Policies, Procedures & Notices

Student Transportation Services of York Region (STSYR) provides transpotation service in accordance with the policies of its member school boards, the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) and the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB). Students may be eligible for transportation if their primary address is located within their home school attendance area and is further than the following distances:

YCDSB

*Students living further than 3.2 km may be eligible if public transit is not available.

YRDSB

STSYR provides transportation service in accordance with the policies of its member School Boards.

The YCDSB and The YRDSB provide transportation service from centralized bus stops. Students are required to walk a short distance to and from these centralized locations. The distance criteria are as follows:

Please be advised that a student’s home or caregivers address may be used to establish bus stops; however, both addresses must be within the respective school boundary, within the school transportation zone and used consistently.

STSYR creates bus stops at safe, centralized locations. Students are required to walk a short distance to and from the centralized stop locations. Having students walk to central locations increases routing efficiency and reduces the amount of time students spend travelling on a school bus.

STSYR shall determine bus stop locations within the transportation zone for each school. Schools transportation zones are areas designated by Board policy as eligible for school vehicle transportation. Bus stop locations will be placed at street corners wherever possible on main roads and avoid residential crescents and courts.

A student’s home or caregiver’s address may be used to establish bus stops, however, both addresses must be within the school boundary, within the school transportation zone and used consistently.

Students require approval from school administration to use a bus stop other than the one they are assigned. Approval should be granted only in emergency circumstances. School administration shall be responsible for establishing procedures and parameters for accommodating such requests. 

STSYR provides transportation service in accordance with the policies of its member school boards.

The YCDSB and the YRDSB provide one-way service as closely as practical to the following guidelines.

Ride time is the time a student spends on a bus from collector points. The walk time to and from collector points is not included. Ride times on Public or Board provided transportation exceeding approximately 60 minutes (one way) would be considered exceptional circumstances.

NOTE: Parents considering enrolling students in optional programs such as French Immersion and PACE or Gifted programs should be aware of the following:

Due to the size of the attendance areas for French Immersion and PACE or Gifted programs, students may experience longer ride times than service to schools with regular programs. In addition, students who live the furthest from school often have the longest ride times. STSYR endeavors to try to ensure a 60 minute maximum ride time (one way), where practical.

• Parents and/or students are reminded to refer to the online COVID 19 transportation resource to properly prepare your child for the school bus. To access this information, please use the "COVID-19" link. Parents and/or students are encouraged to check the website regularly for updates;

• Parents are to ensure their children arrive at bus stops at least five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time. During the first week of September, arrival at the bus stop ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time is advised;

• To help ensure student safety, Student Transportation Services recommends students in grades JK - 1 are met at their bus stop by a parent/guardian, and age appropriate arrangements made for all other grades;

• Parents are responsible to make alternate arrangements for their children if they are unable to meet them at a bus stop;

• Parents are responsible for the supervision and conduct of their children while at the bus stops, while being transported on a school vehicle and their safe journey to and from the bus stop;

• Parents should be familiar with Student Responsibilities/Code of Conduct and aware that repeated student misconduct will be recorded and may result in school disciplinary action and/or loss of transportation privileges;

• Parents are responsible for any damage caused by students to a school vehicle and to personal property at a designated bus stop;

• Parents should familiarize themselves with the STSYR School Bus Cancellation Notice and Late Bus Notice, as communicated by schools and also available at www.schoolbuscity.com;

• Parents should know their childs/childrens Route number and Bus Stop Location;

• Parents should know the school bus company phone number in the event of an emergency;

• Parents are reminded to refer to the Late Bus Report on the Student Transportation Services website at www.schoolbuscity.com prior to leaving for the Bus Stop in the morning and afternoon.

