CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

QUESTION:

WHY DO WE REMOVE STUDENTS FROM THE BUS OR ASK STUDENTS TO SIT 2-3 TO A SEAT?

Student Safety is our number 1 priority. Most of our buses allow room for approximately 50-56 high school age students. We will limit the number of students on a bus based on capacity limits.

Our drivers will not move the bus if they are over capacity or if students are seated/standing in the isle. Drivers will radio for another bus when needed.

QUESTION:

WHERE CAN WE FIND INFORMATION ON BUS STOP LOCATIONS, ROUTES AND TIMES?

We have added bus route information to our each of our school websites. Look for the BUS ROUTES tab on the black header at the top of the main page.

Parents are always welcome to contact the Front Office of their school for additional information.

QUESTION:

WHEN IS A BUS CONSIDERED LATE?

A bus is considered late if it has not arrived at least 10 minutes after the listed arrival window.

We ask that students arrive at least 10 MINUTES EARLY to their stop to be sure they catch their bus.

Due to varied student attendance and traffic conditions, we have an ARRIVAL WINDOW of 10 minutes BEFORE the listed time and up to 10 minutes AFTER the listed time. A bus is considered late if it has not arrived within that arrival window.

In the event of a MORNING late bus: please contact your school's Front Office if it is more than 10 minutes AFTER the listed bus arrival time.

In the event of an AFTERNOON late bus: Schools will attempt to send out notifications if the bus is going to be more than 10 minutes late. Please ensure that the school has your most accurate contact information in PowerSchool. When a bus or buses will be late, the schools will send information via Automated Phone Calls and/or Social Media.

QUESTION:

WHAT DO WE DO IF WE ARE LATE TO THE BUS STOP AND MISS THE BUS?

Please DO NOT follow the bus to another stop and attempt to get on.

DO NOT chase the bus and attempt to get it to stop and allow the student on.

DO contact the school front office and verify that your bus has run as well as inform them that your student has missed the bus.

DO bring your student to school if they have missed the bus.

QUESTION:

WHY DO WE SOMETIMES HAVE LATE BUSES?

We make every effort to run our buses on time. Occasionally we encounter traffic conditions, maintenance issues or have drivers out for personal/illness reasons. This requires us to make last minute adjustments to ensure a safe trip to school or home for your student.

QUESTION:

HOW DO WE DECIDE WHAT BUSES WILL BE LATE?

We make every effort to run our buses on time. Depending upon the reasons and availability of drivers/subs we try to run the fastest routes first and then ask that driver to make a second run.

Sometimes we are able to combine one bus route into 2 or 3 buses to avoid late arrival times. It takes approximately 40 minutes for a bus to make a run and return to the school to pick up the second load of students.

We make all of these decisions with the student's best interest in mind and to ensure they get to school or home as quickly and safely as possible.

QUESTION:

HOW DO WE RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF LATE BUSES?

In the event of a MORNING late bus: it may not be possible to send out a parent notification. We ask that all students be at their bus stop for the arrival window of 10 minutes before and up to 10 minutes after the listed arrival time. Please contact your school's Front Office if the bus is more than 10 minutes late AFTER the listed bus arrival time for the most accurate information.

In the event of an AFTERNOON late bus: Schools will attempt to send out notifications if the bus is going to be more than 10 minutes late. Please ensure that the school has your most accurate contact information in PowerSchool. When a bus or buses will be late, the schools will send information via Automated Phone Calls and/or Social Media.

If you have not done so, please check PowerSchool and update your contact information. If you are unsure how to login, contact the school office. They will get you the needed information to login.

QUESTION:

DO WE ISSUE BUS PASSES FOR STUDENTS TO RIDE ANOTHER BUS?

To ensure the safety of our students, and provide adequate seating due to capacity limits on all routes, students will only be transported to their assigned bus stop.

Students may NOT ride a different bus or get off at a different location.

In the event of an emergency, a parent/guardian may request ONE emergency bus pass per student - limited to one request per quarter. We appreciate your assistance in adhering to these measures to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

In the event that you need to permanently CHANGE your student’s transportation assignment, you must notify the school IN WRITING no later than 12:00 noon of the school day.

Changes can not be made over the phone but can be delivered to the School’s Front Office OR emailed to:

CCMHS: ccmhstransport@chattco.org

CCEC: ccectransportation@chattco.org

QUESTION:

WHAT ARE OUR FUTURE PLANS FOR BUSES AND GROWTH?

We have 4 NEW ELECTRIC BUSES: 2 were delivered in December 2023 and 2 were delivered January 2024.

Summer 2024: Expected delivery of an additional 2 new buses.

We will change or adjust existing routes as well as add new routes to accommodate school growth.

We actively advertise bus drivers positions on the web and social media.

QUESTION:

HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT BUS TO GET ON EACH DAY?

The COLORS for the buses are located on the inside of each door, for example Black, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Red, Gray, Green.