Wappingers Central School District

In the event of a school delay, early dismissal or closing a notification is immediately posted to the district’s website, Facebook and Twitter. In addition, a Blackboard notification, which you can receive via phone, email or text, will be sent.  The district also has a free mobile app which can be downloaded from the app store of your choice. Please be sure that your contact information and notification preferences are up-to-date and you have talked to your child about what to do in case of an emergency or early dismissal. 

When there is a 2 or 3 hour school delay, buses will arrive to pick up students 2 or 3 hours later than their normally scheduled pick-up time. Times are approximate and can be affected by traffic and road conditions. Safety is our priority, especially during inclement weather, which can greatly affect bus routes. Times can vary due to adverse weather conditions and other reasons. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

There are a variety of emergencies (weather, electrical outages, furnace or water problems, etc) that could result in schools being dismissed early with little or no advance warning. Parents/Guardians should develop a plan and instruct their child in what to do in case of an emergency or early dismissal. This is especially important if no responsible party is present to accept the student upon drop-off. Students should know the procedure to follow if they arrive home and no one is home.  Do they know how to get into the house, where to go, and whom to contact?  We encourage you to occasionally quiz your child to be sure they understand the procedure you have set forth in an emergency. One of the greatest concerns for parents and school district personnel, alike, is making sure each student knows where to go and what to do in case of an early dismissal from school.

Private / Parochial / Out of District Special Education Schools
The Wappingers CSD Transportation office may not be aware of a private school’s delay, early dismissal or closing. Your child’s private school should be providing parents with that information. Please check with your child’s private school as to their method for notifications of delays or cancellations.  

Bus route pick-up and drop-off times are approximate and may be affected by any one or more of the following conditions: traffic, weather and road conditions, construction, changes in routes, ridership, etc.

When a bus is late due to an unforeseen circumstance, a notification is sent via email as soon as possible. Unfortunately, transportation is not always able to notify parents/guardians when a bus is caught in traffic or slowed due to weather conditions.  
 
Contact will be made to parents/guardians if their child’s bus is involved in an accident.*  Please be sure your contact information and notification preferences are up-to-date and you have talked to your child about what to do in case of an emergency.

*Because of New York State no-fault insurance laws, any injury a child incurs during a school bus incident or accident must be claimed on your automobile insurance, not the School District's insurance.

It is expected that students behave appropriately while riding on district buses.  This is to ensure their safety as well as other passengers and to avoid distracting the bus driver.

Students are required to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior and the WCSD Code of Conduct.

Excessive noise, pushing, shoving and fighting will not be tolerated -- it is not safe for other students or the bus driver.

Bus drivers are authorized to safely pull the bus to the side of the road to speak with students, if warranted.

Bus drivers are authorized to assign seats and ask students to move to another seat.
A written conduct referral will be filed with the student's Principal for administrative action, if improper behavior continues.

Parents and Guardians should immediately report any concerns and incidents that occur on the bus to the Transportation office at 298-5225, and to the school building principal.
 

Bus stop locations are created in accordance with New York State laws and regulations to promote safety and efficiency.  They are created as "neighborhood" stops whenever possible. Students should be visible from the roadway and at their assigned bus stop, five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time. Parents are responsible for students to and from the bus stop.

New York State Law does not require that children of divorced parents be transported to different homes on different days of the week. Parents are required to designate one address for transportation.

Please contact the Transportation Office at 298-5225, at least 24 hours in advance, if your child is resuming transportation after a period of absence or if you have been transporting them yourself for any reason.

For your information, the Commissioner of Education has ruled the following: 
School districts are not required to provide transportation to students directly to/from home. The district, in exercising the location of the designated pick-up and drop-off points, needs to balance the issues of student safety, convenience and routing efficiency. The fact that a pick-up point is located on a heavily traveled road or may require students to wait or travel on unlit, narrow roadways with no sidewalks or walkways is insufficient proof that a pick-up point is unsafe. It is the responsibility of the parents, not the school district, to see that his/her child reaches the pick-up point safely. 

Idling of School Buses: Pursuant to  Section 3637 of the Ed. Law, Regulations of the Commissioner of Education 156.3 (h) school districts and drivers to shut off engines while waiting for students to load or off-load. This applies to school buses as defined by VTL section 142 as well as other vehicles owned, leased or contracted by the school district, while parked or standing on school grounds or in front of or adjacent to any school, including all the school events. Exceptions: idling permitted for mechanical work, to maintain temperature for passenger comfort or in emergency evacuations when necessary to operated wheelchair lifts. 

As per NYS DMV:
School Buses
When a stopped school bus flashes its red light(s), traffic that approaches from either direction, even in front of the school and in school parking lots, must stop before it reaches the bus. You should stop at least 20 feet (6 m) away from the bus. You can identify this bus by a "SCHOOL BUS" sign, the red lights on the top, and its unique yellow orange color.