• Obey all rules and regulations of the Highway Traffic Act at all times;

• Adhere to the bus schedules established by Student Transportation Services of York Region (STSYR);

• May only transport students to and from designated bus stops. Drivers may not add new bus stops without the approval of STSYR;

• Drivers are not to accept requests for route revisions (including the addition of new stops or reactivation of previously deleted stops) from school staff;

• Should direct any parent/ guardian/ student/ teacher who requests route or stop changes to their child’s school. Drivers should not discuss nor offer an opinion about the request;

• Drivers who encounter any dangerous condition (unsafe bus stop or loading zone, washouts, detours, etc.) are instructed to keep students on the school bus and notify their dispatcher who should notify STSYR and school administration immediately. If necessary, STSYR, school administration and bus company staff will investigate alternate delivery options for these students;

• Drivers should notify their dispatch if they observe any situation where a child’s safety is in jeopardy. The dispatcher is then to notify the police, school and/or STSYR;

• Ensure the students are never left on the bus alone;

• Drivers are to report any overloaded vehicles including rider counts per bus stop to the dispatcher who will inform STSYR;

• Refuse to allow any unauthorized persons on the bus and report any incidents of unauthorized persons attempting to Board the bus to dispatch immediately;

• Drivers who are notified that a student who normally rides the bus is missing should immediately seek clarification from the teacher on bus duty or call dispatch to clarify with the school;

• If there is a medical emergency on your vehicle and 911 has been called by dispatch, wait at the scene until the ambulance arrives. Do not attempt to drive your vehicle to meet the ambulance;

• Drivers must check their vehicle after each run to ensure that no students remain on the vehicle. Failure to do so is reason for dismissal;

• Must understand and utilize the Safe Rider Sticker Program to help ensure JK – Grade 1 students board the correct bus at school and disembark at their appropriate stop locations;

• Drivers who are running earlier than their scheduled pick-up and drop-off times should pull over and wait for a few minutes to get back on the proper schedule;

• Drivers are to report routes operating more than ten (10) minutes later than scheduled times to their dispatcher who will inform STSYR;

• Must report school vehicle accidents and incidents to their dispatcher immediately. The dispatcher will then contact the school and STSYR;

• Drivers should attempt to maintain order and monitor conduct of students while on their vehicle;

• Drivers should notify the Principal of any inappropriate behaviour by a student(s) on the bus . Drivers should then complete a STSYR Bus Driver’s Report on Student Behaviour Form;

• Drivers are not to fuel tanks with students on board;

• Drivers are not to use a cell phone while operating their vehicle;

• Drivers are to ensure the vehicle is not put in motion until all students are seated;

• Drivers should keep their vehicles clean inside and out;

• Route numbers must be visible in the front and side windows and be a minimum of 4 inches tall and of professional quality;

• Drivers may not provide candy, food or gifts to any students on the bus;

• Ensure all students on the bus are informed of the bus safety rules;

• Use an appropriate tone of voice when speaking to students; refrain from shouting, swearing or using offensive/aggressive language;

• Avoid starting or stopping abruptly;

• Cooperate with the Principal when establishing a seating plan for students;

• Never leave the vehicle with the motor running;

• Never smoke, drink alcohol or use illegal substances on or near a school bus;

• Ensure special needs students are trans ported safely according to the needs of students; follow consortium procedures for transporting students with disabilities and follow requirements in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act;

• The driver will contact his/her dispatcher to identify JK-1 student(s) not met at their bus stop and the student(s) will remain on the school vehicle; the dispatcher will contact the school and STSYR to identify that the student(s) will be returned to the school.

Student Transportation Services allows certain objects and equipment to be transported on a school bus under the following conditions.

• Items do not block the aisles or emergency exits;

• Items are stored on a student’s lap or under seats where possible;

• Items that do not fit on a student’s lap or under a seat must be secured in such a manner that they cannot move when the school bus accelerates or brakes;

• Ice skates may be transported if they are carried in a small sports bag;

• Animals will not be permitted on school buses unless the YCDSB or YRDSB approves for use to assist a student with special needs.

In cases where there are questions concerning the safe transportation of an item, consultation between the Bus Company, School Administration and STSYR will occur to review the situation and attempt to achieve a resolution that doesn’t compromise student safety.

