Bus Procedures and Expectations

The primary goal of the Omaha Public School District is to provide students with safe, reliable transportation. We need help from families and students to follow our procedures and expectations during transportation service.

Families should call the Transportation Office at (531) 299-0140 if the student will not require transportation to and/or from school. The call may be placed anytime between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. If a student is absent for three consecutive days, services will be temporarily suspended. The parent or guardian must then contact the Transportation Office to resume transportation service.

Special Education and regular education route inquiries, customer service concerns and complaints can be addressed at (531) 299-0140.

Stops and Schedules

Stop times are set to maintain appropriate bus scheduling and ensure children arrive at school on time.
Students need to ensure they are at the stop and ready five minutes prior to the scheduled stop time.
Students late to their stop are not eligible for a second pickup or a bus to return.
Omaha Public Schools determines pickup/drop-off points on a year-to-year basis, taking into account bus loads, student locations, efficiency and guidelines approved by the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education.
Elementary school students may walk up to four blocks from their residence address to their assigned bus stop.
Middle school students may walk up to six blocks from their residence address to their assigned bus stop.
High school students may walk up to eight blocks from their residence address to their assigned bus stop.
Under certain conditions, ex: inclement weather, deviation from bus stop guidelines may be necessary.
Maximum ride time is up to one hour and 20 minutes. Some morning routes may begin at 6 a.m.

Address and Babysitter Changes

For address changes, a parent or guardian needs to contact their child’s school with proof of their new address. Once a school official verifies the new address and enters it into the system, Transportation will be notified electronically within two days.
For babysitter changes, a parent or guardian should contact the Transportation Division at (531) 299-0140 with the appropriate information (Name, Address, Phone Number) for the babysitter.
The residence and babysitter address must qualify for transportation under the Student Assignment Plan as approved by the Omaha Public Schools School Board.
Once an address or babysitter change is received by Transportation, three to five working days are required to allow for appropriate notification to everyone affected by the change.

Safety Guidelines

The driver is in full charge of the bus and students. Please show respect and obey the driver.
When possible, unload front to back, right to left.
The driver will direct students when it is safe to exit.
Once the student has exited the bus, they will follow the directions of the school building staff.
Only assigned students are allowed on the bus.
Please stand away from the street while waiting to board the bus.
Wait until the driver instructs you to get on the bus.
Do not extend your arms or head outside bus window.
Talk to your friends; but do so quietly.
When unloading, cross the street in front of the bus.
Eating, drinking and smoking are NOT permitted on school buses.
Make certain you do not leave items on the bus. The school district and drivers cannot be responsible for items lost on the bus.

Special Education

Families using day care services must notify the day care provider to be available to meet, and if needed, assist the student to and from the bus.
It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to have a trusted person at your residence when students are dropped off.
Parents/Guardians must be available to meet the school bus, and if needed, assist the child to and from the bus.
Omaha Public Schools Drivers and Aides are not allowed to enter a student’s home, daycare or alternate location.
To ensure uninterrupted transportation service, parents/guardians must provide the school with the reported documentation at least ten school days prior to any address change. Drivers are not authorized to make these changes. Also, schools should be notified of any phone number changes for notification purposes.
Parents/Guardians must provide a valid alternate address and phone number to the Transportation Office in the event of an emergency. (The alternate address must be in the school district and as close as possible to the regular drop off point).
Drivers are unable to accommodate temporary or one-time changes to a student’s pick-up or drop-off location.

Please note: Periodically, a child/student may be assigned an Open Route. An Open Route references a route that does not have a permanent driver assigned. Consequently, the child/student will be transported on a temporary basis until a permanent driver can be assigned. During the Open Route assignment, your child’s bus may be delayed.

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