Students are entitled to free bus transportation if they are a resident of District 15 and live more than 1.5 miles from the District-assigned school they will attend, or in an area declared to be hazardous as determined by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Board of Education makes transportation available to other areas on a paid basis and accepts riders to the extent that transportation services are available and are approved on a case-by-case basis by transportation. No stops will be made less than one-half mile from the school building. 

Activity buses are available to junior high students after school and on a limited basis before school. Students who are involved in after-school clubs, sports, and activities may ride the after-school activity bus. These activity buses do not run the day before a school holiday. There is no charge for the activity bus.

All bus assignments, as well as routes and stops, are determined by Transportation Services. Parents whose children ride school buses are asked to be sure the information on the bus assignment is accurate. If the information is not correct, please call the school office.

Scheduled bus routes and stops are assigned to accommodate the most centrally located population. Generally, buses do not stop at more than every other block (corner). As bus stop times are a general guide, students are expected to be at their bus stop five minutes before the scheduled pickup time. Heavy traffic or inclement weather can prevent drivers from maintaining scheduled stop times. Students are encouraged to wait until the bus arrives.

Stopfinder

The Stopfinder Parent App is the new bus GPS system which can be used by families to help track their child's bus. It is designed by parents for parents to keep them in the know - in real-time - where their child's bus is and when their student arrives at school. To use it, parents need to download the Stopfinder mobile app from the App Store or get it on Google Play. An invitation from the district is sent to the PRIMARY email address listed for the student in Infinite Campus (only one contact is sent the invitation). After you confirm the registration email sent to you, click the link and follow the instructions to become a subscriber. Once the subscription has been activated, the primary contact can share the link to register with other caregivers.

*Due to the bus driver shortage, paid ridership continues to be limited and only offered if space is available on an existing bus route. Applications will be accepted, but payment will not be accepted until a parent receives notification that their child has been assigned to a bus route. Bus availability will be evaluated after Labor Day.

State funding is not provided for students living within 1.5 miles of their schools. These students may ride the bus for a fee determined annually by the Board of Education provided that space is available and a route already exists. (No stops will be made less than one-half mile from the school building.) An Application for Paid Transportation* (English / Spanish) (available in August) is available for download or at each school. Please submit a separate application for each student for whom you choose paid transportation.

Paid Rider Transportation Fees for 2023-24 are:

• One child - $370 due before 10/01/23; $420 due after 10/01/23
• Two children - $470 due before 10/01/23; $520 due after 10/01/23
• Three or more children - $520 due before 10/01/23; $570 due after 10/01/23

Payments may be made by cash, check, or credit card, or can be paid online through Campus Parent. (If there is no space available, your payment will be refunded.) Unless you are new to the District or are leaving the District, the fee cannot be pro-rated, waived, or refunded. Specific payment instructions are found on the Application for Paid Transportation. 

Questions regarding pay riders should be directed to Business Services, 847-963-3023.

General questions regarding transportation should be directed to Transportation Services, 847-963-3900.

Community Consolidated School District 15 —
2023-24 School Time Schedule beginning August 17, 2023

Although most special education students attend a District 15 school, we provide bus transportation to other schools in the north and northwest suburban area. The transportation and special services directors jointly coordinate special education bus routes. Because most special education students are picked up at “house” stops, parents are requested to call the transportation office (847-963-3909) if a student is not attending school, or you can leave a message on our absence recorder (847-963-3801). The transportation office opens at 5:30 a.m.

The staff members of School District 15’s Transportation Department are the first and last people children see every school day. We want that meeting to be positive.

D15 Bus Fleet—District 15 operates its own bus fleet, which is one of the largest district-owned bus fleets in Illinois. A total of 162 buses safely transport 10,500 parochial and public school children each day. 

Approximately 1.5 million miles are logged annually on district buses. To maintain the highest safety levels possible approximately 250 tires are replaced on district buses and two state inspections are performed on each bus every year. The district uses approximately 220,000 gallons of fuel yearly.

Driver Qualifications—All School District 15 bus drivers are licensed by the Secretary of State and the Illinois State Board of Education. To qualify for a school bus license, a driver must:

• Have a good driving record.
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Complete a state-mandated, eight-hour bus safety course.
• Demonstrate safe behind-the-wheel driving skills.
• Complete an annual two-hour bus safety refresher course.
• Pass an annual physical examination, including a drug/alcohol test.

School District 15 provides inservice workshops for drivers on topics such as bus safety, discipline, defensive driving, and driving in bad weather.

