Transportation

Each bus driver and employee of the Transportation Joint Agreement (TJA) serving Districts 47 & 155 takes his/her job very seriously when transporting one of the most precious cargoes of the District– your child(ren). For the team of drivers to fulfill this responsibility in a safe, timely, and organized manner, it is important to understand the processes involved. It's also important for you to know that a bus number is displayed on all four sides of the bus for identification purposes. Bus route numbers are posted in the first passenger window on the service door side (curb side) of the bus. We look forward to working with you to provide a safe and happy experience for your child. Please contact us anytime you may have questions, concerns, and/or suggestions at (815) 455-0558 or transportation@d47.org.

Is my child eligible for free transportation?

• The Illinois State School Code sets the guidelines for the transportation of students. Under those guidelines, districts are required to transport students at no additional fee who live 1 1⁄2 miles or more from the school they are assigned to attend. The State of Illinois has also qualified specific areas under the 1 1⁄2 miles distance for transportation as well; however, these areas must have met certain hazardous criteria guidelines. Eligibility for transportation is determined using the student’s legal residence.

Are there multiple pick-up and drop-off addresses?

• Multiple pick-ups and drop-offs are not permitted. There will be ONE address used for transportation to and from school. This means that a set AM and PM schedule, all five days each week must be in place. AM and PM addresses can be different provided they are consistent through the entire week and both addresses are within the boundaries of the school the student attends.
• We may consider making an exception in an emergency only situation; however, this must be done only with approval from TJA and building administration. In the event a situation occurs that would require the student to come or go to a different address not normally scheduled, it would be necessary for you to provide transportation or have someone you have designated through the school office to pick-up or drop-off your child. In all events of transportation changes, TJA must be notified so that we can relay, to the driver, the whereabouts and safety status of each student assigned on his/her route.

Can my child ride on any bus?

• Drivers are required to transport only the students assigned on their route sheet unless otherwise instructed by TJA and building administration. Any and all students riding must be regularly scheduled on a bus.

The bus drives right past my house. Why can’t it stop at my house?

• Student ride time is longer with more bus stops on a route. Additionally, a higher frequency of stops on a route causes the bus to consume more fuel and makes the motoring public impatient. This results in people attempting to pass and drive around the bus, which is a dangerous situation. Bus stops are centrally located and placed where the districts deem are the safest and most convenient for groups of students in the area and/or subdivision. For consistency, stops will not be established based on personal circumstances.

What should I do when my child(ren), who rides a special needs route, will not be riding the bus on a given day?

If your child(ren) attends a special needs program and rides a special needs route and is sick or you plan to take and/or pick-up your child(ren) instead of riding the bus, please contact TJA at (815) 455-0558. If possible, please also give prior notification to the driver. This will help us greatly in timing the route for the remainder of the students who are riding the bus that day.

What time will the bus come to pick up or drop off my child?

• We begin building the routes mid summer and this process continues past the beginning of the school year as students register and drop from the districts in August. Bus routes can be viewed as part of a student’s profile online midAugust via ParentVue for District 47 and Skyward for District 155. If you do not see route information for your child(ren), please contact TJA at (815) 455- 0558 or transportation@d47.org.
• There are many factors which play into the time your child(ren)’s bus will arrive such as: students who are absent or are not on-time for the bus, road conditions and repairs, the number of miles covered in the route, and weather conditions. Occasionally, all of the situations mentioned could happen within one route, which will greatly effect the arrival times. If your child(ren) miss the bus, you will need to make arrangements for them to be transported to school.
• We ask that you have your child(ren) outside and ready to board the bus 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time.

We live on a cul-de-sac. Will the bus come down our street?

• The length of a school bus is what limits it from being maneuvered into cul-de-sacs and tight places. Most cul-de-sacs are designed without school bus transportation in mind. Except for special circumstances, buses are not routed into a cul-de-sac. Cul-de-sac stops are considered unwise for the following reasons:
  • Cul-de-sac stops create blind spots often causing students to enter or exit in a danger zone around the bus (at a corner stop or street curb stop, the enter/exit outside the danger zone).
  • Different styles and sizes of buses make maneuvering in cul-de-sacs difficult
  • The rear of the bus has potential to swing around close to the sidewalk.
  • Parked cars and other obstacles create road hazards that may not be seen until entering the cul-de-sac and at a point of no return.
  • Property damage to mailboxes and landscaping.

