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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where will the school district pick up and drop off my child?
Children will be picked up and dropped off at a bus stop near their primary residence.  Bus stops are located within 1 mile of a child’s primary residence for students in grades 1-12.  Bus stops for kindergarten children will be as near to home as possible. Bus schedules and routes are created each summer and posted on the district webpage.

Q: My child attends daycare.  How do I arrange for transportation to and from the daycare site?
The district accepts special transportation requests to daycare sites within a child’s school attendance zone or to New York State Licensed Day Care Providers anywhere in the East Greenbush Central School District.  The request form must be received before April 1st and must be renewed each year before the April 1st deadline.  New residents to the district must submit their requests for special transportation within 30 days after establishing residency in the district.  The district will only accept special transportation requests to one other location.  Click here to download the Daycare/Alternate Location Request for Transportation Form.

Q: My joint custody arrangement requires my child reside in two separate houses.  Can I have my child transported to and from both houses?
No.  The district only recognizes one primary residence for each child.  Transportation will only be provided to and from the child’s primary residence.

Q: My child attends a private school outside of the school district.  How do I arrange transportation from my home to the private school?
The district provides transportation to students enrolled in a private school located within 15 miles of the students home address.  Parents must submit a written request for transportation by April 1st of every school year. For new residents of the district the written request must be received within 30 days of establishing residency. A new transportation request form must be submitted each year even if the student enrollment status has not changed.  Click here to download the Private and Parochial School Transportation Request Form.

Q: I can’t see my child at the bus stop from my house. Why can’t the stop be at my house?
We make every effort to make our routes as efficient and safe as possible. It would be impossible for us to route based on sight lines from home to the bus stop. Students are expected to travel a certain distance to their bus stop, and it is the responsibility of the parent, not the district, to see that they get there safely.

Q: My child’s bus is late what should I do?
A: Routes may be delayed due to traffic, weather or breakdown. If the bus is more than 15 minutes late call the transportation office at 477-9288.

Q: Can a friend come home with my child on the bus?
A: Yes. A note will need to be sent to school from both you and the friends parent. The child will then be given a bus pass and will be allowed to ride the friend’s bus.

Q: Do buses have assigned seats?
A: In some cases. It is at the discretion of the driver.

Q: Can children bring ski equipment or large items/instruments on the bus?
A: New York State Department of Transportation and federal regulations PROHIBIT bringing large items and musical instruments on school buses.  All of the items that the child will be bringing to school should be packed in a carrying case, such as a tote bag or backpack, which must be small enough to be held on the student’s lap. Large items and food for class parties may not be transported by school bus.

The following items are a partial list of what is allowed on the bus if held on lap:

  • Alto saxophone
  • Bassoon
  • Flute
  • French horn
  • Oboe
  • Piccolo
  • Snare drum
  • Soprano clarinet
  • Trumpet
  • Violin
  • Viola

Large items are not allowed on the bus – these include, but are not limited to:

  • Alto clarinet
  • Baritone horn
  • Bass clarinet
  • Bikes
  • Baritone saxophone
  • Cello
  • Contra bass clarinet
  • Fishing poles
  • Golf clubs
  • Large school projects
  • Sleds
  • Skis and poles
  • String bass
  • Tuba

Other items not allowed on the bus include, but are not limited to: Any weapons, pets or any live animals, glass containers, and aerosol cans.

Q: Are skateboards allowed on the school bus?
A: No

Q: My child tells me that he is hearing inappropriate language and discussion in the back of the bus and the driver does nothing about it.
A: It is very likely the driver cannot hear what is going on. A bus is a very noisy environment, even considering the best behavior. It can be very difficult for the driver to hear any conversation past the first few rows of the bus. The best thing to do if this happens is to encourage your child to inform the driver that there is inappropriate language being said in the back of the bus. Once the driver is aware of the behavior, corrections can be made.

Q: What happens in the event of a bus accident?
A: In the event of a bus accident, our transportation department and the police are called immediately to investigate. Emergency medical personnel are called if necessary and all students are seen by the school nurse. Parents are notified if necessary. All accidents are reported to the New York State Departments of Transportation and Motor Vehicles. The bus must be checked by the N.Y.S. Department of Transportation before it can return to its route.

Q: Does my high school child need to wear the seat belt if they are riding in a van?
A: We require that all passengers riding in any of our district vans (small buses) properly wear their seat belts.  Use of seat belts on the large buses in middle school and high school is not required but always encouraged.

Q: My child thinks she left something on the bus, what should I do?
You should check with the driver the next time you are on the bus, or you can call the bus garage and we will contact the driver after the run to see if anything has been found. We refrain from using our two-way radio system for lost items.