Before a school bus stops to load or discharge passengers, the driver will usually flash yellow warning lights. When you see them, decrease speed and be prepared to stop.

When you stop for a school bus, you cannot drive again until the red lights stop flashing or when the bus driver or a traffic officer signals that you can proceed. This law applies on all roadways in New York State. You must stop for a school bus even if it is on the opposite side of a divided highway.

After you stop for a school bus, look for children along the side of the road. Drive slowly until you have passed them.

Safety Tip: Most school bus-related deaths and injuries occur while children cross the street after being discharged from the bus, not in collisions that involve school buses.

Vehicles that transport people with disabilities can be equipped as school buses and you must stop for them as you would for other school buses.

The fine when you pass a stopped school bus ranges from a minimum of $250 for a first violation to a maximum of $1,000 for three violations in three years. If you are convicted of three of these violations in three years, your driver license will be revoked for a minimum of six months.

Bus transportation is provided between designated neighborhood bus stops and the schools that our students attend. For most K-12 students, this means walking to a bus stop located some distance from their home. It is the policy of the district not to provide door-to-door transportation. In establishing bus routes and pick-up points, safety is our primary concern. 

However, efficiency and economy are also factors which must be considered. With that in mind, bus stop safety reviews will be considered for safety concerns.  

The Commissioner of Education has ruled the following:
"School districts are not required to provide transportation to students directly to/from home. The district, in exercising the location of the designated pick-up and drop-off points, needs to balance the issues of student safety, convenience and routing efficiency. The fact that a pick-up point is located on a heavily traveled road or may require students to wait or travel on unlit, narrow roadways with no sidewalks or walkways is insufficient proof that a pick-up point is unsafe. It is the responsibility of the parents, not the school district, to see that his/her child reaches the pick-up point safely."

Bus Drivers are not permitted to change your bus stop. To be considered for review, the Bus Stop Review Form must be received by the Transportation Office by the last business day in September of the current school year, or within 30 days of establishing district residency. You may submit the form via mail or fax:

Mail:
Wappingers Central School District
Transportation - Bus Stop Review Committee
55 Major McDonald Way
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

or

Fax: (845) 298-5210

• A Bus Stop Decision Appeal Form must be submitted within 14 days of the decision letter issue date. 

Decisions of the Appeals Committee are final.

District students receiving Special Education services may be mandated to receive specialized transportation according to their Individual Education Plan (IEP). If you have questions regarding your child’s IEP please contact the Special Education office assigned to your child's school. 

Parents/Guardians who believe their child is eligible for transportation accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, must submit a written request to their school’s Section 504 Coordinator and include documentation from the child's medical provider. Upon written notification from the WCSD Section 504 Administrator, the required transportation accommodations will be initiated. 

Please note:  Section 504 Accommodation Plans do not carry over from year to year. Each Accommodation Plan must be reviewed annually in fulfillment of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Information regarding the McKinney-Vento Act, intended to assist students who are considered homeless, can be obtained through the Office of the Assistant Superintendent for Student Support and Accessible Education.

Bus drivers will teach safe crossing procedures to students who must cross the street.

Parents/Guardians should reinforce the following:

1. Students are to walk ten (10) feet in front of the bus so they can see the bus driver.
   "I see you, you see me."
2. Bus driver will motion by hand movement when it is clear to cross.
3. Student is not to move until the driver indicates they may do so.
4. Student then walks across the street, looking in both directions, making sure there are no vehicles and all is clear to cross.

Parents who meet their child at the bus stop are requested to meet them on the side of the road they are released on. If children have to cross, parents are requested to cross with them using the safe crossing procedures.

• Please click on this link to read an article on the School Bus Safety Zone

• Dutchess County Parcel Access is a great tool to use to look up a Dutchess County address to determine which school district it is in. Click on the District Boundary Map link to the left to see our own school district's boundaries.

RCK and John Jay students must have a late bus pass to ride the Late Bus. A student will be able to get a pass from their school's Administrator, Teacher, Coach or Advisor.

Students without a Late Bus Pass will not be allowed to ride per New York State Education Department's requirement for student accountability.

The cost to repair or replace any vandalized property will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Items NOT permitted on the School Bus:
Any items specified in the District Code of Conduct

• Animals
• Glass containers
• Hockey sticks
• Inflated balloons
• Large projects
• Medications
• Sharp items (such as umbrellas with sharp points)
• Skateboards
• Suitcases

No food or beverages are permitted on the bus. Many students in our district have food allergies and some of these allergies are severe and can even be life threatening.
New York State Department of Transportation Regulations limit the carrying of items on school buses to those that can be carried in the hands or on the lap of the student or secured under the seats so as not to interfere with passenger seating space, safety or comfort.

Any item that is deemed to be a safety hazard, in the opinion of the Transportation Supervisor, will not be allowed on the school bus.