Transportation Q&A
Transportation Q & A
Who is eligible for transportation?
All students with permanent residence in Darien who attend Darien Public Schools and who live beyond a short distance from the school as defined in the transportation policy are eligible for bus transportation. Please note, only one bus per student is assigned. These distances are summarized as follows:
Kindergarten through 5th Grade >.5 mile
6th grade through 8th Grade >1 mile
9th grade through 12th grade >2 miles
Can students be assigned to more than one bus if they live in two different houses within Darien?
No, students can only be assigned one bus, which is there assigned permanent residence in ASPEN. For students who might spend time in multiple homes it is the parents responsibility to provide transportation if it is not at the primary residence on file.
Do I need to request bus transportation service?
No, for eligible students in grades K to 12. Students in grades K to 12are
automatically assigned to a bus route.
If I have a Kindergarten student, what must I do regarding transportation?
When your student is registered at the school, transportation is notified via a
defined internal process. Eligible kindergarten students are automatically assigned
to a bus.
Where do Kindergarten students sit on the bus?
Kindergarten students are typically designated to ride in the first few rows of seats
on the bus. This enables these newest and typically smaller riders to be closer to
the driver where it is easier to observe and hear these students.
Are there any special rules regarding kindergarten transportation?
Yes, an adult must be present at the bus stop for a kindergarten student to exit the bus.
If an adult is not present, the student will be returned to the school.
What process is used to assure kindergarten students are placed on the
correct bus?
Each elementary school has responsibility to develop their own process that
works best for them. Generally, elementary school administrators have tags that
can be worn by the student or placed on the student’s back pack. These tags
indicate the students name and to which bus the student is assigned. The students
are grouped by bus number in a staging area within the school. Loading the buses
is usually done one bus at a time to minimize the chance of a student being placed
on the wrong bus. The drivers represent an additional check to insure the student
is on the appropriate bus. Although a little slower at the beginning of the year,
drivers quickly learn to recognize those students assigned to his/her bus.
Can we keep the same bus driver as we had last year?
The Board of Education does not control which driver is assigned to a particular route. The Board contracts with First Student to provide the drivers, equipment and support personnel to facilitate the actual transportation of students. Drivers are allowed to choose a package based on their seniority.
Does the District provide transportation to out-of-town private schools?
No, the Board is not responsible for out of district transportation except for those residents attending special needs schools.
Why does the BOE have smaller white vans?
The smaller white vehicles are used to transport students with special
transportation needs. They may be used for students with physical impairments,
specific health challenges and/or for those to be transported to alternative schools
or locations to address special education needs.
Are there monitors on the white vans?
Sometimes. These vehicles are typically used to transport students with medical
concerns or other identified challenges. Usually a monitor is assigned to care for
and assist the student(s) so the driver can fully focus her/his attention on the road.
FirstView Parent App
This app allows parents to track the bus. This assists in knowing if the bus was missed or delayed.