction equipment or tight spaces.
Eating or drinking is not permitted for safety reasons. Eating on the bus creates a choking hazard for students. When a driver is focused on the road appropriately, it would be very difficult to notice if a child was choking in their seat. The second reason is that some students have very severe food allergies and we would not want to compromise their safety. Many drinks contain ingredients that attract bees and other insects which can be dangerous and of the liquid spills it could cause other students issues.
A Stop Change Request form is provided for parents/guardians who would like to request a change in their child’s bus stop for safety reasons. Parents/guardians are responsible for their child’s supervision to and from the stop. Requests are reviewed by the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC are trained and is knowledgeable of State and District guidelines and policies that govern bus stop locations.
Yes, in accordance with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) all school districts must maintain accurate, active ridership rosters. DESE defines an active rider as a student that rides at least one time a week. Based on this the district is required to remove students that are not active riders. When this occurs parents are notified as well as the school. If your student will start riding consistently please contact your school to have them changed from “In-Active” to “Active”.
No, as outlined above the district is required to maintain accurate bus ridership rosters and will need to remove students that do not ride consistently.
For these cases, the schools may be able to issue a “One-Day Ride Pass” to accommodate them. Please be sure to send notification of this with your student and have them take it to the front office before noon so there is time to process and issue the pass. In some cases a “One-Day Ride Pass” may not be available due to, location requested not currently being serviced, bus is at capacity, etc. Please call your school for more details. In some cases, it may take 48-72 business hours to make arrangements.
Yes, the District realizes family situations will occur and for this reason drivers are instructed to pick up all age appropriate students on the morning routes. Students typically will be asked to sit in the front and the driver will need their information (name, grade). Please be sure to send a note with your student if they will need to ride to the friend’s home that afternoon. Student should take the note to the school’s office before noon to get a “One-Day Ride Pass”