Why do some students have to cross the street to board the bus?

• Parents are responsible for the safety of their child(ren) to and from the bus stops and are particularly encouraged to accompany young children. We are not able to route buses so that all students can board the bus on the door side. We recommend that students wait on the side of the street where they reside until the bus arrives at the bus stop. Bus drivers are trained and buses are equipped with traffic warning devices to stop traffic in all directions to accommodate students and enhance a safe crossing. It is the parent’s responsibility to get their child(ren) to and from the bus stop. It is the District’s responsibility to give the student a safe place to be picked up and dropped off.

My child carries a large musical instrument and/or heavy backpack. They are the only student using the stop. Can the stop be closer to our home?

• Bus stops are centrally located for all students along a route. Bus stops are not changed to accommodate one or more students because that my displace others students further from their home.  

I leave for work early and can’t watch my child get on the bus. Can’t the stop be at my home?

• In order to be consistent and safe in the placement of bus stops, TJA is not able to establish stops based on personal circumstances. The higher frequency stops can make the motoring public impatient. This results in people attempting to pass and/or drive around the bus, which is a dangerous situation. It also delays the bus by increasing the number of stops and makes the student route time longer.

Why is my child’s bus late?

• Weather, traffic, driver absenteeism, maintenance difficulties, and unforeseen incidents are responsible for delays in the arrival of school buses. Please know that we do everything humanly possible to have all buses running on schedule each and every day. In the event your bus does not arrive as scheduled, contact TJA at (815) 455-0558 or transportation@d47.org.

My child(ren) is starting Kindergarten. Will the bus pick my child(ren) up in front of the house?

• There are no special laws or requirements for transporting students enrolled in Kindergarten. Kindergarten students are eligible for transportation services if they live more than 1 1⁄2 miles from the school they are assigned to attend.
  • Full day kindergarten students will receive a bus stop within a 1/2 mile of their house.
  • Half-day Kindergarten students, who have a noon dismissal, may be eligible for a house stop.

Why is there a house stop on the route if buses don’t make house stops?

• House stops may occur for a special education student on a regular route, as a mid-point on a long street, and/or a four-lane road.

How far can a bus stop be from the student’s home?

• Bus stops may be up to 1⁄2 mile from a student’s home; however, stops are normally less than this from a student’s home.

I still don’t feel comfortable. What recourse do I have to get the stop changed?

• The first step would be to contact TJA with your concern(s) at (815) 455-0558 or transportation@d47.org. The Director of Transportation and/or her designee would then conduct a review of the bus stop. They will then respond to the request with the results of their evaluation. If you would like to appeal the results of the evaluation, you may contact the appropriate District’s administrative offices for a review of the concerns and decision by the Department supervising transportation.

What procedures do I need to follow if I move?

• Please notify the appropriate district/school and provide the proper documentation so they can update all residential data. The district will notify TJA about the move so that routes can be updated.

How does moving within District 47/155 affect my child(ren)’s transportation?

• If your new address is in the same school boundary, your child(ren) will be bussed if the distance is over 1 1⁄2 miles and/or if walking is declared hazardous. If your new address is in another school boundary, your child(ren) will be bussed if the distance is over 1 1⁄2 miles and/or if walking is declared hazardous. If your new address is in another school boundary and you choose to have your student complete the school year in the building they started the school year, you are responsible for providing transportation to and from school every day until the end of the school year.

Does someone have to be present with my child(ren) at the bus stop?

• The bus stop is a parental responsibility. Each parent must make the decision to be present or not at the bus stop for the safety and security of their child(ren).
• The following parents are responsible for meeting their child(ren)’s bus each day or designate a responsible individual (at least 18 years old) to be with their child(ren) during pick-up or drop-off times:
  • Half-Day Kindergarten Students with a Noon Dismissal
  • Special Education Students

What happens if my child(ren) misses the bus?

• Each bus route has a schedule to maintain. The driver does his/her best to maintain a timely schedule. A bus driver should arrive at approximately the same time each day. Bus riders need to arrive at their assigned bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to bus arrival. In the event your child(ren) misses the bus, you are responsible for transporting them to school.

