About Transportation
The Transportation Operations department serves 121 schools, safely and efficiently transporting approximately 50,000 students to and from school each day. With a fleet of 511 school buses using approximately 2,700 bus routes and 9,200 bus stops, our drivers travel approximately 61,000 miles per day for a total of approximately 10,920,000 miles per school year, which equates to driving around the equator of the earth a little more than two times every day of the school year.
Rules for Riding the Bus
Polk County’s children are our most treasured assets. We strive to provide them with the safest transportation possible, but we can’t do it alone. Please review the following rules with your child, and stress the importance of following these rules while riding the bus.
- Recognize that the bus driver and/or the bus attendant are the authority on the bus; obey and be courteous to the driver, attendant and to fellow students.
- Plan to leave home each day so that you will arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled stop time.
- When walking where there are no sidewalks, face the traffic and walk on the shoulder of the road.
- Stand away from the highway at the bus stop.
- Never run alongside a moving bus.
- Wait until the bus and other traffic comes to a full stop and the bus door is opened before moving toward the bus. Cross in front of the bus at a distance of at least twelve (12) feet as directed by driver.
- Use the handrail when boarding and departing the bus.
- Go directly to your assigned seat and remain seated unless otherwise directed by the driver.
- Do not carry onto the bus any glass items, reptiles, insects, pets, weapons, balloons, or sharp instruments.
- Keep the aisles clear at all times.
- Hold books and other belongings firmly on your lap.
- Large or heavy articles that cannot be held on your lap should be transported to school by your parents; this includes large band instruments.
- Normal classroom behavior is expected while riding the bus.
- Observe complete silence at all railroad crossings.
- Do not throw objects about the bus or from a window. Keep arms and head inside the bus at all times.
- Do not tamper with the emergency doors.
- No eating, drinking, smoking, vaping, yelling, or fighting is allowed on the bus.
- Leave the bus ONLY at your designated stop.
- Take all your belongings off the bus each day. Transportation is not responsible for articles left on school buses.
- Report any illness or injury sustained on or around the bus immediately to the driver.
Any student, who does not abide by the rules stated above, will be reported by the driver to the school principal who has the authority to suspend the pupil from riding the bus.
Bus riders will be required to participate in two SCHOOL BUS EMERGENCY EVACUATION DRILLS during the school year. This complies with STATE and FEDERAL LAWS. If your child has any physical or medical reasons for not participating in EMERGENCY EVACUATION DRILLS, please notify the bus driver.