Updated December 2024

• Be on time.  Everyone deserves to be on time, so the bus cannot wait for late passengers. The bus will always wait until the scheduled departure time at each stop, but it will not wait longer for late passengers.

• Be kind.  Drivers and passengers spend a lot of time together. It’s better for everyone if people are kind. Harassment or bullying of any form are not allowed.

• Respect the bus driver.  As needed, the bus driver may give special directions. All passengers must follow those directions.

• Take care of the bus.  A clean, well-maintained bus is more enjoyable to ride. Any passengers who draw on the bus or destroy seats will be removed from the bus at least until they pay for the associated cleaning and repairs.

• Respect the bus stop.  Any behaviors that are not acceptable on school property are not acceptable at the bus stop either. 

• Load and unload the bus safely.  Follow your bus drivers directions for loading the bus, including waiting away from the curb until the bus doors are fully open with all stop signs and crossing arms extended.

• Load and unload with urgency.  More than 50 students may load or unload the bus at one time. It is important that every passenger moves as safely and quickly as possible.

• Stay INSIDE the bus during the ride.  It’s common sense, but keep all limbs inside the vehicle at all times.

• Keep your hands to yourself. The bus is a tight space. There is no reason one passenger should violently or romantically touch another passenger. No pushing, kicking, punching, hugging, or kissing.

• Wear your seatbelt, if you have one. If your bus seat belts, you are required to wear one at all times while the bus is in motion.

• Stay in your seat. If your driver has assigned you a seat, you must sit in that seat only. Under no circumstances should passengers leave their seat while the bus is in motion. 

• No food or drinks on the bus. Everyone deserves a clean bus, and buses usually become dirty when passengers eat and drink. Water is the only drink allowed on the bus. 

• No drugs, alcohol, weapons, fire, or explosives on the bus. You are smart. You know which items are obviously not allowed.

• Be a safe passenger. Any passenger who throws items from the bus or creates conflict with other vehicles will be removed from the bus.

• Learn and follow safety procedures. Several times per year, your bus driver will review critical safety procedures like emergency bus exits. Failure to pay attention and participate in these training sessions will result in loss of bus privileges.

• Don’t take photos or record videos on the bus. All passengers have a right to privacy, including not being recorded or photographed without consent, so riders may not use their camera on the bus.

• All students will need to ride the bus as often as they are registered for, and any students who do not meet this threshold will be at risk of losing their seat. For example, if a student registered to ride the bus "Every Afternoon" we will expect that student to ride daily in the afternoons (with only a few deviations for occasional changes to the schedule).

• All families will need to notify the front office staff and bus company of any changes to ridership before 12pm. Any changes after 12pm will not be possible for changes in daily ridership. REMINDER: changes like these are for occasional changes for special circumstances.

• Families will need to notify the bus company of extracurriculars. Students in extracurriculars have protection for their bus seats to participate in clubs and sports. In order to help us better track students in extracurriculars, we will need families to submit an "Extracurricular Schedule Bus Form." This form will allow us to ensure we are not removing any students who are missing for extracurriculars. 

Can Founders Students Walk Home from a Bus Stop?

K-2 students cannot walk home from the bus stop alone. They must walk home with an older sibling or designated older neighbor. Solo K-2 students must be picked up by a parent. The bus driver or safety monitor will ensure that all K-2 students are picked up by an authorized adult. 

If any K-2 students do not have an approved ride at the stop by the scheduled bus stop time, the driver or safety monitor will load the rider back on the bus, and take the student to the final stop or back to campus. 

Emergencies happen, so drivers will accommodate families as much as possible, but if families are late multiple times, they will lose their ridership privileges. 

Grade 3+ students may walk home as long as their parents give consent on the bus registration form.

Who Can Pick Up Founders Students From a Bus Stop?

Just like school dismissal from campus, only pre-authorized adults should pick up a child from the bus stop. Bus rider registration forms will include a  question about which adults have permission to pick up young passengers from the bus stop.

Guardians will also specify which older students will be responsible for walking home with younger students, where applicable. For example if a first grader does not have an older sibling but has permission to walk home with an older neighbor, guardians can provide this information during bus rider registration.

What Happens When the Bus is Too Full for More Riders?

Bus registration will allocate seats on a first come, first served basis, but Founders Academy and BYL are committed to serving as many families as possible. If one bus becomes too full, we may adjust bus stops or add additional routes to serve more families. Any changes to bus schedules will be announced as early as possible, with at least a week of advanced notice.