Transportation

Teaching your children these few simple school bus safety rules will help them to understand the importance of good behavior on and around the school bus.

School Bus Safety Rules

Remember the Danger Zone Areas, (10' in the Front, in the Rear, & the Passenger Side outside of the bus.

• Be On Time (5 minutes early)
• Walk to the Bus, Do Not Run
• Stand Back From the Roadway
• Stop, Look & Listen Before Crossing the Road
• Stay In Your Seat
• Speak Quietly
• Always Obey the Driver
• Respect Other Students
• No Food or Drinks
• Use the Handrail to Exit
• Do Not Push or Shove
• Stay Within the Drivers View
• Always Cross 10 Feet In Front of the Bus

Please refer to your Student Handbook for more information on School Bus Safety!

Barbers Hill Independent School District boundaries are in the yellow shaded area of the map.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

District Boundaries Map

How do I reach the transportation department?

Please call the Transportation Office at 281-576-2221, option 2.

What are the Transportation Department hours?

The Transportation Department is open from 5:00 am until 6:00 pm on school days (or until all route buses have returned to the Transportation Department).

Can the driver stop at my driveway to pick up or drop off my child?

Only certain students, whose needs are addressed through IEP or 504 Plan, are eligible for curbside service. This service is typically restricted to rural areas (i.e. FM 565). Students in subdivisions are expected to walk to a bus stop.  The bus stops are located at centralized locations that can be safely accessed by a significant number of students to minimize the time and mileage of a run. If you have a concern about your child's safety, you are encouraged to accompany your child to the bus stop. As a safety consideration it is safer to have several students wait at a stop versus an individual. Barbers Hill ISD utilizes group stops where possible to cut down on the amount of ride time students are having to ride the bus. Students may also be required to walk further in newer subdivisions that have multiple houses under construction (active construction), as buses cannot fit down roads where there are vehicles parked on both sides.  The higher frequency of stops can make the motoring public impatient. This results in people driving around the bus which can cause greater safety concerns than the distance a student walks to a bus stop. It also delays the bus by increasing the number of stops, making the overall student riding time longer.

In addition, Texas DPS requires a school bus to give at least 300 feet advanced notice of stopping the bus.  This in turn means that most bus stops will be placed 300-400 feet apart at minimum.

Who should I report my address or telephone number changes to?

The school registrar should be contacted as soon as possible with all address and telephone number information changes. The registrar will put the information into the system allowing visibility to the Transportation Department. Transportation Staff cannot change your address information.

How do I find out which bus my child will ride?

Please see the “Bus Routes” button on the Transportation webpage for the bus number your child will ride. Please note that all times are approximate.

Why did my child’s bus stop change?

Each summer routes are re-evaluated and may be adjusted to ensure that student’s arrive to and from school in a timely manner.  For the 2022-23 school year, Barbers Hill ISD opened two new intermediate campuses, resulting in a shift from two bell times to three bell times.  Bell times are currently 35 minutes apart.  With approximately 10 minutes spent loading at the campus, this leaves 25 minutes for the school bus to pick your child up, or drop your child off.  Routes and/or bus stops are adjusted to ensure we can arrive to the campus on time each day to serve your child.

Why is my child’s bus late?

Weather, traffic, student discipline, maintenance difficulties, and unforeseen incidents are responsible for delays in the arrival of school buses in the morning and afternoon.

In the event your bus does not arrive as scheduled, please allow 15-20 minutes before calling the transportation office.

Why can’t you call when the bus is late?

It is simply a numbers problem. There are as many as 65-70 students on each bus. That is 65-70 phone calls in a short time frame to parents who are probably at the bus stop with the children. Please know that there is a bus on the way and that we are doing everything possible to transport your child to school in a timely manner.

Why does my child have a seat assignment?

Seat assignments are a positive way for the ride to be consistent and safe. It takes less time to load at bus stops if students know they have an assigned seat.  As required by law, in the event of an accident or emergency, the driver is able to give authorities a list of students on the bus at the time and where they are seated.

