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Bus Rider Information

Riding the bus for the first time can be a stressful experience for both parents and children. Our drivers are qualified to ease everyone into what school bus riding involves.

In the first few weeks of riding, the driver will focus on teaching bus rules and bus behavior. Throughout the school year, there will be ongoing management of each bus group. Young students need reminders and have opportunities to earn rewards. We remind them that all of the rules are for safety and that the bus driver’s job is to get them home safely. Safety is our top priority, and we can work together to ensure your kids get to and from school safely and comfortably.

If you need to cancel your pickup or send a message to your driver, you can call transportation at 425-831-8020.

Eligibility for Bus Transportation:

Students are eligible for district transportation when:

  • The student lives within the SVSD attendance boundaries and is attending the school assigned based on the family’s residence (on file in our student database).
    • Dual household students are eligible for transportation to either parent’s home if both homes are within the school boundary. Contact the Transportation Department to update the student’s profile.
  • The student lives more than one mile from their assigned school.
    • Or, if the walk to the school (within one mile) is deemed unsafe for students.
  • The student qualifies for an SVSD program housed at a school other than their assigned school. (For example, elementary students in the STREAM program may catch a shuttle from their home school to where the program is based.)
  • Students with disabilities who qualify for transportation accommodations.
  • Children who are homeless, in foster care or experiencing other qualifying hardships will receive transportation through the McKinney-Vento Liaison.

District transportation is not provided in these instances:

  • Families who opt to “Choice Transfer” to another SVSD school are responsible for their student’s transportation.
  • SVSD families who apply for an out-of-district transfer must transport their student to/from their accepting school.
  • Students who live within a mile of their home school are expected to walk or bike to/from school.
  • Students enrolled in the Running Start program must provide their own transportation to/from Bellevue College.

Riding Rules:

  1. Listen to the bus driver.
  2. Passengers should sit in their seat, facing forward, keeping the aisle clear.
    1. No standing or getting up on their knees.
    2. No walking around while the bus is in motion, remain seated at all times.
    3. Stay seated until the bus comes to a complete stop at your destination.
  3. Respect others by
    1. Talking in moderate and reasonable tones, no yelling.
    2. Use appropriate language and topics.
    3. Always keep hands/feet to oneself.
    4. Use your headphones, no external speaker(s) 
    5. No phone calls.
    6. No taking pictures or video recording.
    7. Be fragrance free
  4. No eating on the bus.
  5. Ask your bus driver before opening windows.
    1. Keep your head/hands/feet/objects, etc. inside the bus at all times, moving or not.
  6. No throwing of anything inside or out of the bus.
  7. No glass, pets, plants, weapons, chemicals, or large objects that encumber emergency egress.
    1. Never block emergency exits.
  8. School dress code applies to the bus, no changing on the school bus.
  9. Cleats are stowed and not worn on the bus.
  10. Large musical instruments that cannot be held on the student's lap or between the student's legs,

Rider Expectations:

  1. It is required that a responsible adult or sibling accompany all preschool and kindergarten students to and from their bus stop. If no one is at the stop to meet them on their return, the student will be taken back to the school of origin.
  2. Be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. (Buses are considered on time 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after assigned stop time.)
  3. If you have a stop where your child crosses in front of the bus, please let the driver be the one to control the situation when crossing your child.
  4. Bus Passes are for emergency purposes only.
  5. In the event of an emergency please call the school office to request a bus pass. They will confirm space is available on the requested route and issue a green bus pass for your child to hand to the bus driver. In the event the requested route is at capacity, a bus pass will not/cannot be issued. Please have a backup plan in place.
  6. No Bus Passes will be issued district wide on Fridays.
  7. If you would like your child to get off at another stop on their same assigned route, send a note to your bus driver or call the school office to request a bus pass; your child must have written permission to use a bus stop that is not their assigned stop.

 

Musical Instruments

Student safety is our number one priority. To help keep everyone safe, Snoqualmie Valley School District has rules for bringing musical instruments on the school bus.

Washington state law (WAC 392-145-021-(3)) says that heavy, sharp, or bulky items that could be dangerous in an accident or sudden stop cannot be carried loose in the bus. This includes large musical instruments.

All instruments that ride in the passenger area must be placed so they do not block the aisle, stairs, or emergency exits.

Guidelines for instruments on the bus:

  • Small instruments that fit on a student’s lap are allowed.
  • Large instruments that block space or could cause harm are not allowed.

Below is a list of examples of instruments that are generally allowed and not allowed on buses. Please note that this list may not include every instrument. In addition, final decisions may vary depending on the size of the bus, how full the bus is, and other safety factors determined by the transportation team. 

If you have questions about a specific instrument, please call the Transportation Office at (425) 831-8020.      

Emergency exits must remain clear at all times. The space between bus seats is approximately 7.5 inches, so students must be able to hold their instrument — along with their backpack, lunch box, and laptop — either on their lap or between their legs without taking up an additional seat. If space allows and the bus is not full, students may place their instrument in the seat next to them only if they maintain control of it and it is an approved instrument.

By following these rules, students and their instruments can travel safely. If students do not follow the rules, they may lose the privilege of bringing their instrument on the bus.