Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What bus does my child ride, yellow or RTS?

• Brighton: grades K–6 ride yellow bus; grades 7–12 ride RTS
  
• Brockport: grades 2–12 ride yellow bus
  
• East Irondequoit: grades 1–8 ride yellow bus; grades 9–12 ride RTS
  
• East Rochester: grades 1–6 ride yellow bus; grades 7–12 ride RTS
  
• Fairport: grades K–12 ride yellow bus
  
• Hilton: grades 1–12 ride yellow bus
  
• Honeoye Falls-Lima: grades 3–12 ride yellow bus
  
• Penfield: grades K–12 ride the yellow bus
  
  
• Pittsford: grades 1–8 ride the yellow bus; grades 9–12 ride RTS
  
• Rush-Henrietta: grades K–12 ride the yellow bus
  
• Spencerport: grades K–12 ride the yellow bus
  
• Webster: grades K–12 ride the yellow bus
  
• West Irondequoit: grades K–6 ride the yellow bus; grades 7–12 ride RTS
  
• Wheatland-Chili: grades 2–12 ride the yellow bus
  
  
  

Is transportation provided when schools are closed because of inclement weather or RCSD Superintendent’s Conference Days?

No. When city schools are closed due to inclement weather or RCSD Superintendent’s Conference Days, no transportation will be provided to any schools or programs served by the City School District.

In the event that schools are closed for the day due to inclement weather an announcement will be made on local T.V. and radio stations by 5:00 a.m.

If suburban schools remain open during inclement weather, it is the responsibility of the parents to decide if it is safe for them to take and pick up their children from school. Should parents decide it is unsafe to travel and do not take their children to school, it is considered a legal absence and will not be held against the student.

On the days RCSD is closed due to Superintendent’s Conference Days and suburban schools are open...

• ...for students riding the yellow bus: Parent is responsible for getting their child to and from school.
• ...for students riding the RTS: Students should go to their school’s main office prior to the scheduled Conference Day to receive (2) RTS Rides passes which will allow them to get to and from school.
  
  
  

Can a bus travel a non-through (dead-end) or cul-de-sac street?

No. Non-through (dead end) streets and cul-de-sacs can present a challenge for school buses. There must be enough space on a court for the bus to turn around, without backing up. Backing up only increases the likelihood of danger to children, pedestrians, and other motorists.

Whom should I call if I have questions about transportation procedures?

• Contact the Urban-Suburban Program 585-249-7045.
• Call the terminal if your child’s bus is more than 15 minutes late, in the morning or afternoon (See Yellow Bus Terminal Information);
• Parents must inform the Urban-Suburban office and their child’s school of any changes such as a change of address or phone number. Both must have accurate information.
• Urban-Suburban Transportation/Continuation Form must be filled out annually. The form is due in the Urban-Suburban office by April 30th each year. If you receive transportation information from your suburban district, disregard it; Urban-Suburban coordinates all transportation.
  
  
  

What do I do if I have a change to my child(ren)’s pick-up or drop off?

• Call the Urban-Suburban office at 585-249-7045.
  
  
  
• If moving, contact the office at least 30 days in advance to prevent transportation interruptions. Parents should also notify their child(ren)’s school of any changes. If the family moves outside city limits, your child is no longer eligible for the U-S Program.
  
  
  
• RCSD will only allow transportation to before/afterschool childcare for students in grades K-8. The morning pick-up and drop-off point must be the same for every day (5 days per week). Transportation will not be provided to any locations outside of city limits.
  
  
  
• During normal times allow 7-10 business days for changes to occur. At the beginning of the school year, any changes will take 2-3 weeks longer due to the high volume of changes.
  
  
  

Is a school district required to transport children of divorced parents to different locations on different days of the week?

No. According to the Commissioner of Education, a student can only have a single residence for school purposes even when that student’s parents are divorced. There is no statutory or regulatory requirement that a district transport a student whose parents share joint custody to one parent’s home on some days of the week and to the other parent’s home on different days of the week. (School Law, 32nd Edition, Section 30:5)

Are there any restrictions on the length of time a student should ride to/from school?

