Transportation

Important bus information

Download the MyRide K-12 app to get up-to-date bus information. This is how delays and changes will be communicated.

To respond to your transportation needs more quickly and efficiently we are implementing a Transportation Help Ticket system. Please submit a help ticket online if your busing needs change. NOTE: requests made via phone/voicemail or email will be entered into the Transportation Ticket system by a member of our staff and may result in a slower response.

Getting students safely to school and home again

Students living in the Stillwater district – both public and non-public/charter students – are eligible for district transportation.

Stillwater Area Public Schools is committed to providing safe, efficient transportation in compliance with Minnesota state laws, rules, and regulations. The State of Minnesota requires transportation services for students who live more than 2 miles from their school. However, our district provides transportation to:

Students in grades K–5 who live more than ½ mile from school
Students in grades 6–12 who live more than 2 miles from school

Students who requested transportation during enrollment and current families that opt-in for transportation in PowerSchool, are scheduled for busing each year. For those with alternate enrollment into another school in the district, or for open enrolled students from another district, students may be able to catch a bus to school. These requests will be fulfilled if the family is willing to meet the bus at an existing stop location AND there is room for the student on that bus.

Private/charter school students must register for transportation each year and should coordinate busing through their current school.

Our mission is to support personalized learning pathways by ensuring students arrive at school ready to learn. We aim to deliver safe, reliable transportation with regulations that must be followed within a cost conscious budget.

Transportation
Help Desk

Need to change your address? Pause service? Have other needs? Fill out a ticket!

Contact

Transportation Department:
651-351-8377
schoolbus@stillwaterschools.org

Busing provided by:
Schmitty & Sons
651-309-4601

Bus route information is available through the My Ride K-12 mobile app and being updated daily. Search for the free My Ride K-12 app in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Guidelines

Bus Routes and Stops

Determining Bus Routes

Routes are designed based on geography, safety, timing, student population, route flow, and capacity. Stops can be placed up to 2 blocks (or about ½ mile) from a student’s home to create more centralized locations. We strive to limit changes from year to year. We also understand that specific stops may need to be re-evaluated because of road speeds, line of sight, and other criteria. Routes are reviewed annually and may change mid-year.

Bus Stops, Cul-de-sacs, and Dead-End Roads

Bus stops are mostly located centrally to balance safety, efficiency, and ride time. General criteria include:

Students typically walk no more than 2,640 feet (about 1/2 mile) to a bus stop.
Stops are rarely placed inside cul-de-sacs or on dead-end roads shorter than two blocks unless safety or logistical factors warrant an exception.
Buses do not travel on private property.
Adding stops increases safety risks and route times (each new stop adds about 2 minutes to a route).

Bus/Van Stop Criteria

The following is some basic criteria the transportation team uses when reviewing and monitoring its van/bus routes.

All stops use the school bus 8-light system and stop arm, unless otherwise documented.
Full-sized buses need 115–120 feet to safely turn and will not enter cul-de-sacs unless serving students with disabilities.
No bus will travel on private roads without prior approval.
Stops should offer at least 500 feet of clear visibility in both directions.
Bus stops are spaced based on the speed limit of the road to allow ample stopping distance for other vehicles, which increases the safety of students loading or seated on the bus. Speed limits above 35 mph will have a minimum of 900 feet between bus stops. Speed limits below 35 mph will have a minimum of 300 feet between stops.
Buses may load/unload in right-turn lanes only when the eight way stop arms are used and no students are required to cross the roadway.
Stop locations are evaluated individually; student count is not a sole factor.
Bus stops are not located in commercial areas, unless there is a residential component to the development.
Bus stop locations may not be visible from the child’s home.
Parents must teach their children a safe walking route to the bus stop.
Sidewalks and street lights are not criteria for stop placement.
Stop safety considers visibility for drivers, road speed, timing, obstacles, route flow and efficiency.
Ride times may be up to 75 minutes, but most are kept under 60 minutes. Adding stops significantly extends route times and increases costs.
A bus driving by a home or daycare does not justify moving or adding a new stop.
Students must arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the scheduled time. The My Ride K–12 app provides real-time arrival estimates.

District Boundary Map

An interactive School boundary map can be found on our website.

My Ride K-12: Bus Schedules and Tracking

Stillwater Area Public Schools uses the My Ride K-12 app, a free mobile app available in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

The app is our primary method of communication regarding transportation. The app will provide you with the most up-to-date route information, and you can also select to receive push notifications with any changes or delays. You can also track your child’s bus in live time through the app.

Instructions to Download The App

Download My Ride K-12 from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
After the app installation is complete, open My Ride K-12.
Click "Register" to create a My Ride K-12 account.
To register, enter a personal email address (not the district-issued email), a password, and name.
After registering, a confirmation email is sent. Tap on the link in the email to confirm registration through the My Ride K-12 website.
When prompted to find a school district, search for "Stillwater" and select Stillwater Area Public Schools 834.
Once the district is selected, proceed to the login page.
Log in, then find a student by going to "My Students" and choosing the + button. This presents the Add Student screen.
Add a student by entering the student's ID number and birthday. How to find Student ID number

Having Trouble Setting Up The App?

