Transportation

All bus routes are designed to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible while still meeting the scholars’ needs. When a route change is deemed necessary that will affect the pickup and dropoff times and/or the bus number, parents will be notified through Remind 101.

If scholars are not present at the designated bus stop for five continuous days, the bus stop will be discontinued for that scholar without notice to the
parents/guardians. Parents/Guardians will need to contact the Transportation Department to resume service to that stop for the scholar.

Anyone who lives outside of a two-mile radius, but no more than 15 miles away from the school.

The driver is responsible for the safety and the discipline on the bus. Misconduct and safety violations by scholars are reported to the Transportation Department Supervisor, parents, guardians, and school personnel.

Scholars who continuously disregard the rules and regulations of the school bus may lose his or her privileges for riding the school bus. Scholars will be given Bus Rules and Regulations Guide and are expected to abide by them. Failure to abide by the rules and regulations will result in a loss of transportation privileges.

Rhodes School for the Performing Arts school buses are not permitted to enter gated communities such as gated apartment complexes. Neighborhoods that are under construction pose a safety hazard; thus, the buses will not travel through areas that are gated, and areas that pose a safety hazard.

If school is in session, the buses will operate. The superintendent decides whether to cancel school or dismiss school early. Rhodes School for the Performing Arts will notify you if there is a change to the regular schedule.

During hazardous weather, flooding, etc. buses will travel as close to the normal bus stops as possible without jeopardizing scholars’ safety. Parents/ Guardians should be aware of flooding conditions and make arrangements to meet their scholar(s) at the bus stop when possible.

Any students who are unable to be safely delivered home will be returned to the “Crayon Club” for parents/guardians to retrieve their scholar (Parents/ Guardians will be notified).

In rain or cold weather, students are still expected to be at their bus stop.

Drivers and passengers are subject to audio and video monitoring. Parents are not permitted to view recordings because it would infringe on the privacy of other students, as protected under the Family Education Rights Acts (FERPA).

State law does not require school buses to be equipped with seatbelts.

We ask that scholars are at the designated bus stop five minutes prior to the stop time.

If your scholar is being bullied or harassed please contact the school’s
administration.

The ability to change stops is determined by the availability of space. Students have one bus stop in the morning and one bus stop in the afternoon.

If you are requesting a stop change for a daycare or alternate address, please contact the Transportation Department as well as complete the Bus Stop Change Request Form. Normal processing for a stop change is
approximately 2 weeks. Additional processing time is to be expected during
the start of the school year due to the high volume of requests. Plan on
providing a brief explanation for why you are requesting a stop change as your request will be checked against safety guidelines and the Transportation Department Service Standards.

If your scholar misses the bus in the morning, the parent or guardian can find the next available stop in close proximity. The parent/guardian can bring the scholar to school.

If no one is at the stop to retrieve the scholar under second grade, parents/guardians will be notified and can retrieve the scholar at the last bus stop designated for that assigned route or may retrieve the scholar from the “Crayon Club” and fees will incur. Visit http://crayonclub.org/ for more information.

If the scholar is above second grade, the driver will still discharge the scholar at the stop. If parents then fail to retrieve the scholar from the “Crayon Club,” the Harris County Sheriff’s Department, Houston Police Department, and The Department of Social Services will be notified.

No, you the parent/guardian may not get on the bus at any time. Texas law
prohibits parents or any non-riders from entering the school bus. Violation of this law is considered a misdemeanor and carries a fine of up to $500 in addition to an automatic indefinite loss of your scholars’ transportation services.

The Transportation Department will use the school alert system (Remind 101) to notify parents of any route delays that may occur due to traffic, weather, construction, and other circumstances. Please make sure that all contact information is current.

Additionally, we will post information about delayed routes
on the school website under the transportation link and you may also contact transportation @ 281.458.6042.

Articles that are left on the bus will remain on the bus for the scholar to retrieve the next day. If the scholar has not retrieved the item it will then be turned in to the Transportation Department.

Lunches that are found in the morning will be returned to the school as soon as possible. If parents/guardians wish to pick up an item at the Transportation Department, they may do so during normal business
hours. However, the Transportation Department does not maintain a “Lost and Found”.

To report a complaint please contact the Transportation Department. You will need to have the following information:

• Bus Route, Date, Time of the Incident
• Explanation of the Incident

If you would like a response to the investigation, please be sure to leave your name and contact information.