Transportation Services

The Transportation Department is here to make sure students get to and from school safely and on time every day. We know how important reliable transportation is, and we’re committed to making it a smooth and safe part of the school day. Whether it’s morning pick-ups or afternoon drop-offs, our focus is always on keeping kids safe and on schedule.

K-6 Students: Request Transportation Services

7-12 Students: Request Transportation Services

Services Available:

In-Town: Optional Bus Service

The Optional Bus Service (OBS) offers transportation for students in grades K- 6 who live within 2 miles of their assigned school. This program provides a convenient option for families who wish to utilize district transportation but live within the walk-zone.

Here are a few key details:

Seats are filled on a first come, first served basis until the route is full.
Families must select a single location for both pick-up and drop-off.
Most locations are group stops and must be at least 300 feet apart to comply with state laws.
Transportation fees for the 2024-2025 school year are $250 per student.
All fees must be paid in full through Infinite Campus using a credit or debit card before students are added to a route.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals may also qualify for free or reduced transportation fees with the completion of a fee waiver form.

The OBS program is designed to support families by providing safe, reliable transportation for students.

Country: 2+ Miles From School

Express Shuttle Service

The Express Shuttle Service is an OBS option for students in grades 7-8 who live within 2 miles of the Junior High as well as students in grades 9-12 who live within 3 miles of the High School.

In the mornings, this service provides transportation from the PK-6 campus (Morris, Anderson, and Intermediate buildings) to the 7-12 campus (Junior High and High School). The shuttle operates on a reversed route in the afternoons, transporting students from the 7-12 campus to the PK-6 campus.

This can be a helpful option for older students who reside closer to the PK-6 campus. Seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until the route is full. Standard OBS fees apply, $250 per student.

Specialized Transportation

Free for identified K-12 students as outlined within their individualized special education plan (IEP).

Special education students follow the same busing rules and options as general education students unless their IEP specifies specially designed transportation. In those cases, the IEP team determines if the nature of the disability requires customized services, and a request must be completed before arrangements can be made.

Special Education Transportation Request Form

For students with specially designed transportation, an authorized parent or guardian needs to assist with securing and un-securing the child during pickup and drop-off. The transportation department will email you with pickup and drop-off times before school begins.

If your student won’t be riding the bus or van due to illness, appointments, or other reasons, please notify the transportation department by 6:30 a.m. at 515-967-2891 or email transportation@bfschools.org. Be sure to include the student’s teacher and secretary in the email as well as the reason for the absence so records can be updated.

Non-Resident Students

Other Information & Resources:

Bus Expectations

Bus Driver Responsibilities:

Ensure the school bus is safe to transport students each and every trip.
Ensure each student has a place to sit on their bus to transport students safely.
Ensure all students are safely transported to and from school.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities:

Ensure your student arrives at their bus stop safely and 5 minutes prior to bus stop time. If the bus arrives within this 5 minute window, it will not wait at a stop until the actual stop time.
Parents are encouraged to wait with their child(ren) until the bus arrives and they boards the school bus.
During extreme weather, ensure your student boards the bus safely.
Review the Student Responsibilities list (overview below, and Board Policy 711.2R1) with your student(s).

Student Responsibilities:

Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to your bus stop time to ensure you will not miss the bus. If the bus arrives within this 5 minute window, it will not wait at a stop until the actual stop time.
If you must cross the street to board or deboard the school bus, you must cross in front of the bus (no closer than 10 feet), only after a signal from the driver and after looking both directions before crossing the roadway.
Once on the bus, students must follow the rules below:
- Follow the directions of the bus driver and never distract him or her from driving the bus safely. The bus driver is authorized to assign seats and make decisions that are necessary to ensure the safe transportation of all students.
- Board the bus promptly, be seated immediately and stay seated properly (facing forward) keeping head, hands, and feet out of the aisle, inside the bus, and to yourself.
- Refrain from using loud voices or inappropriate language.
- No bullying or fighting – always treat others with courtesy and respect, and observe the same student conduct as you would in the classroom.
- Do not throw objects of any kind on the school bus or out the windows.
- Refrain from eating or drinking on the bus, and help keep the bus clean at all times.
- Treat the bus with respect. Don’t damage the bus and bus equipment. This includes the seats as any damage done must, by state law, be repaired at a significant cost to the school district.
- Place all carry-on items on your lap and allow three people to sit in each seat.
- Report violations of these rules to the bus driver immediately.
- For a full list of rules pertaining to bus riders, please reference Board Policy 711.2R1.

Reference Board Policies: 711.1, 711.2, 711.2R1, 711.2R2, 711.3, 711.8

Bus Passes

All students who ride the school bus will be asked to present their bus pass to the driver prior to boarding each day. This is a great way to ensure that we are transporting only those students who have signed up for a ride. After the transportation registration form has been submitted, approved, and payment has been accepted (if necessary), bus passes will be provided by the district.

Bus passes are encouraged to be attached to student backpacks for ease of use by presenting the bus pass to the drivers prior to boarding; these will also identify the specific bus color route each student is assigned to. Lost passes require a $5 replacement fee.

Fees

Applicable Fees: OBS fees apply to in-town routes, the Express Shuttle Service, and open-enrolled students.
Cost: The fee for OBS routes is $250 per rider.
Payment Options: Payment is required before students can be added to a bus route. Families may choose to pay in full by August 9, 2024 for the 2024-25 school year OR families may choose to pay per semester, with the remaining balance due no later than the start of December.
Payment Deadlines: To secure a seat, all payments must be made by the stated deadline. Unpaid seats will be released to those on the waiting list.
Fee Waivers: Families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals may also qualify for waived transportation fees. A signed waiver must be submitted to the district office to receive this benefit.

Make A Payment

Refunds

Moving out of BFCSD during the school year? You may be entitled to a refund based on when you move. The following schedule will determine if there will be an adjustment of the Optional Bus Service fees:

If the student(s) moves out of the BFCSD during the 1st quarter - 3/4 of the yearly fee will be refunded.
If the student(s) moves out of the BFCSD during the 2nd quarter - 1/2 of the yearly fee will be refunded.
If the student(s) moves out of the BFCSD during the 3rd quarter - 1/4 of the yearly fee will be refunded.
If the student(s) moves out of the BFCSD during the 4th quarter - no refund to the yearly fee will be made.

How is the refund processed:

You will need to turn in the bus pass(es) to the Transportation Department located in the District Office.
Request a refund by emailing us at transportation@bfschools.org
Once the pass and request for refund are received, the Business Office will be notified that a refund needs to be issued.
This process could take up to 45 days for refund checks to be approved and mailed. Please be sure to provide your new mailing address that you would like your refund to be sent to.

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