RSCO Transportation

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• Pick-up and Drop-offs
• Bus Rules, Policies, and Guidelines
• Our Commitment to Safety

Pick-up and Drop-offs

Please Note: RSCO does not provide door-to-door transportation but typically assigns students to centralized bus stops. Generally, centralized bus stops are not within walking distance of a student’s home and require the student to be dropped off at the centralized location.

For Morning Pick-ups

• Families should allow for a 20-minute window (10 minutes before and 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup time) for the bus to arrive in the morning.
• Students must be at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.
• If the bus has not arrived at least 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup time, families should call the RSCO Transportation.
• Students PK to grade 2 must have an adult with them at the bus stop.

For Afternoon Drop-offs

• Students in PK through grade 2 must have an adult visible at the bus stop to receive students at drop-off.
• Siblings picking up students at the bus stop must be 12 years of age or older and must be listed on the contact list.

F.A.Qs

What if the bus is late or early?
If the bus arrives more than 10 minutes earlier or later than the scheduled time, please call CREC at 860-524-4077 or fill out a complaint report online.

Can parents ride the bus with their child?
No, parents are not allowed on the bus. The bus driver and monitor have to pass extensive record checks to be on the bus with children. CREC does not want to potentially endanger students by allowing unknown people on the bus.

How do I change my child's bus stop?
CREC magnet school parents or Choice parents can call the transportation office at 860-524-4077 or fill out the online request for change. Hartford magnet school parents should contact the school and the school will contact CREC.

Bus Rules, Policies, and Guidelines

Parent Responsibilities

Parents should instruct children to:

• Walk on sidewalks;
• Look both ways before crossing roads;
• Wait on the sidewalk, off the road pavement;
• Wait until the bus stops before trying to board;
• Behave appropriately walking to and from and while at the bus stop;
• Follow the behavior outlined for all students transported by CREC-sponsored transportation.

Bus and Bus Stop Behavior

The following behavior will be expected of all students transported by CREC-sponsored transportation:

• Students will board buses single file and proceed to their seats in an orderly manner.
• If assigned a seat, students must stay in that seat.
• Students will remain properly seated until their trip is completed unless specifically requested to do otherwise by the driver or monitor.
• Students may engage in normal conversation while on the bus; shouting or other loud, distracting behavior is not permitted.
• The following conduct is prohibited:
  • pushing, shoving, fighting or striking another student or adult;
  • disregarding directions from the driver or bus monitor;
  • breach of receiving school district's policies concerning drugs, weapons, vandalism, theft or threatening conduct towards fellow students or adults;
  • throwing articles within or out of the bus;
  • spitting, eating, or drinking while on the bus.

F.A.Qs

What if my child gets in trouble on the bus?
For the safety of all passengers, students who do not follow the bus rules will be subject to the suspension of bus riding privileges. Drivers will submit discipline referrals to the schools when students misbehave on the bus. The school will investigate and administer discipline. The driver may assign seats.

What if my child left something on the bus?
The driver usually holds anything they find on the bus for a few days. Your student should ask the driver for the lost item. You can also call the bus company or the transportation office.

Full RSCO Transportation Guidelines

These Guidelines were developed simultaneously with the Transportation Action Plan in order to implement a Regional Transportation System in accordance with the provisions of the April 2008 Sheff v. O’Neill Stipulation and Proposed Order and the requirements in its accompanying Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) of December 2008.

Our Commitment to Safety

Safety is the top priority with CREC Transportation. We are transporting the most precious cargo in the world, your children. CREC makes every effort to ensure that the bus companies we work with have well trained drivers and well maintained vehicles. Please contact us immediately if you have any concern about safety on a CREC school vehicle. The following all contribute to making your child's ride safe with CREC Transportation.

Drivers

Qualifications before being licensed:

• Must pass a fingerprint record check by state and federal authorities.
• Must pass a Department of Transportation physical examination.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen.
• Must pass a Department of Motor Vehicle driving record check.
• Must have 10 hours of training by law but most have at least 30 hours.
• Must pass knowledge test at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Must pass driving test (pre trip inspection, static course, and on the road) with a Connecticut Motor Vehicle Inspector.
• Must pass a Department of Children and Families screening.

Maintaining qualifications during employment:

• Must pass a Department of Transportation physical examination every other year.
• Subject to random drug and alcohol screening.
• Subject to post accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol screening.
• Must pass annual driving record check.
• Must attend at least 6 hours of in-service training each year.
• Subject to post-accident training.
• Must pass a driving test with a Connecticut Motor Vehicle Inspector before renewing their license.

Vehicles

All vehicles are inspected and a report submitted daily by the vehicle operator. The maintenance department inspects the vehicles every 90 days. A Connecticut Motor Vehicle Inspector inspects each vehicle annually.

Safety Checks

The bus companies have safety personnel to ride with or observe drivers along their routes. CREC also has a Safety Supervisor who observes bus stops and routes to ensure student safety.

Video Cameras and Global Positioning Systems

Many of CREC's contracted vehicles now possess video cameras and GPS. The cameras allow us to monitor student and driver behavior inside the bus. The GPS allows CREC to monitor the location of the bus at all times. It allows us to tell where the bus stops, when it stops, and how long it is stopped for. It also allows us to determine the speed of the bus and much more.

School Bus Safety Week

National School Bus Safety Week is always held the third full week in October. This is an ideal time for students to learn about school bus safety. CREC and its bus companies are available to assist schools with student school bus safety training. Please contact us at (860) 524-4077 for more information.

For more on school bus safety, please check out:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• National School Transportation Association (NSTA)