According to state law, school vehicle/bus drivers are prohibited from allowing any unauthorized person to ride on the bus while transporting pupils to and from school. For the safety and well-being of all students, parents/guardians should never board a bus with students on board, as it can be unsettling for bus riders and may startle the bus driver. In instances where authorized adults are assigned to monitor students during transportation, they are typically fingerprinted and approved employees of the district. These personnel are strategically placed near students who require the highest level of supervision.

Yes, our drivers consistently report to the assigned school to ensure that no student is left behind. In the event we find your child at school, we will proceed with the route/run as usual.

Yes, our drivers are happy to assist you with boarding and exiting the vehicle. However, they are not allowed to lift or carry customers. Upon request, drivers may escort you to and from the ground-level exterior door of the building, as long as the school vehicle remains within view and no children are left alone in the vehicle. 

While drivers are not permitted to inquire about your disabilities or special needs, it's crucial not to rely on them to know the specific assistance you may require. Please communicate your needs clearly to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

School drivers will wait until 5 minutes after the pick-up time even if they arrive early. We recommend students to be at the stop 10 minutes prior to their pickup time. There are many factors that may impact the time a driver arrives at a given stop. Daily traffic patterns and student loads are unpredictable and may cause a driver’s time to vary. These situations, plus differences in clock times, have proven over the years that arriving ten minutes early gives students an adequate window of time to ensure they catch the school vehicle.

If there is no authorized individual present to receive your child from the school vehicle, your child will not be left with an unauthorized individual. The driver will attempt to contact the parents/guardian, and after multiple attempts, Dispatch will notify the school district. If other students are present in the vehicle, the driver will drop them off first and then make a second/final attempt to drop off the undeliverable student. If no one is available, Drop-Off Center protocol will be activated, and a note with the Drop-Off Center’s location and contact information will be placed at the door.

To retrieve a lost item, you can contact Sarah Car Care at 1-888-311-8340 or email us at info@sarahcarcare.com and request that a staff member checks the assigned student’s vehicle. Please have your student’s school vehicle route number ready when reaching out to Sarah Car Care, Inc.

Regrettably, we are unable to accommodate school vehicle route/run changes for playdates or visits to a friend’s house. Any changes must be approved by the School District Transportation Department.

Boarding and riding the bus: 

• Enter in an Orderly Manner: Board the bus in an organized and orderly manner, ensuring a smooth process for everyone. 
• Remain Seated Until Destination: Take a seat promptly and remain seated until the bus reaches your designated destination. 
• Maintain Conversational Volume: Engage in conversations at a normal volume to avoid distracting the driver. 
• Clear Aisles and Emergency Exits: Keep the aisles and emergency exits free from any belongings for safety reasons. 
• Respect Fellow Passengers: Show consideration for the rights and space of other passengers during the journey. 
• No Drinking or Eating: Consumption of food and drinks is not permitted during the bus ride. 
• Secure Sharp Objects: Carry pointed or sharp objects such as pens, pencils, or scissors in a case or container. 
• Refrain from Throwing Objects: Do not throw any objects from the bus during the journey. 
• Keep Limbs Inside Windows: Refrain from putting your head or hands out of the windows for safety purposes. 
• Preserve Bus Equipment: Do not deface, damage, or tamper with any bus equipment, including emergency exits. 
• Compliance with Driver Instructions: Obey the instructions provided by the bus driver at all times.

A school vehicle is defined as:  A motor vehicle, except a motorcycle, designed for carrying no more than ten (10) passengers, including the driver, and used for the transportation of preprimary, primary, or secondary school students while registered by or under contract to the school district.

Our safety protocol encourages children to wait on the side of the street where they reside for boarding. Our drivers make every effort to facilitate boarding on the door side. In cases where students need to cross the street, our drivers and/or attendants will stop traffic in all directions to ensure their safety.