What if I can’t see the bus stop from my house?

• TJA provides transportation for over 12,000 students daily. We are not able to position bus stops so that all parents are able to see their child(ren)’s stop from their house.

What are the rules for the bus stop?

• Corner Stop
  • Be ready 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time
  • Be courteous to other students
  • Stand back 5-10 feet when the bus is approaching the bus stop
  • Get on the bus in an orderly fashion, keeping hands to self
• Special Needs Stop
  • Be outside with your child(ren) 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time
  • Any bus equipment, for those requiring it, is on the bus

Expectations and guidelines for behavior on D47/155 school buses align to the District's PBIS (Positive Behaviorial Intervention and Supports) model below. 

What's my voice level?

0 No Voice: Absolute silence, no one is talking.
1 Whisper Voice: Whispering. Only one person can hear you.
2 Normal Voice: Only your small group can hear you.
3 Stage Voice: Everyone in your class can hear you, presenting voice.
4 Outside Voice: For the playground, never inside.

Buses are considered on time if they arrive at the stop up to 5 minutes early or 5 minutes late. 

ISBE Bus Rules       ISBE Bus Safety Guide

Napt Safety English       Napt safety spanish

Pick-up/Drop-off Procedures

All-day Kindergarten students will be picked up and dropped off at their assigned bus stops. Adult presence is not required. 

Morning kindergarten students will be dropped at the end of their driveway if possible, although the buses will not enter cul-du-sacs or dead-end roadways. Parents or caregivers must be waiting at the door to receive students; students will not be allowed off the bus until a responsible adult acknowledges the driver. If no one is waiting to accept the student, the driver will return the student to the school. Please note that once the bus leaves, it will not return.

Note: On early release and half-days, all students (including kindergarteners) will be dropped off at their regular bus stop rather than their driveway.  

Kindergarten Back-to-School Open House 

Every August prior to the start of the new school year, TJA hosts an open house for all incoming kindergarten and Wehde Early Childhood Center students at the "bus garage," located at 1204 S. McHenry Avenue in Crystal Lake. 

The open house features a variety of stations that students and families can visit, a school bus ride and an interactive show about bus safety featuring a mini, interactive school bus named Buster!

Transportation for Special Education Students

Students receiving special education services may require special transportation to and/or from school. This decision will be made by the IEP team and will be documented in a student's IEP. Determination for special transportation may include (but is not limited to) the following scenarios:

• Student attends an educational program not located at his/her home school.

• Student requires a specialization due to accessibility.
• Student cannot ride the general bus due to issues related to his/her identified disability.

If your child is accessing special transportation and you have a question about his/her route, please contact the transportation department at 815.455.0558. If your child is having an issue on a bus with another student, please contact the building administrator at your child's school. 

Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures:

AM-Pick-up: Students must be ready at their scheduled pick-up time but may wait inside the house until the bus arrives. Once the bus arrives, it will wait for two minutes. The bus will then continue on with the route and will not return.

PM-Drop-off: When the bus arrives for drop-off, a parent or responsible care giver must be present and waiting to receive the student. The student will not be allowed off the bus until a responsible adult acknowledges the driver. If no one is waiting to accept the student, the driver will return the student to the school. Please note that once the bus departs, it will not return. To request that a student be dropped off unattended, please complete the release authorization form below and return it to your child's bus driver.

Release Authorization Form 

The Transportation Joint Agreement (TJA) is governed by an advisory board comprised of transportation and school district administrators and board members. The board typically meets every other month September through June at TJA offices, 1204 S. McHenry Ave. in Crystal Lake.

TJA Advisory Board Members

Tracy Hodgson
Director of Transportation
thodgson@d47.org

David Inglis
Assistant Director of Transportation
dinglis@d47.org

Maria Krause
Board Member, District 47
mkrause@d47.org

Catherine Nelson
Assistant Superintendent of Business, District 47
canelson@d47.org

Stephanie Macro
Board Member, District 155
smacro@d155.org

Dr. Lisa Messinger
Board Member, District 47
lmessinger@d47.org

Dr. Kevin Werner
Chief Officer of Finance & Operations, District 155
kwerner@d47.org