Transportation

Frequently Asked Questions

Nonpublic School Request For Transportation

School bus service is furnished to all students according to the rules and regulations set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Department of Transportation and local Board of School Directors. Students who are legal residents of Brandywine Heights Area School District and living outside of the Borough of Topton are eligible for transportation.

Policing bus stops and the supervision of students between residence and bus stops is the parent’s responsibility. At the beginning of the school year, students should be at their assigned bus stop ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled time. If the student is not at the bus stop when the bus arrives, the driver is not required to wait.

• Student behavior on the bus is expected to be the same as in the classroom. To report behavior concerns, please contact your building principal.

• Students are permitted to ride only the bus to which they are assigned. This must be the same pick up point in the morning all five days, and drop off point in the afternoon all five days of the week, except in an emergency situation or with permission from the Transportation Department. Both are subject to seating space on the requested bus.

• If a stop is inactive for a period of 2 weeks during the school year, the student’s bus assignment will be dropped from the transportation roster unless the Transportation Office is notified by the parent that bus service is required. **This does not pertain to students who participate in school related extracurricular activities, and may not utilize transportation on a regular basis during any season**. If transportation is not reinstated during the school year, the student will not receive a bus assignment for the following school year unless the Transportation Office is notified before August 1st of the school year that the bus assignment is necessary.

• Kindergarten students must be met by a parent or designated person(s) for them to be released from the bus. Written parental consent may be submitted to the district allowing kindergarten students to be released with an older sibling that rides the same bus.

• When students are at their designated stop waiting for the bus, they should obey safety rules and not stand or play in the road. Students should also respect the property of others.

• Item’s that do not fit on the child’s lap may not be taken on the bus.

• Students are responsible for all personal belongings on the bus. Brandywine Heights and our transportation provider(s) accept no liability for personal items.

• Please be sure to clearly identify your house number on both sides of your mail box with numbers measuring no less than 2 ½”.

• It is imperative that contact information for the parent(s)/guardian(s) and emergency contacts is updated on a regular basis.

The decision not to open the district schools means that all transportation for public and nonpublic students is suspended. Any nonpublic students whose school is in session must provide their own transportation to and from school.

Nonpublic students will be transported using the same guidelines as public students. When Brandywine is closed due to inclement weather, the district will not transport students to any school. When Brandywine is following a two (2) hour delayed opening, transportation to all schools will be delayed by two (2) hours.

Brandywine Transportation maintains a lost and found and will secure found items at their location for a minimum of 1 week. To contact Brandywine Transportation regarding a lost item, please call 610-641-8102.

1. Students must obey the bus driver.

2. Students should not approach the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the red lights, stop sign and crossing gate are activated and all traffic has stopped.

3. Students are to enter the bus using the handrail and take a seat without delay and without disturbing other passengers. Seatbelts must be worn if the vehicle is equipped with them.

4. Students are to remain in their seats until the bus comes to a complete stop at their destination.

5. Students are to use a “Quiet Voice” when talking on the bus. Shouting, yelling, foul or profane language will not be tolerated.

6. Offensive gestures or behavior deemed inappropriate will not be tolerated.

7. Students are not to put any part of their body outside of the bus at any time.

8. Students should not throw any objects inside or outside of the bus at any time.

9. No fighting, smoking, eating or drinking on the bus.

10. Students may not play any type of radio, iPod, or any other personal electronic device without headphones on the bus.

The bus driver, for reason of discipline or order, has the right to assign seats on the bus.

Bus drivers are to notify school authorities of any infraction of these rules. Students who misbehave on the bus may have transportation suspended by the building principle. Normally, for the first infraction a warning letter will be sent home. If the first infraction is a serious one (ex. smoking or fighting), a student may be removed or suspended from the bus without a warning. For a second infraction, a student may be removed from the bus for an indefinite period of time.