GPS TRANSPORTATION RESPONSIBILITIES
GPS utilizes school buses, passenger vans and approved Vendors to transport students. Arizona’s child restraint statutes exempt school buses from compliance; however, if your child requires assistance with being seated, and weighs less than 40 pounds, we may utilize a bus car seat. Please feel free to discuss preferences and options with your child’s District Homeless Education Liaison or Foster Care Liaison, if your student has special needs, please refer to our Special Needs Transportation Policy.
All transportation personnel are CPR and First Aid trained and have received other training relating to transporting students. You may have a different morning and afternoon transportation team.
Drivers are not authorized to honk their horns at the bus stops, so please do not ask them to. Remember, the bus is only scheduled to wait two minutes for your child to board. Drivers are required to stay on schedule to the best of their ability. If they are delayed at each home just 3 minutes, they will eventually be running 30 minutes behind schedule.
PARENTS’ & GUARDIANS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide the District Homeless Education Liaison or Foster Care Liaison team a single pick-up address and a single drop off address.
- We do not pick up or drop off at business or other non-residential locations except daycares that your child is currently enrolled in.
- Be at the bus stop five minutes before your child’s schedule bus arrival time.
- Call 480-497-3311 to let us know if your child does not need the morning or afternoon bus. Call or email Transportation if you have any concerns with respect to your child’s transportation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What are the procedures if my child does not need a ride to or from school?
A: Call Transportation day or night if you do not need service. The number is 480-497-3311.
Q: How long will the morning bus wait?
A: You should be outside with your child ready for school five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. If the bus arrives early, the driver will not depart until your child is on board or until two minutes after the scheduled pick-up time, whichever comes first. After the bus has waited past the pick-up time, they will leave and will not be sent back to pick up your child that day.
Q: Where will the bus pick up my child?
A: The bus will pick up your child at the assigned bus stop, which may be in front of your home, or at a centralized location if you live in an apartment complex, mobile home park, etc.
Q: How do I arrange to have my child picked up and/or dropped off at a different address?
A: There are several parts to this answer. If you move to a new address, you must contact your child’s District Homeless Education Liaison or Foster Care Liaison to arrange for a change in services. Pick up and drop off may be two different addresses, but only one am pick up address and one pm drop off address is allowed. Again, there are no alternating day options and no temporary changes allowed.