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RCS Bus Transportation
433 County Home Rd. Reidsville, N.C. 27320 336-634-3275 Fax 336-634-3210 Hours 5:30 am - 5:45 pm
Providing safe, efficient transportation for all Rockingham County Schools.
Click on the image above for driver openings.
The Rockingham County Schools Transportation Department provides transportation for 6,296 students each day. This department maintains and routes 125 yellow buses. They travel over 9,500 miles per day. This includes 14 special need buses that transport on average 200 students to 25 schools in the system. There are 9 mechanics and 2 fuel men to support this fleet of buses. The Rockingham County School students and staff have 36 Activity buses available for athletic and enrichment studies. These Activity Buses average 532 trips per month. Several of these buses provide special equipment for students with special needs. Our goal is to provide safe, efficient travel for all students and staff in Rockingham County.
Please contact your student's school for stop times and bus assignments.
Parent Information
The Laws & Policies set forth by the state of North Carolina stipulate that every child must be assigned to a bus. In Rockingham County you must notify the school that your child attends in order to have your child assigned to a bus. In Rockingham County the policy states; if a child doesn't ride for 5 or more consecutive days the student is taken off the bus roster. To receive funding from the state, students must be assigned to a bus. In an effort to manage buses as efficiently as possible, we run buses with all seats filled. Seats can not be held for students on a might ride basis. If the student decides they would like to start riding the bus again they are welcome to see their school and get reassigned to the bus. If a student shows up at a bus stop and they are not assigned to that bus, they can be refused transportation due to the lack of seating. State Board of Education Policy requires that the capacity of the bus cannot be exceeded. Also, if the bus is involved in an accident, all students must be assigned and a seating chart in place so that all may be accounted for.
Bus Stop Supervision: Grades PK-3
It is the duty and responsibility of parents or their designee to provide supervision at the bus stop for students in grades PK-3.
Procedures for Morning Bus Stops
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Students should be at their designated stops 10 minutes prior to normal pick-up time.
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School Bus Drivers are not allowed to wait for students who are not at the designated stop.
Procedure for Unsupervised Bus Stop
The following procedure will be used when students (grades PK-3) are unable to be left at their stop location and must be returned to school:
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The driver will take the student back to their assigned school.
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School personnel will contact parent/guardian to pick up the child at the school.
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The school requires that the parent/guardian come inside the school with ID, to sign a form stating that no one was at the stop location to receive the student.
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After three incidents of no parent/guardian at stop location, school personnel will contact the Department of Social Services.
Bus Routes
Unless road or other conditions make it inadvisable, public school buses shall be routed on state-maintained highways, municipal streets, or other streets with publicly dedicated right-of-way. G.S. 115C-246(b) also states that, with regard to school buses routed on state-maintained highways, municipal streets and other streets with publicly dedicated right-of-way, “the local board of education shall not be responsible for damage to the roadway.“ Each public school bus shall be routed so that the bus passes within ONE mile of the residence of each pupil assigned to that bus.
Guidelines For Bus Stop Placement
School bus stop placements are governed by NC State Board of Education Policy as stated in TITLE 16, NORTH CAROLINA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SUBCHAPTER 6B - STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM which states in part: “.0004 (b) A route may not deviate from a general path of direction for a distance of less that one half mile and then return to the original path except for groups of 10 or more pupils, unescorted pupils in grades K-3 or special education pupils.” “.0004 (c) Unless safety factors require otherwise, superintendents may not plan bus stops closer together than 0.2 miles. Each student must be at the designated stop at the time of the bus’ arrival.”
Special Request for Multiple Stops
Requests for multiple stop placements, depending upon the day of the week or other considerations, cannot be accommodated. Students are allowed one stop in the am and one in the pm. This stop can not change daily.
Processing Time
Except for the beginning of the school year, the Transportation Department will process your transportation request within five days of receipt.
Athletic Equipment & Instruments
No athletic equipment is allowed on the school bus. No band instruments allowed unless they can be held in the student’s lap.
Out of District Transportation
If a student lives out of district they may ride a bus to an existing stop in the district of the school they attend. If the in district student that is assigned to that stop stops riding the bus, the stop will be removed from the route and the out of district student is removed from the bus.