Bus Inspections—School District 15 maintains its own staff of trained mechanics. All buses meet strict safety standards set by state and federal regulations. All buses are equipped with radios and are in contact with the transportation office at all times. Each school bus is required to have:

• A daily, pre-trip safety inspection by the driver.
• Preventive maintenance and safety inspection every 3,000 miles.
• An inspection every six months at a state-licensed safety-lane facility.
• A major safety and maintenance inspection annually or every 10,000 miles.

At least twice a year, students practice proper procedures for an emergency bus evacuation. In addition, all buses are equipped with a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

Student Safety and Behavior—Most accidents or injuries to students occur when they are boarding or leaving the bus. Students must follow every precaution when entering or leaving the bus. If anything is dropped when getting on or off the bus, the youngster should not pick it up. The child should let the driver know that something has been dropped so the driver may assist the student. Parents are encouraged to review this rule with their children.

Please encourage your child(ren) to wear their seat belt while riding the bus.

All students who ride buses must follow the District’s School Bus Safety Guidelines:

• Students are to board and depart the bus at their assigned stop only. Students are not permitted to ride another student’s bus. A driver is only permitted to drop students off at the designated stop indicated on their route. Student school bus rosters need to remain consistent for the safety of all. 
• Student walkers may not ride the buses.
• Students should be at the bus stop five (5) minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the bus. At the end of the school day, students are to go quickly to their bus’ designated area and wait in an orderly fashion for the bus to arrive.
• While waiting for the bus, students are not to stand or play on the road or street. After exiting the bus, students who must cross the road must do so 10 feet in front of the bus and only when the stop arm is out and the flashers are operating, and must follow instructions from the bus driver.
• Students are to remain seated throughout the entire bus ride.
• Windows are not to be lowered below the safety mark. Students’ heads, hands, arms, and feet, and all objects must be kept inside the bus. 
• Loud conversation, profane language, throwing objects, and discourteous actions toward the bus driver or other passengers will not be tolerated. 
• Students are responsible for any damage to the bus.
• Glass containers, live animals, and large objects may not be carried on the bus. 

Students who display inappropriate behavior will have their transportation privileges taken away. Gross disobedience or misconduct providing grounds for suspension from riding the school bus includes:

• Prohibited student conduct as defined in the Student Behavior Policy;
• Willful injury or threat of injury to a bus driver or to another rider;
• Willful damage and/or defacement of the bus;
• Repeated use of profanity;
• Repeated willful disobedience of the bus driver’s directives; or
• Such other behavior as the administration deems to threaten the safe operation of the bus and/or its occupants.

If a student is suspended from riding the bus for gross disobedience or misconduct on a bus, the School Board may suspend the student from riding the school bus for a period in excess of 10 days for safety reasons. The District shall provide the student with notice of the gross disobedience or misconduct and an opportunity to respond.

Reminders for Motorists—Parents and community members can support bus drivers by being good safety examples to their children and by being courteous to bus drivers. Here are a few reminders:

• It is against the law to pass from either direction on two-lane roads a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and the stop arm extended. Traffic on four-lane roads going in the opposite direction do not have to stop.
• A school bus must stop at all railroad crossings with or without children by using emergency lights.
• School buses make frequent stops and wide turns.

Electronic Recordings on School Buses

Electronic visual and audio recordings may be used on school buses to monitor conduct and to promote and maintain a safe environment for students and employees, when transportation is provided for any school related activity. Notice of electronic recordings shall be displayed on the exterior of the vehicle’s entrance door and front interior bulkhead in compliance with State law and the rules of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.

Students are prohibited from tampering with electronic recording devices. Students who violate this policy shall be disciplined in accordance with the Board’s discipline policy and shall reimburse the District for any necessary repairs or replacement.

Video Cameras

To enhance bus safety, video cameras are installed on all District buses to assist the driver in monitoring student behavior. Students who display inappropriate behavior will be subject to consequences, which may include but are not limited to loss of bus riding privileges, detention, and/or suspension.

Only children who are residents of District 15 may attend District 15 schools from a day care center from within the district. The daycare must be within the homeschool boundaries of the student. 

• If your child’s day care center (English / Spanish) is located within the school attendance boundary associated with your home address, your child may be eligible for district provided transportation if the day care center is located 1.5 or more miles away from the student’s home school or if hazardous crossings exist as defined by the State of Illinois.
  
  
• If your child’s day care center is not located within the school attendance boundary associated with your home address, and you would like the District to consider allowing your child to attend another school where the day care center is located, you will need to request an intra-district transfer request on behalf of your child. 
  
  The Intra-District Transfer Committee makes a final determination on the status of each transfer request received. In the event that the Intra-District Transfer Committee approves an intra-district transfer request, parents are responsible for all costs associated with providing transportation for their child to and from school. 

