NORTH
ATTLEBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Richard
A. Smith, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. James M. Rice, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Robert J. Gay, Coordinator of Transportation
Dear
Parents,
The major purpose of the school system’s transportation service is to
aid students in getting to and from
school in a safe, efficient, and economical manner.
The school system contracts for transportation services.
The last several years, the Holmes Bus Company of Norfolk,
Massachusetts has been contracted to establish the bus schedules, routes,
stops, and to provide the daily transportation.
As Coordinator of Transportation, I work with the bus company’s local
manager to receive and process school and parent concerns, requests,
complaints, and inquiries. I have discovered that most parent requests result from not
being aware of the information regarding the school department’s bus
transportation system. Hopefully,
this information will assist you in understanding the transportation system
and reduce the number of requests regarding the addition or alteration of bus
stops. Most
requests are simply not possible.
This information will be shared annually with all kindergarten
registrants, kindergarten parents, new registrations and all parents of grade
5 students.
Robert J.
Gay
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·
The contract for bus transportation is awarded
every three years. Approximately $740,000 is appropriated for regular
transportation, which is about $37,000 per bus.
·
20 buses service approximately 2,500 K-12 students
at the High School, Middle School, Allen Avenue, Amvet Boulevard, Community,
Falls, Martin, Roosevelt Avenue and St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Schools.
·
The buses operate on a 4-tier system. This is one
of the major reasons for the staggered school starting times. A bus probably
services 2 or 3 tiers depending on the ridership and length of the bus route.
·
Bus capacity is 71 students (this includes the
Middle School and High School buses).
·
The drivers work for the Holmes Bus Company and are
state-licensed. The bus company provides training and road tests.
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Kindergarten Students
Kindergarten students are eligible for bus transportation if they
reside 1-1/4 miles from the school
they are assigned to attend. However,
at mid-day, Kindergarten students are transported home from the morning
session and picked up for the afternoon session if they live more than ¾
mile from the school. Generally,
the mid-day Kindergarten bus stops are fairly close to the children’s homes.
On the regular morning and afternoon bus runs, Kindergarten students
ride with the rest of the students in the school and use the regular bus
routes and stops. Only at mid-day
do Kindergarten students ride exclusively.
Grades 1-5
Elementary students in grades 1-5 are eligible for transportation if
they reside 1-¼ miles from school. The
elementary stops are generally different than the mid-day afternoon
Kindergarten stops.
Grades
6-12
Middle
School and High School students in grades 6-12 are eligible for transportation
if they reside 2 miles from
the school. Middle School and
High School stops are generally different than the elementary stops and are
not necessarily the same as each other. Middle
and High School students are expected to walk greater distances than the
elementary students to the centralized bus stops. Secondary
students are expected to ride only their “assigned” buses to and from school.
The Principal must approve accompanying a friend home on a non-assigned bus.
The “late bus” generally begins in mid-September and operates throughout the
school year.
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Each bus services a specific area of the town.
The stops are located at strategic points in each area.
All age level children are expected to walk to the bus stops. It is not possible fiscally or realistically to provide stops
in front of each student’s residence. Walking
distances vary. Older students
generally walk greater distances to the stop.
Parents are expected to walk their young children to bus stops if a
situation exists that warrants it. Parents
are expected to be at the bus stop if they escort their children home.
The bus driver is not required to wait for a parent to arrive.
Drivers will, however, bring students back to the school if they feel a
situation warrants it. It is impossible to
provide an efficient and economical transportation system that eliminates or
compensates for all troublesome situations.
Many of our streets are busy, lack sidewalks, have insufficient
lighting, and sometimes are not plowed. The
bus transportation system cannot be expected to compensate for these concerns.
Parents must assume their responsibility to provide transportation or
an escort to a stop or school if they are concerned with
a situation. Remember that it
is necessary to transport eligible students from each area of town to each
school in a relatively short amount of time.
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The bus schedule and bus stop listings are published in The Sun
Chronicle and the North Attleborough Free Press in late August. The
schedules may also be obtained on the school system's website,
www.naschools.net. The bus company establishes the
bus routes and stops. Generally, the routes and students are carried forward
without major changes from the previous year.
The bus company’s site manager annually comprises the system’s
Kindergarten and Allen Avenue district fifth grade (to Community School) bus
routes. These routes are based on
information supplied by the school system.
It is important that your correct home address is supplied, as your
eligibility and bus stop are based on your residence. No provisions are made for baby-sitting or unlicensed day
care providers. Rides to a
friend’s home for a play date, party, get-together, etc. are not allowed.
Please also refer to the section, “Licensed Day Care Situations.”
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It
is expected that students ride the bus on a 5-day basis.
Transportation to a licensed day care provider is possible if the
location is on an existing bus route near an established bus stop.
Your residence and not the address of your day care provider will
determine your child's school placement.
These special situations must be requested in writing to the building
principal. Specifically, the day
care must be on a regular basis, involve no more than one additional bus, and
the parent/student must agree to assume the responsibility of the schedule.
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It is expected that every student who rides a bus behave properly.
Rules and procedures are provided annually to each student by the
building principals. Bus riding
privileges may be forfeited by rule infractions.
Principals handle these situations.
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·
Call your child’s school if you are seeking
general information regarding eligibility, bus routes, and schedules.
Each school has a copy of their school’s routes and schedules.
You may also refer to the schedules
for each school listed on this web site. The schedules are posted in late
August and updated in the fall.
·
Call the Holmes Bus Company’s Site Manager
(508-695-4195) regarding early or late buses and first time and/or minor
complaints concerning buses, drivers, etc.
·
Call the system’s Transportation Coordinator,
Robert Gay (508-643-2106) for bus stop changes, second offense complaints, or
major concerns.
Requests to provide a bus stop at a distance less than the mileage
requirements will not be considered at this level.
·
Call the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Dr.
James Rice, (508-643-2100) for school assignments or appeals of decisions made at
the Transportation Coordinator’s level.
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The
North Attleborough Special Needs Department also provides transportation for
the Special Needs students who require it and transportation is listed on
their Individual Educational Programs. This
transportation is conducted under the supervision of the Special Needs
Director, Ms. Margo Brissette. She
may be contacted at 643-2160.