Family Help Desk

familyhelp@
stillwaterschools.org

651-351-8404

MY RIDE K-12
USER GUIDE

Share MyRide K12 with family members

Press the Share button to share a student link with someone
Enter the email of the person you would like to share with. That person must register with My Ride K-12.
They will receive a confirmation email that will automatically link them to the shared student

Receive Push Notifications

My Ride K-12 can send notifications about the bus's estimated time of arrival (ETA) to a bus stop. Make sure to turn on the notifications that your family wants to receive. This can be done in the Settings of your My Ride K-12 account.

Early Arrival Notification – A notification will be sent when a bus is running three or more minutes early.
Late Arrival Notification – A notification will be sent when a bus is running three or more minutes late.
Arriving Soon Notification – A notification will be sent when a bus is within two minutes of arriving at the stop.

How to read your bus schedule in the app

Type: IN = the inbound trip to school (from left to right)

From: pick-up location (letters in brackets show which direction the door of the bus will be facing when the stop is made)
Time: scheduled pick-up time
Bus: number/name
Days: which days of the week - MTWHF (T=Tues and H=Thurs)
To: school building or program name
Time: drop-off time at building/program

Type: OUT = the outbound trip from school (from left to right)

From: school building or program name
Time: scheduled departure time
Bus: number/name
Days: which days of the week - MTWHF (T=Tues and H=Thurs)
To: drop-off location (letters in brackets show which direction the door of the bus will be facing when the stop is made)
Time: scheduled drop-off time

Please check the schedule carefully, as students may be scheduled on a different bus in the afternoon than in the morning, and times may vary by day.

Ridership Expectations

All students who ride a bus are subject to rules and regulations set forth by the State of Minnesota and the District’s School Board. A violation of those rules may result, depending on frequency and severity, in suspension of bus riding privileges. The school bus is considered to be an extension of the classroom.

If a student misbehaves, the driver has several options available. A driver may pull the bus over, give a verbal warning, assign seating, write a conduct report, or a combination of all of these. Any notification of discipline will come from the school. Drivers only generate reports, they are not responsible for deciding the results of those reports. Schools have a principal or assistant principal in charge of student conduct forms and bus discipline.

Before they can be hired as a school bus driver, an individual must pass a criminal background check and their driving record is scanned for violations. As part of their training, each school bus driver is given instruction in student management. Every driver knows their primary responsibility is the safety of each child on their bus. When a student misbehaves, it can distract the driver from the safe operation of the bus.

Can a child lose his/her bus riding privileges?
In Minnesota, riding a school bus is a privilege and not a right. Each local school district has adopted rules of conduct for waiting at the bus stop and for riding the school bus. If a child does not follow the rules, that student could lose his/her bus riding privileges for the entire school year.

Before the Bus Arrives

Be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
Wait in a safe place, at least 20 feet off the roadway.
Drivers will wait 1–2 minutes after the scheduled stop time.
Parents are responsible for their child's safety at the bus stop and when not riding the bus.

Boarding and Riding the Bus

Obey the driver at all times.
Communicate any issues or concerns directly to the driver.
Always listen to the driver, especially during emergencies.
Seat assignments may be made at the driver’s discretion. Drivers have the right to move students for safety reasons.
Remain seated with your feet on the floor while the bus is in motion.
Use lap/shoulder belts if provided, as required by Minnesota Statute 169.447.
Keep all body parts and objects inside the bus and to yourself.
Do not throw objects inside the bus or at the bus.
Do not distract the driver—your safety depends on it.
Keep the noise to a minimum: no yelling, screaming, or loud talking.
Be courteous and respectful: no profanity, rude gestures, or fighting.
Be respectful of others.
Do not eat or drink on the bus (due to cleanliness, choking, and allergy concerns).
No smoking, tobacco products, or spraying of perfume, body spray, or other products on the bus.
Keep all harmful objects off the bus.
Do not litter, write on the seats, or damage the bus. Report any vandalism to the driver.

Training and Safety Rules

All students (K–10) must complete school bus safety training within the first 6 weeks of the school year.
Each family should read the District Handbook annually for updates and changes for the upcoming school year.

Special Education Transportation

We follow Individual Education Plan (IEP) approved transportation accommodations.
IEP approved bus stops are usually more centrally located at the home address when possible
Special education buses may use hazard lights at house stops. SPED students are not to be crossing the roadway unless the student(s) are accompanied by an adult, and buses will not enter driveways.
One consistent AM and one consistent PM stop are required (e.g., home and daycare).
No temporary changes are allowed unless in an emergency and pre-approved by the transportation department.
Buses do not enter private driveways unless a yearly agreement is signed by the school district and homeowner for liability.
Property owners must keep loading areas clear of snow and ice in winter at the bus stop location.