In an effort to reduce bus route times, we are asking parents who are registered for bus service but do not need or intend to use bus service to opt out of bus service. If a student lives 1.5 miles or more away from school, they are entitled to free bus transportation. Unless a family notifies us that they do not want transportation, their children are placed on a bus route. Some families do not want to use transportation and choose to transport their children to and from school themselves. If we remove students from bus routes that are NOT going to use district transportation, we can reduce bus route times by eliminating the bus stopping at that assigned bus stop. At present, the bus stops at all assigned stops on the route and waits 3 minutes for the students to board the bus. If there are no students at that stop, the bus still waits for 3 minutes before moving onto the next stop.  

If you DO NOT want your child or DO NOT need your child to use district transportation, please fill out this google form so we can remove your child(ren) from that route. You may only need transportation one way, either to or from school. Please fill out the form and indicate which route you do NOT need transportation. 

If your child(ren) is assigned to a route and you wish to continue using district transportation, you do NOT need to fill out this form. The form is ONLY for families that do NOT need transportation. 

Q: Can I opt my child out of bus transportation?
A: Yes. If a student lives 1.5 miles or more away from school, they are entitled to free bus transportation. Unless a family notifies us that they do not want transportation, their children are placed on a bus route. Some families do not want to use transportation and choose to transport their children to and from school themselves. If we remove students from bus routes that are NOT going to use district transportation, we can reduce bus route times by eliminating the bus stopping at that assigned bus stop. At present, the bus stops at all assigned stops on the route and waits 3 minutes for the students to board the bus. If there are no students at that stop, the bus still waits for 3 minutes before moving onto the next stop.  

If you DO NOT want your child or DO NOT need your child to use district transportation, please fill out this google form so we can remove your child(ren) from that route. You may only need transportation one way, either to or from school. Please fill out the form and indicate which route you do NOT need transportation. 

If your child(ren) is assigned to a route and you wish to continue using district transportation, you do NOT need to fill out this form. The form is ONLY for families that do NOT need transportation. 

Q: Can my child get off at a stop other than their assigned home bus stop?
A: No. A driver is only permitted to drop students off at the designated stop indicated on their route sheet. Student school bus rosters need to remain consistent for the safety of all.

Q: My child is staying over at a friend’s house. Can they ride their friend’s bus?
A: No. A driver is only permitted to drop students off at the designated stop indicated on their route sheet. Student school bus rosters need to remain consistent for the safety of all.

Q: Why are students asked to arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus pickup time?
A: We ask students to arrive at their assigned bus stop at least five minutes prior to pick up time so that they are ready and waiting for the bus to arrive. This helps to ensure a faster loading time. It also ensures that they are there in case the time on their clock or watch differs slightly from the time for the driver.

Q: My child’s bus frequently arrives later than the scheduled pickup time. What causes the delays?
A: Despite our efforts to actively recruit and hire drivers, we are understaffed. When routes do not have an “assigned” driver, other drivers pick up the additional routes after they have completed their “assigned” route. Unfortunately, this causes delays in our route times. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause your families. Bus routes are planned to run on a fairly set schedule. Sometimes there could be traffic delays for various reasons. Sometimes children are not ready and waiting at earlier bus stops, which can cause the bus to run behind schedule on all future stops. This is another reason why we ask all children to be ready and waiting at their bus stops so we can minimize delays.

Q: The bus didn’t show up on time for my child. How long should he/she wait at the stop?
A: Your child should arrive at the stop at least five minutes before the regular arrival time of the bus. If there is a substitute driver, the times may not be absolutely consistent with the regular times. If the bus is late ask your child to remain at the stop. Buses can break down, roads can be blocked, a driver may be ill or have emergencies, etc. which may result in a late bus. If the wait becomes extreme (approximately 20 minutes), please call the Transportation Office at 847-963-3909/3912.

Q: My child’s bus arrives later/earlier than I want. Can the time be changed?
A: All District 15 buses operate on a comprehensive schedule, completing two or three routes in the morning and again in the afternoon. This helps to ensure that the system operates safely and efficiently, while working to deliver students to school on time. Because of the number of students needing transportation, and to ensure effective scheduling, the overall bus schedules cannot be adjusted to accommodate an individual request.

Q: My child missed the bus. Can the bus come back to the bus stop?
A: Buses cannot return for students who missed the bus. Please be sure your child arrives at the designated bus stop at least five minutes ahead of schedule.

