Transportation

Bus Safety Rules and Regulations

Students are to be at their designated bus stops ten minutes prior to the bus arrival. The bus cannot wait for students.
Each pupil is required to ride on the school bus assigned to him.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner while waiting for and riding the school bus. Destruction of private property, fighting, etc., at the bus stop may result in the suspension of bus privileges.
Students shall obey the instructions of their driver at all times. Any distraction of the bus driver during the movement of the bus is considered a serious offense.
Eating and/or smoking on the school bus is forbidden. Smoking on the school bus is a violation of state law.
Books, paper, or trash are not to be thrown on the floor of the bus or from the windows of the bus.
Pupils shall be financially responsible for any damage or vandalism of our buses.
Students shall not, at any time, extend their arms, hands, or heads out of the windows of the bus. Violation of this rule is considered a major safety hazard. Windows on the bus are to be opened only halfway.
When leaving the bus, follow the driver’s direction and stand clear as the bus pulls away.
Students must follow the driver’s instructions in the event of an emergency.
Violations of proper bus behavior will be reported to the principal by the bus driver and the principal will enforce the established discipline code.

School Bus Safety Best Practices

Stop for School Buses

Many students rely on school buses to get them to and from school safely. Did you know that school buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road; they’re designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries, and in every state, stop-arm laws exist to protect children from other motorist.

If Driving, Remember These Simple Rules:

Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You should slow down
and prepare to stop your vehicle.
Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off.
You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and
the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again.
Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, particularly in the morning or mid-afternoon, around
school arrival and dismissal times. Be alert as you back out of a driveway, or drive through a neighborhood,
school zone, or bus stop.

Parents, Talk Bus Safety with Your Children

Children should arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Teach them to play it SAFE:

Stay at least 10 feet – 5 giant steps – away from the curb.
Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for you to board.
Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
Exit the bus after it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

Additional resources can be found at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: School Bus Safety.

Non-Public Transportation Information

The law (NJ 18A:39-1.8) requires all public school districts to offer either transportation or what is known as “Aid in Lieu of Transportation’’ to students who attend a non-profit school within 2 to 20 miles (for elementary and middle schools) or 2.5 to 20 miles (for high schools) from their Ridgewood home. The student must meet the age requirement of their resident district and be enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12 in their non-public school.

Directions to Apply for Nonpublic Transportation

Questions? Email the Supervisor of Transportation and Operations

Aid-in-Lieu of Transportation

Maximum amount is $1,177 per student (new amount for 2024-25 set by state of New Jersey)
Parents receive AIL only if students are eligible for transportation and the district is unable to provide it another way for the state-designated amount.
AIL is simply an alternate way of providing the transportation itself. Therefore, if students are not eligible for one, they are not eligible for the other.

Parents are required to sign their purchase order and submit two B7T forms per child for reimbursement.

Instructions: Reimbursement for Aid-in-Lieu

Submit a signed purchase order and two signed B7T forms for each child to receive their aid-in-lieu reimbursement.
One form should be dated with the first day of school through January 31st and the second form should be dated from February 1st through the last day of school.