Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 380.1321 states that school districts are not required by law to transport regular education children. Therefore, being transported on a school bus is a privilege and not an entitlement. It is the goal of Shelby Public Schools to provide a safe and reliable transportation environment for all students.
Transportation Information
Shelby Public Schools' buses travel thousands of miles per week transporting hundreds of students. The bus schedule and route is available by contacting the Transportation Department at 231.861.5171. Bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. We ask that all bus users follow these policies:
1) Students should be in plain view at their bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to their scheduled pick-up time. Buses will not wait for students if they are not at the bus stop.
2) Please contact 231.861.5171 if your student/s do not require transportation in the morning. A student stop will be removed from the route if there are 3 consecutive days of a student not riding the school bus & no communication with the bus garage.
3) Students in Preschool through second grade will not be allowed off the bus without a parent or older sibling. Young students who are not met at the bus stop will be transported back to the ECC/Thomas Read.
4) Any student needing to be dropped off at a place other than their regular stop MUST HAVE A NOTE SIGNED BY THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE. No one will be taken any place other than his/her regular stop without a signed note.
5) Requests for a change in the drop off/pick up location for a child may take a few days to be implemented as the transportation department, bus driver, teacher, and school office need to be notified of the change. Parents are asked to contact the transportation office at least three days before the change should take effect.
Please note we cannot honor requests for transportation to birthday parties, sleepovers, play dates, etc. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to provide transportation to these events. P.M. RETURN BUSES ARE AT OR NEAR CAPACITY AND EXTRA RIDERS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
The bus stop walk range is defined as the maximum walking distance from a student’s residential address to the student’s assigned stop location.
Following are the distances that children may be expected to walk to school or to a bus stop:
Kindergartners - ½ mile
1st - 5th Grade - 1 mile
6th - 12th Grade - 1½ miles
Transportation routes are re-evaluated and adjusted prior to the start of school each year, and as necessary during the school year, to provide the best service for all eligible students. Routes are subject to change as required by considerations pertaining to student load and bus capacity, total ride time, arrival time at school and bus route coordination with the bell times of the schools.
If you are a School of Choice student who is in need of transportation, we will provide transportation to and from the closest established bus stop location to your residential address. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are responsible for your transport to and from said bus stop.
If you are new to the District (or to a particular school), and are eligible for transportation services, but do not have a bus stop within the “stop range” walking distance for the student's school level please call the Transportation Dept. at 231.861.5171 to request a stop.
Transportation forms are available at all the schools as well as the Administration Building and Transportation Department. A form can even be printed off this web site and filled out at home and sent in with your child. Please note that it may take 4 – 5 school days to make a route change (or longer at the beginning of the school year, or if the new stop will significantly change the times for the other students on the route), so you may have to make arrangements for your child to get to and from school during this time.
TRANSPORTATION IS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN VILLAGE LIMITS
If changes in school bus routes do affect the times for other students on the route all parents must be given adequate notice.
Bus Rules & Regulations
The rules and regulations listed below are the result of careful study based upon the experiences we have had in the operation of a school bus system. Cooperation and courtesy in following these suggestions will permit us to better serve your child. Please go over the rules with your children so they will know what is expected of them when they ride the bus:
Be at the bus stop at least five (5) minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
Remain in your seat and in a sitting position when bus is in motion.
Leave your seat only after the bus has come to a complete stop.
Cross in front of the bus when crossing the road. DO NOT CROSS IN BACK OF THE BUS.
Musical instruments must be held by owner. Do not leave them in the aisle or at the front or rear emergency door.
Keep head, arms, and hands inside bus.
No eating or drinking on the bus.
Be courteous. Profanity, vulgar language, fighting, pushing and shoving will not be tolerated.
Any malicious damage to the school bus will be paid for by the person responsible for the damage.
SERIOUS INFRACTIONS CAN RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FROM RIDING ALL BUSES FOR UP TO THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OR LONGER, BASED ON THE DECISION OF THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR AND OR BUILDING PRINCIPAL.
We appreciate your cooperation and efforts in helping us make transportation a safe part of your child’s school day.
If you have further questions regarding transportation, you may find the following link helpful: