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School Bus Registration FAQs

The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and responses provide integral information for the transportation program. These procedures affect regular day bus transportation. They do not affect any transportation specified in a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

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When do I register my child for busing?

Registration opens on the first Monday of June each year. Registration must be submitted by July 15^th. Seating is not guaranteed for any student registered after July 15^th.

How do I register my child for busing?

Parents may log into My School Bucks https://www.myschoolbucks.com and register their child through the Transportation Store. Registration must be completed for each child in the household. Parents must choose the correct option for their child:

$450
I am applying for a waiver
Greater than 2.0 miles to schol ($0)

Complete your payment for the school year for each child in your household.

I registered my child for the bus last year. Do I need to register him/her again?

Yes, you must register your child every year for the school bus. Registrations do not roll over from year to year. If your child requires transportation, please complete the registration on the first Monday of June each year.

The busing registration deadline has passed. Can I still register my child for busing for the start of school?

You must complete the online registration process; however, your child may be placed on a wait-list pending availability. Please be advised as a result of registering after the deadline, there is no guarantee of a bus stop near your home, available seating, or bus service in the area of town in which you reside.

Please note that we will not accept new bus registrants during the following dates: Monday, August 28^ththrough Friday, September 8^th. Any student requiring transportation that has not registered prior to the first week of school will not be added to the program until Monday, September 11^th.

Parents are strongly encouraged to register their children before the deadline to ensure a seat for you child.

I would like my child to start busing later in the school year. Is this permitted?

Yes, you may complete the online registration at the time you would like your child to begin riding the bus. Please be advised there is no guarantee of a bus stop near your home, available seating, or bus service for the area of town in which you reside. The annual bus fee applies upon registration.

Can I register my child to ride the bus for only three days per week? Morning or afternoon only?

Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the annual fee of $450 provides the following:

A seat on the bus for the full school year
Elimination of partial ridership options (AM only / PM only) based on the reduced fee and revised program
Students with a seat may ride in the AM, PM, or both based on schedules and needs throughout the year
Parents no longer need to contact the Business Office to change their child's ridership option at any time during the school year
Parents should notify the Business Office via email it students no longer require the bus. This ensures completion of the change as there may be other students in need of a seat on their neighborhood bus.

I think my child may be eligible for free busing, based on income or grade. Do I still need to complete the online registration process?

Yes, all students in need of transportation must complete the online registration process. Any student for whom an online application is not submitted will not be permitted to ride the bus. If a student is found riding the bus without a pass, they will not be allowed to ride the bus again until a pass has been issued by the Business Office.

How much does it cost to ride the bus?

The School Committee voted to decrease the transportation fee beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. The reduced fee is $450.

For students in grades kindergarten through 6 who live 2.0 miles or more from their assigned school, busing is free. All students who live less than 2.0 miles from their assigned school are required to pay the busing fee. Students in grades 7-12 are responsible for their bus fee regardless of distance to the school. All students requiring bus service, regardless of grade or distance from school, must register for busing online through MySchoolBucks.

Are fee waivers available?

Yes, financial waivers are granted based on household size and income. To request a waiver, fill out the Fee Waiver Application found here: Fee Waiver Application (Busing)

You must send the completed form with a copy of your 2022 federal tax return (Form 1040) to:

Belmont Public Schools
C/O Business Office - Busing
644 Pleasant Street
Belmont, MA 02478

You may also fax your paperwork to 617-993-5439. For security reasons, please do not email your tax information to the Business Office. Waivers will be reviewed confidentially.

How do I pay for my child's bus fee?

The Business Office no longer accepts walk-in payments. All payments must be made at the time of registration either through the MySchoolBucks portal or via check made out to the Belmont Public Schools and mailed to 644 Pleasant Street, Belmont, MA, 02478.

Payments must be received by the prescribed dates in order for students to maintain their ridership. Waitlisted students will be given consideration in the absence of on-time payments. If you require a fee waiver, please do not make a payment. Instead, view the Fee Waiver instructions here.

Online through MySchoolBucks – You may access the payment portal, here. If you are new to the portal, you will need to create a login. You will also need your child’s Student ID number. If you do not have the ID, you may request it via this Contact School Busing form. If your student is new to the school and not found in the online system, you may inquire via the same email above for assistance.

* The Business Office does not accept cash.

For students in grades K-6, how is the distance to school determined?

Distance is determined by the Business Office using the most commonly traveled route provided by Google Maps, typically the shortest route from home address to school address. Should you move within the town to a different address, the distance from your home to your assigned school will be re-evaluated via Google Maps.

Is a school bus available for my child no matter where in Belmont I live?

As busing resources are limited, there are portions of town which are not serviced by school buses. This does not apply to students in grades K-6 who live 2.0 miles or more from school, as previously mentioned. You may contact the Business Office Contact School Busing with inquiries regarding bus availability in your area.

Please be advised that in the interest of student safety, routes may be reconfigured and bus stops relocated at a slightly greater distance to student addresses, as needed. Families affected by such changes will be notified in advance to allow for adjustments to their daily schedules.

If my child is assigned to a school outside of my district, is busing available?

If your child is assigned to a school outside of your district, transportation is available based on the following:

If your assigned school is over 2.0 miles from your address and in grades K -6, transportation is provided at no charge

If your assigned school is less than 2.0 miles from your address, transportation is not available at this time.

If I request that my child attend a school outside of my district, is busing available?

If parents/guardians request that their child attend a school other than the school within their district, and their request is granted, busing is not available. Parents/guardians will be responsible for their child’s transportation to and from their newly assigned school.