Students are responsible to the principal for their conduct on the bus, and must obey instructions from the driver who acts on behalf of the principal.

Student conduct that endangers safety or interferes with the health of others may face school disciplinary action and/or have their transportation privilege revoked.

While riding a school vehicle Students shall:

• Be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes in advance of the scheduled pick-up time; 10 minutes earlier for the first two weeks of school;

• Refrain from talking to the bus driver while bus in in motion except in cases of emergency;

• Refrain from making loud noises, fighting, and the use of abusive or profane language;

• Refrain from eating, drinking, or littering inside/outside the bus;

• Not smoke, use drugs, or alcohol;

• Remain seated at all times;

• Keep all body parts inside the bus at all times;

• Keep their backpacks, books and parcels on their laps;

• Recognize that due to safety concerns, items that do not fit safely on a student’s lap (ie. sports equipment, musical instruments and science projects) may not be transported to and from school;

• Bring skates on the bus only if equipped with protective guards and are carried in a sports bag;

• Follow recommended Ministry of Transportation safety procedures when crossing the roadway, and loading and unloading the bus;

• Be responsible for any willful damage to the bus and at a designated bus stop.

School bus service may be cancelled from time to time due to inclement weather and/or poor road conditions. In these cases, parents and students should develop alternate care/ transportation arrangements.

Since some busing schedules begin by 7:00 a.m., cancellation decisions must be made by 6:00 a.m. to allow time to communicate this message to bus drivers. Cancellation decisions will only be made after thorough consultation with the Safety Officers of school bus companies servicing York Region and are based on several factors including precipitation, air temperature, road conditions and Environment Canada forecast.

Please note the following:

• A decision to cancel school bus service will be region-wide meaning all school buses, vans and taxis will not operate;

• School bus routes may be cancelled when severe weather is not affecting all municipalities in York Region. Both the YRDSB and YCDSB operate many regional educational programs. Students attending these programs are transported over large attendance areas encompassing several municipal boundaries. This limits the ability to cancel bus service using a municipality or zone methodology;

• Unless otherwise stated, schools will remain open and parents can make arrangements to transport their children to and from school even if school bus service is cancelled. If buses are cancelled in the morning, they will not operate in the afternoon. Therefore students transported to school by parents will require the same transportation home;

• If regular home to school runs are cancelled, Charter trips will not operate.

Parents, students and school staff are asked to access the following radio and television stations after 6:00 a.m. to receive bus cancellation information:

RADIO: 590 AM 640 AM 680 AM 860 AM 1010 AM 1050 AM 1540 AM 1580 AM 88.5 FM 89.9 FM 92.5 FM 93.1 FM 94.9 FM 95.9 FM 97.3 FM 98.1 FM 99.1 FM 99.9 FM 101.1 FM 102.1 FM 104.5 FM 100.7 FM 107.1 FM

TELEVISION: CITY TV CFTO Barrie CFTO TV GLOBAL NEWS

A bus cancellation message will also be available at www.schoolbuscity.com and by calling 1-877-330-3001.

School Bus Cancellation Procedure

The decision to cancel buses will be region-wide.

5:00 a.m. Bus company representatives will communicate with Municipal Road Superintendents, review weather and road conditions for their area and communicate with their Lead Contact. Through discussion and review a recommendation re. Bus service cancellation will be formed.

5:30 a.m. If service cancellation is recommended, the Lead Contact will contact the STSYR Manager to share applicable information.

5:35 a.m. If service cancellation is recommended, the STSYR Manager will contact other Transportation Consortia as required to determine if service cancellation has occurred in their regions. The STSYR Manager will then contact YCDSB and YRDSB representatives to review information and make a service cancellation decision.

5:55 a.m. The STSYR Manager will contact the Lead Contact to confirm a service cancellation decision. The Lead Contact will notify Bus Contractor Representatives.

6:00 a.m. STSYR to notify designated media outlets regarding bus cancellations.