Who is a School Bus Driver?

Each bus driver that will be transporting your child is an employee of the Tomah Area School District. We have high standards for our drivers, and you can be assured that your child is safe on our buses.

Each driver must meet the following criteria:

• Maintain a WI Class B license with School Bus and Passenger endorsements
• Complete a DOT physical at least every other year
• Pass a license renewal test issued by a state certified examiner at least every eight years
• Maintain a clean background check and personal driving record
• Submit to Random Drug and Alcohol tests
• Attend Staff In-Service training meetings about many different topics

How can I help my child be safe while getting on and off the bus?

Below is a diagram of the “Danger Zones” of a school bus. Please review the following safety measures with your child:

• Avoid the danger zones at all costs.
• Take ten giant steps away from the bus.
• Do not cross the road until your driver signals that it is clear.
• Stop wherever you are if the driver honks the horn.

Our drivers direct the students away from these areas when they are unloading and ask each student who crosses to wait for their signal. By working together, we can prevent a tragedy from occurring.

Who can make changes to my child’s transportation plan?

Only parents/guardians and emergency contacts listed in my child’s Infinite Campus profile are able to make changes to a child’s transportation plan. Please keep the information in Infinite Campus up to date.

Bad weather is in the forecast and school may be cancelled. What should I do?

We notify several radio and TV stations and update the school website as soon as a decision is made. Parents/guardians must sign up for Parental Access through our student management system, Infinite Campus, to receive notifications. It is a parental responsibility to keep Infinite Campus updated with current contact information. Please do not call the Transportation Department as the large volume of calls we receive make it more difficult for us to notify the media and drivers in a timely and efficient way.

Are there cameras on the bus?

Please be advised that every regular education route bus is equipped with video surveillance. Your child(ren) are recorded during routes and field trips. Due to student privacy policies, only school district personnel are authorized to view the data. Video segments involving violations of law may be viewed by legal authorities. Data may be used to discipline students when deemed necessary by the Transportation Director or building administrators.

Am I able to view the video from the bus?

Unfortunately, due to the student privacy laws, only school district personnel, and in some cases law enforcement personnel can view the videos.

We moved to Tomah in the summer. When do I need to have my child registered for transportation?

Transportation registration is required two weeks prior to school starting to ensure transportation on the first day of school. If registration occurs after the two-week deadline, it may result in the student not having transportation until the fourth day of school. Transportation Registration can be requested by filling out the online form located under the Transportation Program Enrollment section above.

We moved to Tomah during the school year. When can I expect transportation to be arranged for my child?

When you come into our district during the school year, transportation will be arranged within four business days of completing the Online Transportation Request form located on the Transportation page of the District Website.

My child needs to ride a different bus for just a day or two. What do I do?

Consistency in pick up and drop off locations is the best policy for student safety. You will need to make transportation arrangements for your child if changes need to be made for a day or two. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate day-today changes due to liability and capacity issues. Please do not call the Transportation Department or the school or send a note with your child regarding riding a different bus. Requests cannot and will not be honored. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to transport their child when there is a day-to-day change with pick-up or drop-off locations. However, permission to ride an alternative bus may be granted in an emergency. If you are in an emergency and are seeking permission to ride an alternative bus, you must contact your child’s principal to discuss this situation. If permission is granted, the principal will contact the Transportation Department on your behalf. Switching buses to ride to another student’s house in a non-emergency situation will not be allowed.

I have requested a different elementary school for my child and a bus stops in my neighborhood. How does transportation work for my child?

If a parent/guardian requests an elementary school for their child outside the child’s home school attendance area and that request is granted, that does not automatically mean transportation will be provided. If there is an established bus route and enough room on the bus, their child may then ride that bus. If there isn’t room on an established bus route, then transportation is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

I have requested a different elementary school for my child but there isn’t an established route that passes by my house. How does transportation work for my child?

If a parent/guardian requests an elementary school for their child outside the child’s home school attendance area and that request is granted, that does not automatically mean transportation will be provided. If there is an established bus route and enough room on the bus, their child may then ride that bus. If there isn’t room on an established bus route, then transportation is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

I have open enrolled my child out of Tomah Area School District, but my child does attend TASD for a class. Can my child be transported if a bus comes past my house?

Open enrollment and course options policies make it a very clear that transportation is the responsibility of the parents/guardians.

I homeschool my child and my child attends TASD for a class. Can my child be transported if a bus comes past my house?

Open enrollment and course options policies make it a very clear that transportation is the responsibility of the parents/guardians.

How many different pick-up and drop-off locations can my child have during the school year?

For all riders the morning pickup location may differ from the afternoon drop-off location. However, the stops must be consistent. Transportation to and from other locations is the family’s responsibility. For students in a dual-custody arrangement transportation will be provided to either “home” location on different days of the week.

We have a split household. One parent/guardian lives in an outlying elementary school attendance area and the other parent/guardian lives in an in-town elementary school attendance area. Parents/guardians split custody 50%/50% (every other week) and have opted for their child to attend the outlying elementary school. Can that child be transported from each household?

Whatever school the parents/guardians select for the child to attend, that becomes the child’s home school. When parents/guardians select the outlying school, that becomes the child’s home attendance area. If there isn’t an existing bus route, with room on it, that could take the child from in-town to the outlying school, a special route would not be available. Parents/guardians would be responsible for transportation on the weeks the child was staying in-town. However, if the parents/guardians decide to send their child to an in-town school, there would be existing routes to bring the child to that in-town school from the outlying area every day.

My child attends TAMS. Is transportation always guaranteed?

TAMS is a choice school, so parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their child if there isn’t an established route with room on it.

Will my child be transported to and from the childcare provider rather than their home?

Under S. 121.54(2)(am), Wis. Stats., a school district may, but is not required to, transport a child for whom transportation is required to or from, or both, a before and after school day care program or other child care provider in lieu of transporting the child to and from his/her residence. However, TASD does its best to accommodate these requests. Contact the Transportation Department at 608-374-7377 to discuss your situation.

What happens with my other children if one of my children are assigned a particular elementary school because of overcrowding in a particular grade, special needs of the child, etc.?

If TASD assigns a student to a school outside the student’s home school attendance area for any reason, that becomes that student’s home school and all their siblings’ home school, if the parent/guardian wishes.

Is my child guaranteed to attend the school s/he attended for 4K and transportation will be provided?

If your child didn’t attend her/his home school for 4K, there is no guarantee s/he will automatically be eligible to attend that school the rest of the elementary school years. Your child will return to the home school for 5K and you can request the school that is outside the home school attendance area. If the request is granted, transportation would only be provided if there is an established route with room on the bus.

My 4K child lives in the City of Tomah and attends Oakdale for 4K. The daycare is in the Wyeville attendance area. Would my child receive transportation?

Under S. 121.54(2)(am), Wis. Stats., a school district may, but is not required to, transport a child for whom transportation is required to or from, or both, a before and after school day care program or other child care provider in lieu of transporting the child to and from his/her residence. However, TASD does its best to accommodate these requests. Contact the Transportation Department at 608-374-7377 to discuss your situation.

My child has an IEP with special transportation listed as a service. Can my other child also ride the special transportation?

No, special transportation is just for students with IEPs or 504 Plans that require such transportation. There are funding rules that need to be followed with the transportation of special needs students.

Will transportation be provided if my 4K child attends a half day program at a private school in the morning and a half day program at one of TASD 4K sites in the afternoon?

Yes, the 4K child will receive transportation from home to the private school in the morning, to the TASD 4K site at midday and back home in the afternoon.

Can my child be transported from Head Start in the morning to Early Childhood or 4K at Oakdale in the afternoon?

Yes, we would transport this child from Head Start at mid-day to Early Childhood or 4K.

How does Head Start, TASD 4K and transportation work?

Any student that is enrolled at the Head Start Program located at 402 Pine St., Tomah, WI, is strongly encouraged, yet not required, to attend 4K at Lemonweir Elementary School. TASD Transportation Department will only transport 4K students to school from Head Start, and from Head Start to school. TASD will not provide transportation to Head Start from home, or to home from Head Start. Daycare is also considered a “home”.

Does a parent/guardian or responsible person need to be present when a child is dropped off at a bus stop?

Yes, a parent/guardian or responsible person needs to be present when a child is dropped off at a bus stop if the child is in 1 st grade and younger. If the parent/guardian is unable to be present at the bus stop, a student second grade and over or another adult you designate, may get your child off the bus.

What is the disciplinary procedure if my child misbehaves on the bus?

Upon having an issue with a student, the driver will discuss the issue with the student to resolve it and remind the student of bus expectations. The driver will inform the student that if the behavior continues, the student’s parent/guardian will be contacted, and the student will receive a written bus referral. The District has a progressive discipline referral step system and will involve parent/guardians at every step. However, all major offenses may result in immediate suspension from the school bus without prior verbal or written warnings.

I understand that there is the procedure for student discipline, but what are the consequences of student misbehavior on school transportation?

Students who choose not to follow the rules of riding the school bus will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension from the bus. Student misconduct on the bus is separated into two (2) categories: minor offenses and major offenses. The list below is not inclusive of all offenses.