How will I be notified if a change is made to my child’s stop?

The Transportation Department will send a note home with the child to give you notice of a change in bus number, driver and bus stop.  We typically send the note home at least 2-3 days before the change is made.  Due to growth in the district, routes and/or bus stops may often change to ensure students arrive to and from school in a timely manner.

Why does my child need to be at the bus stop 5-10 minutes before the bus arrives?

The bus driver has a tight schedule to maintain with the students needing to be on time for breakfast at school. The bus driver cannot wait for tardy bus riders at the bus stop. If your child is running out of the house or down to the bus stop, the bus driver may not see him/her. Your child could also fall down because he/she is rushing to the bus causing further delays. Students need to be waiting at the bus stop and not inside the house. The bus driver cannot take his/her eyes off the road, looking at your front door or in your garage to see if your child is coming to the bus stop.

Will I need to be at the bus stop when my child arrives home?

Children in grades Pre-K & Kindergarten will not be dropped off unsupervised. Written permission may be given to let your child off with older siblings or older child. If you are home, the driver needs to physically see someone. An opened front door or garage door is not acceptable. If you are not at the bus stop or the driver does not see you, an attempt will be made to contact you for further instructions. In most cases, the child will be returned to the campus and you must make arrangements to have them picked up. After three instances of being returned, your child may lose take home bus privileges. We will not release your child at the bus stop to someone that not is on the child’s emergency card. It is very important to keep emergency contact information updated.

What happens if my child gets on the wrong bus?

Children are loaded in a safe and orderly manner at their campus. If for some reason your child gets on the wrong bus, the bus driver will contact the Transportation Department for further instructions. Often times, the bus driver will be able to drop the child off at his home after finishing the route or the child is taken back to the Transportation Center.

I cannot see the bus stop from my house.

The school district provides service for approximately 3,500 students to and from school each day. We are not able to position bus stops that all parents are able to see the stop from their home. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure that their child arrives safely to and from the bus stop.

We live in a cul-de-sac or on a dead end road. Will the bus come down our street?

Except to transport special needs children, buses generally are not routed down cul-de-sacs or dead end roads because of the danger to small children and property caused by the bus turning around and/or backing in a small area.

Is my child allowed to ride another bus other than his/her own?

All students are routed to their home address. Children may be routed to another parent, grandparent or licensed daycare in accordance with TEA Guidelines. Please reach out to the campus or transportation if you need this change made permanently.  If it is only for a day, you will need to make the change with the campus.

How do we find out about an inclement weather delay, early dismissal, or cancellation of school?

The Superintendent is responsible for the final decision to close school due to various locations in the district regarding road conditions. After the decision is made, the public is notified through news media. Additional information can be found on the district website under school closings.

My child’s bus is overcrowded. Can some children be placed on another bus?

School bus sizes are stated in terms of passenger capacity. It is assumed that elementary school-aged children will ride three (3) per seat. Every attempt will be made to limit middle and high school students to ride two (2) per seat. Even if the bus has three (3) elementary students or two (2) middle or high school students in each seat, it will seem crowded, but it will not be over capacity. It is our goal to fully utilize all the space on all the buses in our fleet.

• Children are our most valuable resources that need their day started with the sense of safety, respect, dependability and love.
• Children are all unique and deserve to be transported safely, respectfully with love and care as individuals with different physical, social or emotional needs.
• We are the first and last opportunity each day to start and finish their school day with an attitude of encouragement and success to reach their full potential in the education process.

Video Cameras

All buses have video/audio capabilities installed to aid our drivers with student safety while driving. The Transportation Department monitors student behavior on a regular basis.

Students should be aware that their actions and communications could be recorded at any time and upon review, a discipline notice may be issued.

Parents should be aware that the recorded information will not be made public and will be viewed only by authorized district personnel.

Parent/Driver Conflicts

Parents are not to enter the bus to discuss problems with a driver during a route or while children are on the bus. Drivers have been instructed to stay on a schedule and will close the door and drive off after all students are loaded at a stop. If a confrontation takes place and the driver cannot leave, the police will be contacted.

