- Transportation & Buses
- Frequently Asked Questions
LCS FAQ's
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01) Who is eligible to receive school bus transportation?
The eligibility of students to receive school transportation services has been defined in Florida Statutes (F.S.) Section 1006.21, to include the following:
- Kindergarten through grade 12 students whose homes are more than 2.0 miles walking distance, from the assigned school.
- Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students with special needs or disabilities, regardless of the distance from home to school.
- All students enrolled in a Teenage Parent Program and the registered children of such students.
- Elementary age children who live within two miles of their assigned elementary school and who are subject to hazardous walking conditions as defined in Section 1006.23 F.
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02) Who determines if a student lives beyond the reasonable walking distance from school?
The school district determines the walking distance with the aid of a computerized mapping system. This system utilizes the current registered address information from the Student Information System (FOCUS) to locate the residence of each student and calculate the distance to his or her assigned school. The distance is calculated using the shortest route that a student can walk between the home and the school.
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03) What is the process if the parent/guardian has a concern regarding their child’s school bus transportation (i.e. bus stop assignment, inconsistent schedule, discipline, etc.)?
General concerns regarding student transportation should be directed to the Transportation Compounds.
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04) Who is responsible for student safety at a school bus stop?
Parents and guardians are responsible for their child's safety at the bus stop.
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05) How are hazardous walking conditions determined?
The Transportation Safety Department, along with the city and/or county agencies, will review walking paths throughout the year following the guidelines outlined in Florida Statute 1006.23 Hazardous walking conditions.
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06) What can my child take onto the bus?
Items that are not transported on the bus:
- Food and beverages, exception plastic water bottle
- Toys, such as laser lights, toy firearms, air guns, paintball guns, including noisemakers, such as party-poppers
- Pocket knives
- Pets or other animals, including animal cages
- Glass bottles or containers (fragile or breakable items)
- Aerosol cans such, as deodorant, hairspray, or perfume spray
- Large radios or boom boxes
- Oversized band instruments
- Items too large to rest on a student’s lap (items wider and/or taller than a seated student)
- Balloons
- Any other loose items that can become projectiles.
Band instruments and any other large objects that are brought to the bus will need to be held in the student’s lap. These objects are not to take up a potential seat for another student or interfere with the driver’s visibility. Students who try to carry on over-sized objects will need to make other arrangements. The driver has been instructed to immediately, notify the Compound Manager or designee, if there are large objects brought to the bus, since, they can become dangerous projectiles and interfere with the driver’s visibility.
- All athletic equipment must be in a backpack, book bag, or duffle type bag.
Examples: Skateboard, baseball glove, baseball bat, baseball, basketball, pool stick, tennis racket, tennis ball. The bag is not to be opened and must remain in the student's lap.
- Any item that would distract the driver and create a nuisance.
Please contact your Compound Project Manager if you have additional questions.
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07) Why can't I just put my child on a bus that I see stopping in my neighborhood?
That bus may be assigned to a different school than your child attends. You will need to call the
Transportation Department to get your child's correct bus number and bus stop.
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08) How can I provide comments about a bus?
Contact our “How’s My Driving” messaging center at (850) 487-7500, and provide as many details as possible (i.e. bus number, location, time of day, etc.).
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09) What are the rules or guidelines for bus stop placement near a sexual predator’s residence?
Per Florida Statute 947.1405(7)(a)2 “Beginning October 1, 2004, a district school board may not establish or relocate a public school bus stop within 1,000 feet of the residence of a release who is subject to this subparagraph.”
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10) There is a special education (ESE) stop located next door to me going to my child’s school, can my child ride that bus instead of walking a mile to their current assigned stop?
No, due to privacy concerns of the student that the stop is assigned, the ESE stop is for the assigned student only.
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11) Can I drive my child to an alternative bus stop?
Per school board policy, a student is assigned a stop based on their legal address. Students will not be permitted to board at any other location.
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12) Who is responsible for the transportation of the student to and from the bus stop or school?
The parent/guardian is responsible for getting the student to and from the school bus stop or school. Parents are responsible also for the behavior of their child while at the school bus stop.