Bus Laws, Policies and Safety
Activity & Charter Bus Requests
Activity Bus Request
The Rockingham County Schools Activity Buses are a vital part of the success of the athletic departments along with the cultural enrichment for the whole student body. The consistent reliability combined with accessibility, provides all students and staff a means of safe and efficient travel.
Rockingham County Schools uses a web based program, DataMark. The schools submit their request for a bus online. The request is then filled by the Transportation Department. The school can then print out a trip sheet that allows them to pick a bus up at our local high schools. This program has made the process of acquiring a bus much more efficient.
The Rockingham County Schools Transportation Department maintains a fleet of 31 Activity Buses.
***All mechanical issues should be called in to the bus garage.***
School Activity Trip Safety Statement
NOTE: Please use the Charter Bus Request form below for any overnight or out of state Activity Bus Trips.
Charter Bus Request
Special Needs Transportation
The Rockingham County Schools Transportation Department provides transportation to approximately 212 special needs students in our system's 26 schools. In order for a student to ride a Special Needs bus, special transportation must be addressed on their IEP as a related service. Requests for special transportation are processed by the school and then a Special Transportation Request Form is submitted to the Exceptional Children's Office. The EC Office will in turn work with the Transportation Department to make arrangements for transporting the student. Special transportation is generally only provided to students with special needs.
Parent Information for Students
Who's IEP requires special school bus transportation?
Do all students with disabilities ride on special buses?
Special transportation will be provided for students who need it because of their disability or the locations of their program. Transportation needs are addressed through the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP or 504) .
Student's with special needs who are not identified as requiring special transportation will access regular transportation on the same basis as students in general education. School bus safety standards are always followed.
When will your child's bus ride start?
Every effort is made to arrange transportation as quickly as possible.
It takes approximately five (5) working days for the school bus route to be arranged; stops posted and proper paperwork in place to ensure student's safety.
The beginning of the school year is very hectic with new routes, students moving to new schools, etc. It is imperative that your child's school and/or teacher know any address change immediately. Delays in having necessary information may result in delays in bus assignment. Please work closely with your school in providing this information.
Parents may be asked to transport their child until transportation is arranged.
If you move, will your child ride the same bus?
An address change may require a bus change.
Parents should call their school's office in advance to give them the date you are moving, the new address and
phone number. The school will contact the EC Department, who will then contact transportation.
The Transportation Department needs approximately five (5) days to make necessary route changes.
If you move into a new school zone the student's needs will be reassessed to determine the most appropriate school assignment.
What if a student is picked-up and dropped-off at an address other than their home?
Bus routes can only allow for one address for the pick-up and one address for the drop-off. One day changes cannot be made. Try to keep the daycare/babysitter close to home. The system can not transport students out of their assigned or resident school zones for day care purposes. A note can be sent in to the principal, he/she then contacts transportation to confirm route area and if changes can be made.
Can the pick-up and drop-off time change from day to day?
Special needs school bus routes vary according to the needs of each student riding.
Be ready and watching for the school bus five minutes before it is scheduled to arrive.
The school bus waits only two (2) minutes for the student.
What if your child's needs change to being bused in a wheelchair or with special equipment?
A bus change may be necessary. Contact the school office so that necessary arrangements can be made. These changes will also need to be made on all Transportation and IEP forms. Anytime a student will need some type of physical restraint for transporting, the parents will be informed of this through an IEP Team Decision which the parents are a member.
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER AND BUS MONITOR RESPONSIBILITIES
What are the school bus driver's responsibilities?
School bus drivers are professional drivers with special training and a commercial drivers licenses.
They work directly for the school to which they are assigned.
Because of tight routing, they can only wait two (2) minutes at a bus stop before going on. Drivers are told not to blow the horn at bus stops.
If there is not a bus monitor, the driver performs the monitor's duties. This will ensure student safety.
What are school bus monitor's responsibilities?
The school bus monitor works with the driver to be sure all the students are safe on the bus. They secure seat belts, wheelchairs, necessary support, etc. The monitor maintains discipline, sees that students stay in their seats, and reports problems to the schools. They seek emergency medical help when needed. Monitors also substitute as a bus driver when needed and intervenes between students having conflicts.
Can a bus monitor come to the door to pick-up and drop-off a student?