No. Neither the Education Law nor the Commissioner’s Regulations specify a maximum time limit for the transportation of students. The Commissioner of Education has rules that, depending on the circumstances, one-way trips of up to one-and-one-half hours are not necessarily excessive.” (School Law, 32nd Edition, Section 30:15)

Can my child be dropped off at another location just this one time?

No, the driver is not allowed to pick up or drop off from an address not on record. While the District recognizes that emergencies occur, for the safety of your child, we cannot accept phone calls to change established transportation services.

Is there a bus attendant/monitor on the bus?

No, there is no State requirement that bus attendants/monitors be placed on runs.

What happens if my child gets on the wrong bus?

• In the event a child gets on the wrong bus, instruct them to tell the bus driver so the mistake can be corrected and the child put on the right bus.
• Please be sure your child knows his/her phone number, address, route number, school name and school district name, and carries this information with them.
  
  
  

Do children have to wear seat belts?

Yes. All of our school buses are equipped with seat belts. Please remind your child to wear the seat belt. Safety is our first priority.

Who should I call if the bus does not arrive on time?

In the event your bus does not arrive as scheduled, please allow 15 minutes before you call the terminal. See Yellow Bus Terminal Information for listing; when calling you MUST know your child’s route number, their school name and district, and bus stop location.

Why is my child’s bus late?

Weather, traffic, maintenance difficulties, illegally parked cars, and unforeseen incidents are responsible for delays in the arrival of school buses in the morning and afternoon. Drivers check their buses before their routes and sometimes find mechanical problems that can cause delays and require driving another bus for that day. This can cause the bus to be late. Please know that we are doing everything possible to have all buses running on schedule every day.

Why does my child have an assigned seat?

Seat assignments are a positive way for the ride to be consistent and safe by establishing a routine. Also assigned seats aid in the identification of each student should a substitute driver be needed. Assigned seats are a good tool for behavior management and can be subject to change.

What if my child leaves an item on the school bus?

The Rochester City School District is not responsible for any items left or lost on the school bus. As part of a post check, a driver occasionally finds items on the bus and brings them either to the front of the bus or the terminal dispatch office. Please check with the driver or terminal.

Can large items be transported to school?

Children are not allowed to bring anything on the bus that they cannot easily hold on their lap.

Items not permitted could include:

• musical instruments other than flutes or clarinets,
• glass,
• anything sharp,
• live pets,
• hockey sticks,
• lacrosse sticks,
• baseball bats,
• ski equipment,
• large equipment bags,
• large art displays,
• and any other items of similar size and shape. (School Law, 32nd Edition, Section 30:57)

Large items could easily become airborne and cause danger to your child and other students if the bus was involved in a sudden stop.

What about bullying on the bus?

The Rochester City School District will not tolerate bullying. New York State passed the Dignity for All Students Act which went into effect July 2012. View the RCSD DASA Reporting webpage here. If you have concerns about bullying on your child’s bus, please contact Urban-Suburban immediately at 585-249-7045.

What do I need to know about school bus discipline?

If a student behaves in an unsafe or unacceptable way, an Unsatisfactory Bus Conduct Report will be filled out. Copies will be sent home to the parent, School Principal and the Urban-Suburban Program. It is expected that the parent will work with the child to reinforce positive behavior.

If a child receives a second Unsatisfactory Bus Conduct Report he/she may be suspended from bus transportation.

The following behaviors are not tolerated by the Rochester City School District and will result in immediate suspension of transportation
privileges:

• Fighting
• Injury to another student
• Threatening behavior
• Use of a weapon or instrument used as a weapon
• Inappropriate sexual discussions or behaviors

Bullying, horseplay, profanity, hitting, pushing, screaming, yelling and any behavior that threatens the safety and well-being of others will be immediately addressed by the driver. If behavior continues, a disciplinary referral will be sent home and to the school. If behavior continues or escalates, further disciplinary action may result, including suspension of transportation privileges.

Are there video cameras on the buses?

Yes. Video cameras are used on school buses as a tool to aid school bus drivers and school administrators in monitoring behavior, thereby improving the over-all safety of the school bus and its passengers.