About 725 students are transported daily to and from Golden Hill Elementary and S.S. Seward Institute. Scores more are transported for club and athletic events each day. Around 1,600 miles are traveled daily.
Starting in the 2023-24 school year, Florida has contracted with Student Bus Company to provide FUFSD’s busing needs. All buses have multiple cameras, recording video of all activities while the bus operates. Additionally, each bus is fitted with a two-way radio system, enabling efficient communication with their transportation department at all times. All school buses are also equipped with lap seat belts, and we request all students to wear them while the bus is in motion.
General bus rules
For students
- Follow the driver’s instructions at all times.
- Do not yell, scream, or curse on the bus.
- Remain seated, keeping arms inside the bus.
- Never eat or drink anything on the bus.
- Always wait for the driver’s signal before crossing the street.
- Only bring objects, including musical instruments, that fit on the child’s lap.
For parents/guardians
- Buses do not wait at stops (except for special education) to best maintain consistency for the remaining students on the bus.
- Drivers must observe students as they approach the bus stop in the morning.
- Please arrange to have your child at the stop five minutes before the scheduled pickup time.
- Keep your child from running to catch the bus if they are on time. This is a serious safety hazard.
- For this same reason, do not try to transfer your child to the bus along the route if they miss the bus.
- Ensure that a guardian is present at the bus stop during pickup and drop-off for all children grades K-2. If no one is present, a child may be taken back to school at the end of the route.
- Encourage children to wear seatbelts, as drivers cannot require them to be worn.
Transportation FAQs
Q. Is my child eligible to ride a school bus?
A. All pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students are eligible to ride the bus. A bus will be provided for students in seventh through 12th grades who live more than a half mile from the school or, if they are within the radius, do not live on a road with sidewalks.
Q. Do I need to complete a form for my child to be assigned to a school bus?
A. If your child attends Golden Hill Elementary or S.S. Seward Institute, is registered in the Florida Union Free District District, and is eligible for bus transportation, busing will be established to and from the home address on file with the district. No additional forms need to be completed.
Q. What if I would like my child picked up or dropped off at an address other than my home address?
A. If you would like your child to be picked up or dropped off at a location other than the home address of record, please fill out this form by Aug. 1 of each upcoming school year.
Q. How do I obtain bus schedule information for my child?
A. Schedules are sent out before the school year starts. Updates are provided via the bus company directly to families. Shortly, there will be an app that can be downloaded where updates will be sent to parents/guardians. More information to come, and the site will be updated accordingly.
Q. What should I do if the bus is late?
A. Please contact the bus company if no communication was sent about your bus being late. If you cannot get in touch with the bus company, please contact your school office.
Q. Whom should I contact if I have a question about my child’s bus stop?
A. Please use the Bus Stop Review Form to report any concerns.
Q. What if my home address changes?
A. In the event of a change in your home address, please contact the guidance office and request a change of address form. To complete the request, we will need proof of residency (i.e., signed lease agreement, current tax bill, mortgage statement, utility bill, etc.). The information would be provided to the bus company.
Q. Whom should I contact if I have a concern about my child’s school bus, driver or actions on the bus?
A. Any concerns about the bus, the driver, or actions that take place on the bus should be directed to transportation@floridaufsd.org or the school office.
Q. Can my child be suspended from the bus?
A. In accordance with New York State Education Law and the District Code of Conduct, bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. Bus privileges may be suspended for a student’s inappropriate behavior or for violating the Florida Union Free School District Code of Conduct. The parent/guardian will then be responsible for transporting the student to and from school during the suspension period.
Q. Whom should I contact regarding items lost or left on the bus?
A. If your child leaves a personal item on the bus, please contact the bus company with pertinent information, including what the item is, when it was left on the bus and the bus route the student was on.
Transportation Request Form
Transportation Request forms for the next school year are mailed home to non-public school students receiving transportation services by the end of January. Upon enrollment, students new to the district will receive the form from the Registrar. For a new copy of the Transportation Request form or more information, contact the school business office at ext. 40032. Consistent with NYS Education Law 3635(2), parents/guardians requesting transportation to Private or Parochial schools must submit a transportation request form annually by April 1 or within 30 days of moving into the district
Idling school buses on school grounds
In accordance with Education Law and Commissioner’s regulations, the district will minimize, to the extent practicable, the idling of all school buses and other vehicles owned or leased by the district while such bus or vehicle is parked or standing on school grounds or in the front of any school. This policy also applies to contractor-owned and -operated school buses under contract with the district.
The district will ensure that each driver of a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased, or contracted for by the district turns off the engine of the bus or vehicle while waiting for passengers to load or offload on school grounds or while such vehicle is parked or standing on school grounds or in front of or adjacent to any school.