Please direct your complaints and/or concerns to the Transportation Manager at 281-576-2221 ext. 1279. Complaints and concerns are taken seriously and will be investigated promptly.

Tardy Students

Since drivers have a strict, tight schedule to maintain, they cannot wait for tardy students. Students need to be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus arrives.

It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to take the student to school if he/she missed the bus. Students tardy to school will be excused if their delay is the result of bus service problems or circumstances beyond the control of the student. A student will not be excused when arriving late if they created a discipline issue or where late for the bus.

Bus Stops

It is the parent’s responsibility to see that the student gets to and from the bus stop. Be expected to walk some distance to the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus arrives. In order to be fair and consistent in placement of bus stops, we are not able to establish stops based on personal circumstances.

• Buses are routed in the most efficient manner consistent with State Law and School board Policy regarding establishment of safe school bus stops.
• Attempts are made to keep the bus stops along a route to a minimum.
• Visibility plays an important factor in the establishment of a bus stop.
• Bus stops are usually centrally located for all students along the route.
• Bus stops are not changed to accommodate personal preference.
• The driver must have the required distance of at least 500 feet between stops in order to activate the warning loading lights for motorists.
• Bus stops may change at any time due to the number of students on the route.

Lost Property

Every effort is made to get all left articles back to the rightful owner. You can help us identify lost articles by putting names on clothing, backpacks, lunch kits, etc. If you feel your child may have left something on the bus, call the transportation office.

1. Use of district vehicles must be made utilizing the Google Form link above. Upon requesting a district vehicle, your Texas driving record will be ran to ensure you are eligible and have not been disqualified from driving a school vehicle due to point assessments on your record. All information received will be kept strictly confidential.

2. Confirmation/Denial will be sent to the requestor through email. You will be asked to submit confirmation if there are questions about the scheduling.

3. Vehicle use may be denied for the following reasons:

• Availability
• Driver not approved
• Not following guidelines

4. All vehicle accidents and/or emergencies must be reported to the Director of Transportation as soon as possible so that necessary steps can be taken to address those concerns.

5. All traffic violations incurred while using the district vehicle are the financial responsibility of the driver.

6. If students are transported in vehicles they must wear seat belts at all times.

7. Personal vehicle parking should be in the parking spot that your district vehicle was parked in, or the football stadium next door. Please do not park where there are no parking signs, or anywhere that buses are backing out

8. Keys, gas cards and receipts are to be turned in promptly after the use of the vehicle. If returning after 5:00 PM, items are to be placed in the night drop box located by the back door in the location near vehicle parking. DO NOT LEAVE THE KEYS IN THE VEHICLE.

9. You must receive a printed receipt when purchasing fuel. If a receipt is not printed at the pump at the time of fueling, you are required to go inside the store for a printed ticket. Habitual tardiness in turning in receipts or failure to turn in receipts is not acceptable and may result in future considerations for the use of the vehicles.

10. If using the vehicle after normal business hours, you will be required to pick up spare keys and gas cards in advance. Failure to do so may result in you making other arrangements with your Principal/Supervisor’s approval or cancellation of the trip.

11. The actual vehicle assigned may change at any time based on need. The Transportation Supervisor reserves the right to make a more workable operation.

12. If your Principal/Supervisor permits rental vehicles, all drivers of rental vehicles and the type of rental vehicle must be approved by the Director of Transportation or Assistant Superintendent of Planning & Operations.

13. It is imperative that you notify the Transportation Department when the use of the vehicle is not needed or the trip is canceled. A waiting list is maintained on the books and the vehicle may be rescheduled in accordance with a priority list.

14. Remove all debris: parking lot passes, candy/gum/drink containers from the vehicle. Trash can is located by night drop box for your use.

15. Please be reminded you are representing the District when driving one of its vehicles. Follow these basic rules:

• Observe all traffic laws at all times
• Observe all speed limits carefully
• Radar detectors are not permitted

16. Failure to abide by the above guidelines may disqualify driver from vehicle use.