Transportation

Several yellow school buses are parked in a lot in the foreground, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

The Transportation Department safely transports students to and from school each day, helping ensure they arrive ready to learn and return home safely. Our bus drivers are often the first and last school staff members students see each day, playing an important role in creating a safe, welcoming, and positive experience.

In addition to daily routes, the Transportation Department provides transportation for field trips, athletic events, and other school activities while promoting safe and responsible ridership on every bus.

General Safety Information

General Safety Information
Courtesy of the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute:
800‐836‐2210 or 315‐475‐1836

Parents: Important School Bus Safety Alert

HELP US PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN AS THEY TRAVEL TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Certain types of children’s clothing can create a hazard as your child exits the school bus. Especially dangerous are:

Long, dangling jacket or sweatshirt drawstrings
Long backpack straps
Long scarves or other loose clothing

Such items can be caught in the bus handrail, door, or other equipment as the child exits the bus.

In recent years, a number of children across the U.S. have had their clothing caught as they left the bus. Please take the time to check your children’s clothing to make sure it is safe.

Also, please talk with your children about these safety rules:

Stay away from the DANGER ZONES around the bus. There can be "blind spots" near the front, sides and rear of the bus.
Don’t try to pick up something dropped near the bus – the bus driver might not see you!
Remember that other motorists don’t always stop for a stopped school bus – use extreme caution whenever getting on or off the bus. Wait for the driver's direction and instruction.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY IS A TEAM EFFORT NOTHING IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN A CHILD’S LIFE!

Top Safety Tips

Walk with your kids to the bus stop and wait with them until it arrives. Tell kids to stand at least three giant steps back from the curb as the bus approaches and board the bus one at a time.
Teach kids to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before getting off and never to walk behind the bus.
If your child needs to cross the street after exiting the bus, he or she should take five giant steps in front of the bus, make eye contact with the bus driver and cross when the driver indicates it’s safe. Teach kids to look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
Instruct younger kids to use handrails when boarding or exiting the bus. Be careful of straps or drawstrings that could get caught in the door. If your children drop something, they should tell the bus driver and make sure the bus driver is able to see them before they pick it up.
Drivers should always follow the speed limit and slow down in school zones and near bus stops. Remember to stay alert and look for kids who may be trying to get to or from the school bus.
Slow down and stop if you’re driving near a school bus that is flashing yellow or red lights. This means the bus is either preparing to stop (yellow) or already stopped (red), and children are getting on or off.

Bus Bulletin

School Closure Information

In case of an emergency or bad weather, school might be delayed or canceled. If the regular school schedule is changed, local radio and television stations will be notified. For inclement weather updates, visit www.fpschools.org/weather.

Emergencies may include inclement weather, power outages or a need to alter an individual school schedule.

"Schools closed" means that all schools will be closed for that one day only. All school related activities will be canceled. If schools close early, parents are asked to make arrangements for their child's care.

"Late start" means that all schools will start late by the amount of time specified for that one day only. School related activities may or may not be altered.

If Franklin Pierce Schools is not mentioned, we will operate on the regular schedule.

There are four ways you can find updated information on school schedule: autodialer, radio/tv, the internet, and by phone.

AUTODIALER

The district has the ability to send out a recorded phone message to both parents and staff of Franklin Pierce Schools. In the event of an unscheduled school closure or late start, the autodialer will be activated.

RADIO/TV