ECUSD7 Transportation

Bus service in District 7 is provided by First Student, Inc., one of the largest student transportation companies in the country. The District utilizes approximately 50 large buses and 26 special education vans. The average age of the buses is five (5) years, and each bus is completely equipped with safety equipment necessary to meet state and federal guidelines, including crossing arms, wheelchair lights, warning lights, etc. All buses are subject to full inspection every six months.

The District’s transportation system is designed and configured to be as efficient as possible and uses a three tier routing system. Most buses have three routes in the morning and three in the afternoon, and as such, the high school, middle school and elementary start and dismissal times are staggered to accommodate this transportation configuration.

Each bus has an on-board digital video surveillance system. Large buses have five video surveillance cameras, and each special education van has four video surveillance cameras. The video surveillance systems on all buses were updated during the fall of 2018 to provide an additional camera on each bus and higher camera resolution. The new system allows video from the buses’ digital video recorder to be uploaded via a secure WIFI network at the bus depot.

General Information

Bus Stops

Bus Stop information is available to Parents in PowerSchool Parent Portal.

Early Bird Bus Schedule

EHS Early Bird Buses

School	Arrival	Departure	EHS Arrival	Bus #
Glen Carbon	5:40 AM	5:43 AM	6:15 AM	12
Cassens	5:50 AM	5:53 AM	6:15 AM	12
Liberty	6:03 AM	6:06 AM	6:15 AM	12
Midway	5:55 AM	5:58 AM	6:20 AM	31
Leclaire	5:56 AM	5:59 AM	6:20 AM	32
Columbus	6:05 AM	6:08 AM	6:20 AM	32
Lincoln	6:13 AM	6:16 AM	6:20 AM	32
Worden	5:38 AM	5:41 AM	6:20 AM	39
Hamel	5:49 AM	5:52 AM	6:20 AM	39

Transportation Forms

Transportation Guidelines

All students who live more than one and one-half miles from the school they attend are eligible for bus transportation. Bus transportation is available ONLY between the school and the child’s designated bus stop.

Only in special, pre-approved situations may a student ride a bus other than his/her assigned bus or leave the bus at any stop other than the assigned one. In emergency situations, the bus company must be notified by the parent/guardian or school administrator of any change in a student’s regular bus assignment. Questions concerning bus regulations should be directed to First Student at 656-0125.

Students are expected to exhibit the same good behavior on the school bus as they do in the classroom. The discipline guidelines explained on pages 23-29 of the 2018-2019 District 7 Handbook are also enforced: 1) on the school bus, 2) at bus stops, 3) to athletic/extracurricular activities, 4) on field trips, and 5) on bus routes between student’s home and the school.

There are some situations unique to the school bus. Some examples of those are listed below:

Students should arrive promptly at their designated bus stop at least 5 minutes before their scheduled pickup time. Parents of K – 2 students should be at the bus drop off 5 minutes before the scheduled bus stop.
Students should stand away from the road while waiting for the bus.
Caution should be observed when approaching the bus. Students must wait for the bus to come to a complete stop.
Students must remain seated while the bus is in motion.
Students should be alert to a danger signal from the driver.
In the event of an emergency, students should remain in the bus and wait for instructions from the driver.
Hands and head must be kept inside the bus. Litter and other objects should not be thrown inside the bus or out bus windows.
Excessive talking, laughter, or unnecessary confusion will not be permitted since it may divert the driver’s attention and result in an accident.
Absolute quiet must be maintained when approaching a railroad crossing.
Vandalism is strictly prohibited. Any costs to repair damage to the bus must be paid by those responsible before transportation can be resumed.
Students should not touch or tamper with bus equipment.
Students should help keep the bus clean and safe at all times.
The consumption of food or beverages is not permitted on the bus.
No live animals including insects or reptiles are permitted on the bus.
Books, coats, and instruments should be kept out of the aisles.
No article may be left on the bus.
Courtesy and consideration must be shown to the bus driver and other students on the bus.
Older students should help provide for the comfort and safety of younger children on the bus.
The driver can only stop at the regular assigned stop.
Safety procedures should be carefully observed when unloading the bus. If crossing the roadway, students proceed to a point at least ten feet in front of the bus where traffic can clearly be seen from both directions and wait for a signal from the driver.
No tobacco products or controlled substances are allowed on the bus.
Any electronic device that is not permitted at school will not be permitted on the school bus. Students may use cellular telephones, pagers, text messaging devices and other digital devices (i.e. PDAs) while on the school bus. If, however, the use of cellular telephones or similar devices disrupts the safe operation of the school bus, the bus driver may direct that such device can no longer be used on the school bus.

We expect students to follow the direction of the bus driver as they would the teacher. Drivers may address student misbehavior through a conference with the student, a change in seating assignment, a parent conference or phone call, or the driver may refer the matter to the building principal via a conduct notice. Following are procedures for conduct notices:

A conduct notice will be issued by the bus driver.
The bus conduct is entered into the FirstACTS system.
The Principal, Transportation Directory and Transportation Coordinator receive email notifications.
The principal or his/her designee will take the appropriate disciplinary action as described in the District 7 Handbook in Section III. In addition students are subject to a suspension or expulsion from the bus for serious or repeated misconduct. The length of the bus suspension will be determined at the building level by the principal/assistant principal. If a bus suspension conference or hearing is requested, the principal, bus driver, and a representative of the bus company may be present.
The final copy of the conduct notice will be mailed to the parent by the principal after action has been taken.