Q: My child missed the bus at school this afternoon. Can the bus come back?
A: At most schools, the drivers receive a signal from school staff when they can depart after a sufficient time has been allowed for students to exit the school to board the buses. Sometimes students are held up at school for unforeseen reasons and miss their school bus. Once buses depart the school, if the Transportation Department is notified that a child is left behind, every effort will be made to return for the student. However, if the bus is no longer in the proximity of the school the driver will not be able to return until the entire route has been completed.

Q: I can’t see my child’s bus stop from my house. How can I get the bus stop moved closer?
A: Bus stops are placed at centralized locations that can be safely accessed by a significant number of students to minimize the time length and mileage of the run. If you have concerns about your child’s safety you are encouraged to accompany your child to the bus stop or arrange a neighborhood buddy to walk with your child.

Q: The bus drives right past my house. Why can’t it stop at my house?
A: Bus stops are placed to allow the buses easy access and egress through neighborhoods while keeping safety a priority. Bus stops are designed so that no child has to walk more than an average of two tenth of a mile (2 blocks). In addition, adding bus stops causes further delays on our bus routes and extends the student’s ride time. This means that bus routes would have to start earlier in the morning to arrive to school on time. Similarly, in the afternoon it would mean students arrive home later.

Q: Does the driver have the right to assign seats on the bus?
A: The bus driver may assign seats as he/she feels necessary to maintain order and safety on the bus.

Q: Who should I speak to about problems that occurred on my child’s bus?
A: If there is an issue or a concern on the bus or with a bus driver, route, or general questions, please call the Transportation Department Office at 847-963-3900.

Q: Another child is harassing or bullying my child while they are on the bus. What should I do?
A: Community Consolidated School District 15 has a policy that specifically prohibits bullying at school, during school events, field trips, and on a school bus. The bus driver’s main focus must be on operating the school bus safely. As a result, the majority of the driver’s attention is focused on the road and traffic conditions, so he/she may not see or hear inappropriate behavior among the students on the bus when it occurs. Students who engage in bullying or harassing behaviors are subject to disciplinary action. Please report any problems to your child’s school or the Transportation Department at 847-963-3900 so appropriate steps may be taken.

Q: Are there consequences if a student misbehaves on the bus?
A: Yes. Bus drivers report problems to the student’s school. Administrators investigate and follow progressive disciplinary action as needed.

Q: The bus driver disciplined my child on the bus today. Does the driver have the right to this?
A: The school bus driver is responsible for the safe operation of the bus. He/she should receive the same level of respect afforded to a classroom teacher, assistant, or other school employee. When necessary, drivers may correct a student. In most cases, that resolves the problem. If the misconduct continues, the driver may complete a conduct report to notify the school of the event for further review, if appropriate, disciplinary action.

Q: What is a student conduct report?
A: A student conduct report is completed by the bus driver or bus aide and used to report a student who violated the safety rules on the bus that may cause harm to the student, to another student, or the public. This includes actions that distract the bus driver’s attention from the roadway. If the student conduct report is completed for a student, the school staff members will contact the student’s family if they need to speak to the parent or guardian as part of the disciplinary steps taken to resolve the problem.

Q: Can a family member or other adult board a school bus at the bus stop or at school?
A: No. It is illegal for any unauthorized individual to stop or board a school bus. Please do not attempt to board a school bus along the route or at school. The safety of the children is always our priority.

Q: Can students bring large musical instruments with them on the bus?
A: Musical instruments are permitted on the school bus as long as the student can carry the instrument or object on and off the bus by him/herself. They must be placed in the lap or stored between the student’s legs and the barrier in the front of the student. Instruments or large objects cannot block the aisle. Large instruments such as drum kits, cellos, and basses are too large to be transported on school buses safely. In an accident, these items can easily become a projectile object and can injure a student. If you are unsure, please check with your child’s school before bringing a large musical instrument or object to the bus stop.

Q: How do I locate a lost item on a school bus?
A: If a driver finds an item on the bus, he/she will hold it until the following day. The student may ask the driver if his/her item was found on the bus. If it remains unclaimed, the driver will bring the item to the Transportation Office. If you contact the Transportation Office, please provide us with a full description of the item. Often drivers are not able to inspect buses while they are on the road and will check for lost items at their next assignment. Because electronic devices such as cell phones, tables, ipods, and games are very popular, the recovery rate is very low. We recommend that students store all personal items in a secure place such as their backpack while traveling to and from school.

For additional assistance, please contact:

• Judith Bramer, Assistant Director of Transportation, 847-963-3904;
• Tom Bramley, Director of Transportation, 847-963-3905; or
• Dr. Claire Kowalczyk, Deputy Superintendent, 847-963-3202

To find out your child’s student identification number, please contact your school. For questions regarding the GPS Stopfinder App, contact Transportation at 847-963-3900.