Bus monitor can only work with students in the area in and around the bus. They cannot assist a student beyond the curb.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
What are the parents' responsibilities at pick up time?
Submit current and accurate information on the student transportation form. Take the student to and from the bus if necessary. Have your child fully clothed, toileted and ready at the bus stop 5-10 minutes before pick-up time. If your child has not ridden for more than three days and you have not provided a reason (such as absent due to illness), the bus will stop coming until you call the school office to restart your child. Be home in the morning and the afternoon to present and receive the student. Notify the school office in advance if your address, phone number, or daycare arrangements change.
If your child misses the bus, can it come back?
The driver cannot come back; the bus must stay on the route as scheduled. It becomes your responsibility to transport your child to school as quickly as possible.
What's the parent's responsibility at drop-off time?
Be at the bus stop 5-10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to drop-off your child. Meet your child at the curb so that the driver can make custodial transfer of your child to you or another responsible person. Students who are not met will be taken back to school. Persistent problems with this will be forwarded to appropriate agencies.
How can a parent help make the school bus safe?
Teach your child the school bus safety rules and appropriate bus riding behavior.
(Click here for information on bus safety.)
Why must the parent fill out an emergency information form?
Rockingham County Schools requires that emergency and health information be on file for each student.
Parents must provide this information.
The form can be filled out at the student's Individual Education Program (IEP or 504) meeting by school staff and parent together.
This information is required before the student can ride the bus.
STUDENT BEHAVIOR
What behavior is expected by a student while riding the school bus?
We expect all students to follow the bus safety rules for the safety of your child and others who ride the bus.
The school bus safety rules are: 1) Be on time, 2) Always sit down, 3) Be quiet, 4) Listen to driver and assistant, 5) No eating or drinking, and 6) No fighting.
How will discipline problems be handled?
To ensure safe transportation for everyone on the bus, all students are expected to follow the bus driver's rules. Bus behavior problems are reported to the school on incident reports filled out by the bus driver or the monitor. Upon receiving the incident reports, the principal or assistant principal speaks to the child about the incident and then the administrator refers to school board policy discipline guidelines in making a decision as to the consequences of the misbehavior.
Consequences may include but are not limited to the following: conference with a school administrator, warning, suspension of bus riding privileges, detention, parent conference and bus ridership safety training.
What if a student does not follow the bus safety rules?
Students who cannot or will not follow the bus safety rules will have some action taken with them to ensure safety on the bus for themselves and all riders .
GENERAL INFORMATION
A child that becomes ill.
If your child becomes ill or for any reason needs to go home early, you will be expected to transport your child from school. If your child becomes sick on the bus, the driver contacts the Transportation Department and they then determine if further assistance is needed.
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
If parents have additional questions or concerns about special educational transportation, they may call the Exceptional Children's Office at 627-2600.
Wheelchair Lifts and Securements & Emergency Evacuations
Wheelchair Tie Down Procedures
Forms
School Bus Driver Orientation
2023/2024
To drive any bus for Rockingham County Schools a driver must attend one of the mandatory orientation sessions that apply.
***Drivers & Sub Drivers must attend either the July 17th orientation or one of the August 24th orientation sessions**** Year-Round Orientation
All community Drivers and child Nutrition are encouraged to attend
DILLARD ACADEMY
July 17
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
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Registration begins at 8:30
Traditional Orientation
Rockingham County High School Auditorium
August 24
9:00 am – 11:00 am Western & Eden Zone
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Rockingham & Reidsville Zone
EC Orientation
Rockingham County High School Auditorium
EC Transportation Only (Sub Monitors, Monitors)
**Drivers who are assigned to an EC route must attend a driver session and the EC Orientation** August 25
7:30-11:30 Western & Eden Zone
12:00-4:00 Rockingham & Reidsville Zone
All Monitors have to be certified each year by attending the designated orientation.
Bus Driver Class
Bus Class Schedule:
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August 28-30 2023 (Rockingham Community College, RCC ROOM T-105 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER)-
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October 2-4 2023 (Booker T. Washington Learning Center)
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December 4-7 2023 (Booker T. Washington Learning Center)
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February 12-15 2024 (Rockingham Community College, RCC ROOM T-105 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER)
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April 15-17 2024 (Rockingham Community College, RCC ROOM T-105 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER)
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