Examples of Minor Offences:

• Failure to Remain Seated
• Unacceptable Language
• Littering
• Improper Boarding or Departure Procedures
• Noisy or Annoying Conduct
• Hanging Out of the Window
• Obstructing the Aisle
• Hitting

Examples of Major Offences:

• Refusing to Obey the Driver
• Fighting
• Throwing Objects In or From Bus
• Destroying or Vandalizing Property
• Bringing Injurious Items Aboard the Bus
• Smoking and/or Lighting Matches or Lighters
• Possession of Alcohol or Weapons
• Possession of Drugs

1 st bus discipline referral will result in a written warning. 2nd bus discipline referral will result in a school consequence. 3rd bus discipline referral may result in suspension from riding the bus and a school consequence. Any referrals beyond the 3 rd bus discipline referral may result in suspension from the bus until a meeting has been had with a parent/guardian. All major offenses may result in immediate suspension from the school bus without prior verbal or written warnings.

My child is being disciplined for inappropriate behavior on the bus. Can I see the video?

Unfortunately, due to the student privacy laws, only school district personnel, and in some cases law enforcement personnel can view the videos.

My child is suspended from the bus for misconduct. Does he/she have to be in school?

YES! Your child’s suspension from the bus doesn’t excuse her/him from school. They may be marked truant if they are not in school due to a bus suspension.

My child is getting picked on by another student. What should I do?

Please contact the Transportation Department at 608-374-7377. The Transportation Director will work with the school principal to resolve the issue.

My child will not be riding the bus to school. Who should I contact?

Please contact the Transportation Department at 608-374-7377 and not the driver. Our office hours are 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and we have 24-hour voicemail. If your child will also be absent from school, you must contact the school as well.

Can other school district buses come in TASD to pick up a student that has open enrolled from TASD to that district?

A nonresident school district may not provide any transportation that picks up the student within the boundaries of the student’s resident school district unless permission to do so has been granted by the resident school district. TASD doesn’t allow a nonresident school district to pick up their resident student within the boundaries of TASD.

Why isn’t there the same pick-up and drop-off locations for Summer PACK as the school year?

According to state statute, school districts may, but are not required to, provide transportation during the summer. Districts choosing to provide summer transportation must exercise reasonable uniformity in the minimum and maximum distances pupils are transported. Tomah Area School District has established Summer PACK pick-up and drop-off locations that are located throughout the District.

Does a parent/guardian or responsible person need to be present when a child is dropped off at a bus stop?

Yes, a parent/guardian or responsible person needs to be present when a child is dropped off at a bus stop if the child is in 1 st grade and younger. If the parent/guardian is unable to be present at the bus stop, a student second grade and over or another adult you designate, may get your child off the bus.

My child attends a daycare outside their school’s attendance area. Can she be transported to and from the daycare?

Under S. 121.54(2)(am), Wis. Stats., a school district may, but is not required to, transport a child for whom transportation is required to or from, or both, a before and after school day care program or other child care provider in lieu of transporting the child to and from his/her residence. However, TASD does do its best to accommodate these requests. Contact the Transportation Department at 608-374-7377 to discuss your situation.

We open enrolled our child to the Tomah Area School District. How does transportation for my child work?

Parents/guardians of open enrolled students are responsible for their transportation to and from school. However, those students may ride on an established route if there is room. Parents/guardians will be required to get their child to the established bus stop. Contact the Transportation Department at 608-374-7377 to discuss your situation. The Transportation Director will have the final decision on these situations.

If my elementary child gets on the bus and wants to get off the bus at the middle school, will that be allowed?

No. Once students are on the bus, they need to stay on the bus until their designated drop-off location.

My child has an IEP with special transportation listed as a service. Can my other child also ride the special transportation?

No, special transportation is just for students with IEPs or 504 Plans that require such transportation. There are funding rules that need to be followed with the transportation of special needs students.

What time do the morning shuttles from Tomah Middle School leave to get transfer students to LaGrange, Lemonweir, Tomah School of Childhood, Oasis, Tomah Baptist Academy and TAMS?

Some students will ride their bus from home in the morning to Tomah Middle School and then transfer to a bus to take them to their elementary school. That bus will leave Tomah Middle School at 7:40 a.m. each day.

The TASD Transportation Department will collect all items left on our vehicles and display them in our office for claim. You may come to the Transportation Department located at 1550 Townline Road any day school is in session between 8 AM - 4 PM to look for any lost items. 

Please put your student's name in all of their personal items for easy identification so we may return them. 

Thank you.