For New Students

New students who reside in our district and attend Stillwater Schools are asked if they need transportation during their enrollment process and are added to bus routes automatically if they opt-in for transportation.

New students within Stillwater Area Public Schools can find their bus route within the My Ride K-12 app. Families can then track buses on a daily basis through the My Ride bus tracker.

Private/Charter and Open Enroll

Private/charter school students are eligible for district transportation. Families must register for busing each year through their current school. Any changes during the school year should be requested in our help desk ticketing system and families must follow up with their school.

Families who live outside our boundaries and open enroll in our district as well as families who alternately enroll in a school outside their home school boundary, may be able to catch a bus to school. If the family is willing to meet the bus at an existing stop location for the alternate school AND there is room for the student on that bus, students may be allowed to ride. Families must request bus service annually via our help desk.

Transportation Reimbursement

Residents of the Stillwater Area Public School District #834, who elect to send children to non-public schools outside of the boundaries of the school district, may receive reimbursement for transportation.

Transportation Reimbursement Guidelines:

Families who choose to send their child to a non-public school outside the Stillwater Area Public Schools District will NOT be eligible for transportation reimbursement if a comparable non-public school exists within the district.
Siblings attending the same eligible non-public school will receive a maximum of one reimbursement per family.
Siblings attending different eligible non-public schools will receive reimbursement for each school attended.
Reimbursement is limited to one school per vehicle.
Reimbursement is based on the mileage from your home to the nearest Stillwater Area Public Schools District boundary, not the full distance to the school.

This application, including proof of insurance, must be submitted to the District Transportation Office by Feb. 1 of the current school year. Reimbursement check will be mailed in July after the school year once we receive verification of attendance from the school attended.

Funds are also available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students that participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. For more information on these funds, access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions. Families may also apply for reimbursement for students participating in PSEO education off of the Stillwater Area High School campus.

Required

APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION TO NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT #834

Please fill out the form completely and attach your vehicle insurance card.

**Please note that this form MUST be completed no later than Feb. 1 of the current school year.

Parent/Guardian Namerequired

First Name

Last Name

Home Street Addressrequired

Apt. #

Cityrequired

Staterequired

MN, WI, etc

Ziprequired

Primary Phone Numberrequired

XXX-XXX-XXXX

Parent/Guardian Cell Phone Number

XXX-XXX-XXXX

Parent/Guardian Email Addressrequired

Attach Auto Insurance Information Hererequired

Attach up to 1 file with a maximum size of 10MB

No file chosen

**Auto Insurance: You are required by the State of Minnesota to provide proof of insurance on the vehicle that you are transporting your student(s) to school in. Please attach a current, valid copy of your insurance. You will not be reimbursed without proof of insurance.

How many NON-PUBLIC schools did your child(ren) attend?required

Name of Non-public School 1required

School 1 Street Addressrequired

Cityrequired

Staterequired

Ziprequired

Name of Non-public School 2

School 2 Street Address

City

State

Zip

Name of Non-public School 3

School 3 Street Address

City

State

Zip

Name of Non-public School 4

School 4 Street Address

City

State

Zip

Number of child(ren) attending NON-PUBLIC school outside of District #834:required

Child 1 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 2 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 3 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 4 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 5 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 6 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 7 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 8 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 9 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Child 10 namerequired

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

School:required

Grade:required

Upon completion of the school year, your non-public school will forward a record of attendance for each child to the Stillwater Area Schools Transportation Office.

Submitted By:required

First Name

Middle (optional)

Last Name

Daterequired

Must contain a date in M/D/YYYY format

**Please note that this form MUST be submitted no later than Feb. 1 of each year.

FAQs

What happens if a bus is late?

Plan on buses to arrive between five minutes before or five minutes after the scheduled time. For lengthy delays, the transportation department sends email updates, however consider downloading the My Ride K-12 app in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to track a student's bus. Login information is available on the student info tab in Powerschool.

The app compares GPS data to routing data to show where a school bus is located and what time it is expected at stops. Please note: to ensure the safety and security of students, in the event of a vehicle breakdown or accident, school bus drivers are not authorized to release students without prior district approval. The district communicates with families in the event of a significant delay in transportation. Please do not utilize the app to attempt to intercept student(s) along the route.

Is there a lost and found for items left on the bus?

Get in touch with the transportation provider Schmitty & Sons directly if a student leaves personal belongings on the bus. They can be reached at 651-309-4601.

Can students be picked up somewhere other than home?

If a student is being transported to and from a daycare location, or from another parent or guardians home within the enrollment area where bus service is provided, fill out a help desk ticket. It takes up to 5 days to make a change. For emergency schedule changes call 651-351-8377.

What should I do for address changes?

Fill out a help desk ticket to update a primary or secondary home address, or change in childcare.