If the problem remains unresolved to the satisfaction of the parent after the parent conference, the parents may submit a written appeal to the Superintendent. Upon receipt of the written appeal, the Superintendent will either hear the matter or appoint the hearing officer to conduct a hearing.

All unresolved suspensions shall continue for the duration of the suspension until reviewed in accordance with the written appeal procedure stated above, unless the parent or guardian has signed a waiver of his right to a review of said suspension action by the Superintendent or the hearing officer appointed for the school district.

A copy of all correspondence sent to the parents relative to transportation problems and the disciplinary action taken will be sent to the Director of Transportation.

Transportation FAQ

Staff

School Boundaries

Primary Schools

Primary Schools (grades K – 2 )

Intermediate Schools

Secondary Schools

District Boundaries

FAQ

How do I register for a bus?

How do I register for a bus?

When you enrolled your children, you automatically enrolled them on a bus. There is no need to fill out any additional paperwork. Approximately two weeks before school starts in August, you will receive a letter giving bus information from your school. Your child is eligible to ride the bus that goes to their school from the stop closest to your home.

If you have been allowed to enroll, because you have promised to move into the district within a set period of time, your child may not actually ride a bus until the move takes place.

How do I get my child taken to a sitter’s home?

How do I get my child taken to a sitter’s home?

Registering for transportation to a sitter’s home or other daycare provider is easy.

If you intend for your child to be dropped of at anyone’s home for a night or two, you can write a note to that effect.

Be sure to sign the note. Your child must also have a building principal sign the note. Driver’s cannot let any child, who is not assigned to them, board their bus without a valid note with both your signature and a principal’s signature.

If you need this service for more than one week, then you must fill out a Transportation Request Form, and have it approved, prior to your child boarding.

Click the link below to be taken to the Transportation Request Form. This form automatically expires at the end of each school year.

1. Fill out the form

2. Print it.

3. Sign it.

4. Turn it into your building’s secretary or to the Hadley House.

How do I get permission for my child to ride to the home of my ex-spouse?

How do I get permission for my child to ride to the home of my ex-spouse?

Click here to be taken to the Transportation Request Form. This form automatically expires at the end of each school year.

1. Fill out all the areas of the form that can be typed in. Type the phrase “Joint Custody” in the special instructions blank. For the sitter’s name, give the parent’s name and their relationship to the student. Example: June Smith-Mother.

2. Print it.

3. Sign it.

How do I pay for my child to ride a bus, since I was told they have to walk?

How do I pay for my child to ride a bus, since I was told they have to walk?

Each ride on the bus is 35 cents.

Click here to be taken to the Transportation Request Form. This form automatically expires at the end of each school year.

1. Fill out all the areas of the form that can be typed in.

2. Print it.

3. Sign it.

4. Return it to Hadley House

There are two different forms depending on the type of transportation you seek. If you have been informed that your child is a walker and wish to pay for him or her to ride the bus then use the Paid Transportation Request Form to arrange to ride the bus to and from your home. If you wish pay so that your child can ride to a sitter’s home then use the Daycare/Sitter Form instead.

How do I get permission for my child to ride to a friend’s house for one night?

How do I get permission for my child to ride to a friend’s house for one night?

If you intend for your child to be dropped of at anyone’s home for a night or two, you can write a note to that effect.

If you need this service for more than one week, then you must fill out a Transportation Request Form, and have it approved, prior to your child boarding.

How do I let you know that we are moving?

How do I let you know that we are moving?

Edwardsville is a fast changing area. People are constantly moving into the district, out of the district, and across the district. Below are some tips that will help in dealing with the subject of your move.

1. Notify each building of your move. (Example: You have one child in the high school and one child in Woodland. Notify both the high school and Woodland of your new address, phone number, and when you expect the move to actually take place.) Notifying First Student of a change of address does not preserve your rights. Your student’s home bus will not be changed until we receive notification of your address change directly from the building your child is attending.

2. Some building principal’s may allow you to have your child remain in their building to finish out the current term. However, your bus service will terminate on the last day of your actual residency. (Example One: Your family is moving out of the district on 10/14/05. The building principal has agreed that your son can stay until 12/31/05. The last day your child can ride the bus is 10/14/05. Example Two: You have a fifth grader in Woodland. On 10/14/05 you moved out of your home into a home that is located in an area where fifth grader’s go to Columbus. The Woodland principal has agreed that your daughter can stay until Christmas break. On 1/2/06 your child will start attending Columbus. Your daughter cannot ride a bus after 10/14/05. She may start riding the bus to Columbus on 1/2/06.

How do I sign up for Early Bird bus service?

Early Bird bus service?

Early Bird buses pickup students at each elementary school.

How does a Parochial student ride the bus?

How does a Parochial student ride the bus?

Parochial students that live within the Edwardsville School District may ride the school district’s buses. In the morning, Parochial students will ride the high school bus that is closest to their residence. Students will then take a shuttle bus from the Edwardsville High School to the appropriate Parochial school. In the afternoon, shuttle buses will pick up the Parochial students from their school and shuttle them to the appropriate Middle School, based on their residence. At the Middle Schools, parochial students will transfer from the shuttle bus to the Middle School bus that will drop them at the closest stop to their residence. For more information or to determine which bus to ride, please contact (618) 656-0125.