Pupil transportation is a necessary service and an integral part of the total education program. The primary objectives of the pupil transportation program are to provide safe transportation, operate an efficient and economical transportation system, adapt transportation to the requirements of the instructional program, and maintain conditions on the buses that are conducive to the best interests of the students.
 

ANIMAL CHARACTERS
Students who attend the elementary school have animal characters to help them identify their buses. The animal character signs are displayed on the right side second window on each bus.

ASSIGNED SEATING
The school district reserves the right to assign student seating on school buses for safety, efficiency, and disciplinary reasons. In addition, assigned seating is required on all elementary and middle school buses. Drivers should have assigned seats in place by early October after considering grade level, compatibility, behaviors, siblings, friends, etc.

BUS ROUTES TO AND FROM WATERFORD-HALFMOON USFD
Bus routes including pick up, drop off times and bus stops will be mailed home before the start of the school year. Many of your transportation questions are answered in the District's Transportation FAQ which may be found under Transportation Links. If you have additional questions, please contact our Transportation Department regarding your child's bus route at (518) 237-0800 ext. 3310.

DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES
The Department of Transportation regulations prohibit aerosol cans, glass containers, and flammable substances inside the passenger compartment of school buses. Therefore, students shall not carry these items on school buses at any time. Perfumes and colognes shall also not be discharged on school buses because they can cause an adverse allergic reaction in some individuals.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Electronic Devices are fun to use and often can make the ride to and from school more enjoyable. Unfortunately, misuse of these items can be detrimental to the safety and well-being of other students and bus drivers. The transportation department will follow these guidelines:

-Cell phones and other electronic communication devices shall not be used to bully, discriminate, threaten, harass, or denigrate other students or school personnel.
-Devices may not be used while boarding/discharging or crossing, and during emergencies or school bus safety drills unless authorized by the driver.
-Video/audio recordings and pictures are not allowed to be taken by students riding district buses.
-Laser pointers and other objects that can obstruct or impair the vision of the driver are not allowed to be used on school buses at any time.
-Headphones/earbuds must be used when listening to music, playing games, or viewing content on devices. For student safety reasons, they must be removed when entering/exiting the bus or crossing at bus stops.
-Any devices that are being used inappropriately may be confiscated by bus drivers and returned to students when they depart the bus. If a student continues to use their device inappropriately, a discipline referral may be submitted, and the device may be confiscated and returned only to a parent/guardian.
-The District will not be held responsible for the loss or theft of any personal electronic device.

Failure to follow these and any bus rules may result in disciplinary action per the Code of Conduct.

HAVE YOU MOVED?
If you have moved, please fill out this Change of Address form as soon as possible and return it to the school with proof of residency showing your new address. Acceptable proofs of residence include:

-Current utility bill
-Updated driver's license or state identification card
-Rental/lease agreement
-Home deed or closing paperwork
-Auto insurance
-Notarized letter from your landlord

If you have any questions regarding what documents qualify as valid Proof of Residency, please call the Registrar's Office at (518) 237-0800 ext. 3314.

Once your change of address has been processed with the school, transportation officials will notify you of your new bus stop. We are unable to change bus stops until the change of address has been processed.

LATE BUS GUIDELINES

As there are a limited number of buses for each school, ride times will vary depending on the number of students riding on a given day. To minimize ride times, drivers adjust their routing daily according to student drop-off locations.

Students will be dropped off as close as possible to their regularly assigned bus stops only, and are not allowed to be dropped off at places of employment, social events, or other activities.

If you have any questions about late runs, please contact your child's school or the transportation office.

Late Bus Times
Junior/Senior High School - 3:20 p.m. Monday thru Friday
Elementary School - 3:40 p.m. Monday thru Friday

REPORTING CONCERNS
You can contact the transportation department with any concerns including:

-Student behaviors on the school bus. First, notify the driver. If this does not resolve the problem, you may contact the transportation department.
-A bus driver or bus monitor
-Bus routes or stops

SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Please make sure you are signed up for ???? so you will get automatic alerts in the event of school closings, delays, and early dismissals.  Also, check local radio and TV stations and this website for closing information.

STOPFINDER
Stopfinder is an easy-to-use app that allows you to have the most accurate information about your child’s bus schedule at any time from anywhere. In addition to displaying your child’s transportation information, Stopfinder has a private messaging feature that allows you to communicate directly with the transportation department. You can also create GeoAlerts for your children, which will notify you when the bus has arrived or departed from any location on their route, including their assigned bus stop and school. GeoAlert Alert Zones can be created for individual students allowing you to customize the Alert Zone based on their bus routes.

The email address that is currently on file with the district will be used for the Stopfinder setup. If you need to change your primary email address, please contact Carol Burniche for your elementary students at x3501, or Kerri Mulligan for your high school students at x3314. Please note, that if you already receive emails from the school, you will not need to make changes. 

Stopfinder can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.

TRANSPORTATION CHANGES
Please review the Transportation FAQ for the District's process related to transportation changes.

TRANSPORTING LARGE ITEMS ON BUSES
For the safety of all students being transported on district school buses, please adhere to the following guidelines when determining if an item can be transported on a school bus:

-Athletic equipment, musical instruments, school projects, or other objects larger than 36 inches (length) by 12 inches (width), by 8 inches (depth) will not be transported.
-Skis, ski poles, sleds, skateboards, bicycles, and fishing poles cannot be transported.
-All items that are transported on a school bus must be placed on student laps or the floor within the seat area.
-Objects cannot obstruct the aisle, emergency exit, or an adjacent seat where another student may need to sit.
-Objects that can obstruct or impair the vision of the driver are prohibited.

TRANSPORTATION TO NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Families residing within the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District with students attending non-public schools may request WHUFSD transport the student(s) to that school, provided that the school is located within 15 miles of WHUFSD.

To request transportation, families must complete a transportation request form by clicking here and submit it to the Transportation Department by April 1 of the school year preceding the year in which transportation is requested. This form must be completed and submitted annually by April 1. 

Additionally, your child must be registered at WHUFSD to verify residency. Once you have registered, you do not need to do so annually, unless you have moved. If you have not yet registered your child, please contact the District Registrar at 518-237-0800 x 3701. 

For additional information on regulations and requirements related to non-public transportation, please visit the NYSED website.