Where will my child’s bus stop be?

Routes are posted on the School Department’s website each summer once finalized, here. Students may board the bus at the stop most convenient to their homes provided it is on the student’s assigned route.

Can I or my child change which bus he/she rides?

No, only students registered for busing with a valid pass may ride a school bus. Your child must ride only the school bus to which they are assigned. Neither parents/guardians nor students may unilaterally decide to ride a different bus for any reason, even if a different bus route is close to the student’s home address. Other than a change in residence within Belmont by the child and family, requests to change bus assignments are not granted as bus stops are already established and adding students could be disruptive.

Can the afternoon bus drop off my child at daycare, a friend’s home, or at a grandparent’s home?

No, students can only be dropped off at an assigned stop on their bus route. At the parent's/guardian's discretion, students may exit the bus at a different stop already established on their assigned bus route.

Does my child need a bus pass to ride the bus?

Bus passes are not issued for elementary students. Bus rosters are maintained by the main office at each elementary school. Bus passes are required for middle and high school students. The following protocols are in place as a measure of fairness and safety for all students:

Bus passes must be carried at all times for student in grades 5-12
Bus passes will be checked by drivers during the AM route for students in grades 5-8 to ensure buses remain capacity-compliant
Students may only ride their assigned bus. Any students found riding the incorrect bus will not be allowed to ride until their bus assignment is verified with the Business Office.
As a reminder, no student may ride the bus at any time if they are not registered with an issued pass
In the event of a lost bus bus, please notify the Business Office for a replacement. Students who lose their pass and do not request a replacement will not be permitted to ride the bus until a replacement pass is issues and received by the student.

When and how will I receive my child’s bus pass?

Your child’s bus pass will be mailed to your home before school begins provided we have received your payment for the first semester. Bus passes are issued once, annually. Bus passes will not be mailed until payment due is received by the Business Office. If your child no longer requires busing, we ask that you notify the Business Office so the student can be removed from the bus and payment lists.

How do I replace a lost pass?

Please email busing@belmontschools.net to request a replacement pass. Replacement passes are provided at no cost.

How many students are assigned to a bus?

Generally, not more than 60 students are assigned to a bus. 60 students means that 21 of the 27 bench seats on the bus will need to seat three students. Slightly greater or fewer than 60 students may be assigned to a bus depending on three-to-a-seat availability.

What happens if I am not able to be at the bus stop in the afternoon to receive my child?

Parents/guardians are expected to be at the afternoon bus stop to receive their children in grades K-2. Any children in grades K-2 who are not received by a parent/guardian or other adult known to the child will not be permitted to exit the bus. They will be returned to their school at the end of the bus route, where the school’s main office will contact parents. Students in grades K-2 are permitted to exit the bus with an older sibling in grades 3 or higher. Students in grades 3-12 are permitted to exit the bus if no parent/guardian is there to receive them.

Can someone else receive my children at the bus stop in the afternoon if I cannot be there?

You may assign a responsible adult to receive your child at their afternoon bus stop as long as the adult is known to your child. Groups of parents/guardians may arrange among themselves for one or more parents/guardians from a neighborhood to receive all of the children at a certain bus stop in the afternoon. Students in grades K-2 will be permitted to exit the bus if they have an older sibling in grade 3 or higher that is also on the bus at that time.

What is the protocol for busing during inclement weather?

During the winter months, we sometimes experience busing delays during periods of inclement weather. Our current protocol is to email all parents/guardians of bus students the day prior in an effort to raise awareness regarding potential delays on bus routes to all schools. Knowing that delays are likely, parents/guardians can then make an informed decision to either wait for the bus or drive students to school. Parents/guardians should furnish their updated contact email as part of their child’s registration record to ensure that all communications are received promptly.

In the even of a dealyed start time due to inclement weather, buses will execute routes based on the start time of the delay.

What is expected of students when riding the bus?

Students are to have bus passes in-hand or attached to a backpack so that passes are visible to the bus driver. Students must be ready to display bus passes to the driver as they board the bus.
Students must also present bus passes to Belmont Public Schools staff when directed.
Students are to enter the bus and sit in an open seat. Students may not stand while the bus is in motion.
Student belongings such as backpacks or other items cannot occupy another seat on the bus.
Students are to be on their best behavior, in the same manner in which they are expected to conduct themselves while they are in school.

What are the expectations for parents/guardians whose children ride the bus?

Parents/guardians are expected to ensure that students are at their bus stops in the morning, prior to the bus’ arrival.
For students in grades K-2, a parent/guardian or designated adult known to the student must receive the child at the bus stop.

How are student behavior issues related to busing addressed?

For any student whose behavior is found inappropriate while riding the bus, the bus driver will complete a report and submit it to the school principal for disciplinary action. Discipline may include temporary suspension or permanent revocation of bus privileges.

How do I communicate questions or concerns about busing?

For any questions or concerns regarding busing issues that occur on the property of your child’s school building, contact your school principal. To report any vehicles failing to stop for school buses when their flashing stop lights are engaged, contact the Belmont Police Department at 617-993-2500. For all other busing matters, Contact School Busing services

What time will the bus arrive at my stop?

Bus routes list the start time in the header of each document. Based on ever-changing conditions such as traffic, road work, and inclement weather, times are not assigned to each stop. We suggest that parents and students review the route and esitimate their arrival time at their chosen stop based on its placement on the route. We suggets arriving on the earlier side for the first few days which allows the drivers to set up their regular daily arrival time. This allows parents and students to plan their morning schedules accordingly.

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