Parents
must fill out a Transportation Consent Form (T-06-02) at the start of the
school year to give Head Start the authority to transport their child by
school bus on a daily basis.
Parents
should notify their child's classroom teacher when a child will not be
attending class, especially if the child is the only one at a bus stop.
Parents
must notify their Region Office, and/or their teacher, one week in advance
of moving, giving notice of their new address.
Children
must be dressed and ready when the bus arrives. The Bus Driver will
not blow the horn and the Bus Monitor will not go to your door. If a
child misses the bus, it is the parent's responsibility to take the child to
school, bring the child to their classroom, and sign the child in.
Parents
must be at designated bus stop ten minutes before their designated bus stop
time for pick-up and drop-off. This is in case of circumstances which
cause the bus to be early. Also remain at the bus stop for ten minute after
the designated time in case of an unforeseen problem that may cause the bus
to run late. You must be at a designated bus stop, not somewhere
between designated bus stops. The schedule will be irregular at the
beginning of the year until all the bus routes are worked out. Please
be patient!
The
parent or adult* must identify to the Bus Monitor who they are picking up
from the bus. (*Adult is considered someone at least 18 years
old). Younger children are not to be alone at the bus stop to pick up
a child.
Parents
must fill out an Emergency Care/Release of Children Form (HS-16-02) with the
names of people who can pick up a child. Those persons must:
-
Show
some form of photo identification in order for staff to release the
child.
-
Be
made aware by the parent that they have been listed to pick up the
child.
-
Parents
must insure that their child knows that individuals listed and that they
may be picking them up at the bus stop.
If
parents want to change the individuals listed who are authorized to pick up their
children, they must complete an Emergency Care/Release of Children Change
Form (HS-16-a02). Changes will not be acknowledged until the change
form is completed and in the hands of the Head Start staff.
Children
will not be released to anyone not listed on the Emergency Care/Release of
Children Form. If no adult authorized to pick up the child is at the
bus stop, the child will be returned to the center.
If
no one is at the bus stop for drop-off, the child will be returned to the
center. It will be the parent's responsibility to come to the center
or have someone pick up the child. If no communication is received
from the parent regarding pick-up/transportation arrangements by the time
the staff is scheduled to leave for the day, the child will be taken to the
local police station.
If
a child has to cross the street to get on or off the bus, an adult must
accompany them. The child must cross in front of the bus.
Bus
will only pick up and drop off children at designated bus stops.
Please do not request staff to do otherwise.
If
a parent or guardian picks up a child from the center, the adult should come
to the center 15 minutes before the bus leaves. Please in from the
teacher that you are taking the child and sign the child out.
ONLY
HEAD START CHILDREN, FOSTER GRANDPARENTS, AND CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS will ride
to and from the center. Volunteers may ride the bus providing there is
room, according to seating capacity. No other children or adults are
allowed to ride the bus.
There
is to be NO EATING, DRINKING OR SMOKING on the bus. Please do not give
your child candy or food when they board the bus. If you send any
classroom treats, please give them to the Bus Monitor on the bus.
There
will always be a Bus Monitor on the bus.
Toys
should be sent with children only when the teacher permits. Please do
not send large or dangerous toys with your child Bus Monitors will
refuse to have these types of toys put on the bus.
All
bus passengers must wear seat belts, if available.
Parents
who transport their children to a Head Start center must accompany them to
the classroom and sign in. When returning to pick up a child, the
parent or designated adult must come to the classroom and sign the child
out.
When
there is inclement weather, you will be advised by phone of any closings or
delays. Please do not listen to the radio or watch the television to
find out if classes have been canceled or delayed. Cancellation of
Head Start classes is not necessarily dependent on school district
cancellation or closings.
