Transportation for Students with IEPs

All transportation services are during the student's school day. Unless physically impossible for the bus, the stop will be in front of and on the same side of the street as the student's address. Pick up or release of a rider will not be made in any area determined to be unsafe. Safety always takes precedence over other criteria. 

State law requires that no child be permitted to leave the bus at a point other than his/her assigned stop. 

Prior to the beginning of each school year, families will be notified of their child's pick up and drop off schedules. Buses, routes and times may need to be changed throughout the school year to accommodate new students. Families will be notified of time changes of more than ten minutes. Buses may run late during days of unfavorable conditions such as unforeseen traffic and adverse weather. 

Pickup Procedures

• You are required to have your student ready for pick up five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. At student pick-up time, the student’s parent or guardian will bring their student to the bus.  

• Buses operate on a schedule in order to get students to class on time.  
• Buses will not depart from a stop prior to the designated pick up time.  
• The bus driver may not leave the bus except to operate the lift gate for students in wheelchairs. It is the bus driver's responsibility to load and unload students in wheelchairs and to ensure the wheelchairs are secured and all seat belts are fastened.  
• A bus will not be sent back to pick up a child who was not ready on time. 
• If you miss and/or drive your student to school, you will need to call the Transportation Department to inform them your student needs a ride home in the afternoon.

Drop Off Procedures

The families must be at the assigned stop to receive the student when delivered by the bus driver. Students may not be left unattended at drop off, unless otherwise authorized by the family. If there is an emergency and the designated adult is unable to meet the bus, arrangements must be made for another adult to be there when the bus arrives. If the family feels that the student does not need to be met by an adult, this must be authorized when completing registration.

In the event that no responsible adult is available to meet the student at the designated drop off point, and there is no authorization on file to drop the student off unattended, the transportation office will make every attempt to locate the family and emergency contacts. At the completion of the route, if no responsible adult has been located, the student will be delivered to the Police Department or the Sheriff's Office. 

Consistent failure to meet the bus is cause to suspend transportation service.

Safety Rules

Please discuss the following passenger safety rules with your child: 

1. Students may be assigned to a particular seat
2. Students must remain seated at all times when the bus is in motion. 
3. Seat belts are to be worn at all times 
4. For safety purposes, conversations and singing need to be kept within reasonable limits. 
5. Hands, arms, legs and feet must be inside the school bus at all times. 
6. No foul or abusive language is to be used. 
7. Eating or drinking is not permitted on the school bus. 
8. No items may be brought aboard the bus that could be hazardous to other passengers. 
   • Example - large toys, glass, straight or safety pins, insects, animals (with the exception of seeing eye dogs and canine companions), plastic bags, knives, skateboards, bowling balls, weapons of any kind, irritants and objects too large to hold safely on the lap. 

9. Smoking is against the law on the school bus.
10. Fighting, pinching, hitting, biting, spitting, etc. will not be permitted.
11. Vandalism to the interior or exterior of the bus is prohibited.
12. Be courteous, respectful and obedient to the driver at all times. 

Please be aware: all activities are being monitored by video camera. 

Suspension of Bus Service

The bus driver has the authority to recommend the suspension of students for disruptive and/or dangerous behavior, including, but not limited to, infractions of the bus rules. Any student may receive the maximum suspension and/or be denied bus transportation if it is determined that he/she created a safety hazard on the bus. An IEP will be held to determine if supports are needed to ensure a successful transportation experience.

After three consecutive days of a student not riding the school bus without proper notification or cancellation, the bus service will be discontinued until the parent/guardian calls the Transportation Department to restart the service. Reinstatement of transportation services may take up to five business days.

Illness, Medication and Personal Hygiene

Please notify Transportation at least four hours prior to the pickup time whenever you are not sending your student to school. You may leave a phone message or email message with one of the following employees. Please provide your student’s last name, first name and date(s) of absence. 

Martina Hernandez
650-558-2446
mhernandez@smuhsd.org

Please do not send your child to school if they are sick. If a child becomes ill at school, the family will need to transport the child home. 

Medication: Transportation employees are not permitted to handle your student’s medication. Do not place any medication among the student’s personal belongings. Medication should be given to the school site.

Please be sure to toilet your student before they board the bus. If your student has a problem in this area, please be sure to supply the school with a change of clothes and a bag for transporting them in. 

Emergency Medical Information: Please notify the school of any new medical conditions (seizures, asthma, allergy to bee stings, etc.) your student may have. 

 

Transportation Department Contacts
991 East Poplar Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401

Kelly Hubbard, Executive Transportation Officer
650-558-2440
Fax: 650-685-5521
khubbard@smuhsd.org

Marjorie Urbina, Transportation Coordinator
650-558-2447
Fax: 650-685-5521
murbina@smuhsd.org

Martina Hernandez, Dispatcher
650-558-2446
Fax: 650-685-5521
mhernandez@smuhsd.org