General Information

Transportation is available for all students who live one (1) mile or more from the school they attend.  Students should be at their assigned bus stop FIVE MINUTES PRIOR to pickup time. The pickup time the student receives in the beginning of the school year is an estimated time. The time will be established during the first week of school.  It is important that the student is at their stop and not inside the house watching for the bus. The driver is not required to stop if the child is not out at their assigned stop. Students are to board and disembark at the same address. Due to safety concerns, buses will not return for students who are not at their stop when the bus arrives. Only in emergency situations will be students be issued a pass to ride another bus.  Students are to ride their assigned buses only. Parents must contact the transportation department before students will be allowed to ride a different bus. The high school and middle school will not issue passes to students. 

Route Procedures 

1. Students who live within one mile of the school are not provided transportation.  Only special needs students will have house stops, all other house stops will be determined on an individual basis.  Pick ups in cul de sac’s or no outlet streets will be determined on an individual basis. We will not go into a cul de sac or no outlet street that is .5 miles or less from the connecting street. The stop will be at the corner of the connecting street. 
    
2. One pick up and drop off point for all students. All students will have one location to be picked up and dropped off.  Students may not switch pick up and drop off locations unless there is an emergency and only then if it is cleared through the transportation office.  DAILY CHANGES WILL NOT BE APPROVED.
    

Safety Rules and Regulations

• Parents and students should familiarize themselves with school bus regulations. The school provides copies of these regulations in student handbooks. When students do not follow the rules, they jeopardize the safety of everyone on the bus.  Students who do not follow the rules and regulations or who refuse to follow the directions of the bus driver will lose riding privileges. 
• Cell phones are allowed to be used on the buses until the use of the phone is a distraction for the driver. For example, students are passing the phone back and forth, phone is used to for taking pictures which causes the driver to take their eyes off the road or viewing media which causes disruption on the bus. Students will be warned once and if they continue to use the phone, it will be handed to the driver and the parent will need to pick up the phone at the Transportation Department. 
• Large boxes or large instruments are not allowed on the bus. These items block the main aisle and will not allow the students to exit the bus in case of an accident. Please take/pick up your child to/from school on the days they will be bringing home a large item. 
• School bus drivers can only pickup and drop-off riders at an authorized regular daily stop.  Drivers cannot make changes to stops without authorization from the Transportation Department.  Transportation for non-school related functions is the parent's responsibility. Only those students eligible for transportation are entitled to ride a bus that has been assigned to them. 
• All kindergarten students must be met at the bus stop by an parent/guardian/older sibling to pick up your student(s).

Getting on the Bus:

• Make sure your child knows his/her address (THIS INCLUDES HIGH SCHOOLERS).
• Be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• Maintain a safe distance. Stand at least 6 feet away from the curb when the bus approaches.
• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it's okay to step onto the bus.
• Remain visible to the bus driver at all times. If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead of it before you cross. Be sure the bus driver can see you and you can see the bus driver.
• Never walk behind the bus. You should always make sure that you're in the driver's line of sight. The driver cannot see immediately behind the bus.  Remember, if you cannot see the bus mirrors, then the bus driver cannot see you.
• Use the handrails to avoid falling.
   

When Exiting the Bus:  

• Use the handrail when exiting.

• Be careful that clothing and backpacks don't get caught in the handrails or doors when exiting the bus.

• If you have to cross in front of the bus after you get off, first walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver.

• Make sure the driver can see you.

• Wait for a signal from the driver before crossing in front of the bus.

• When the driver signals, look left, right, then left again. Walk across the road and keep an eye out for sudden traffic changes.

• If your vision is blocked, move to an area where you can see other drivers and they can see you.

• Do not cross the center line of the road until the bus driver signals that it’s safe.

• Stay away from the rear wheels of the bus at all times.

• If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up without warning the driver first, because the driver may not be able to see you.

School bus drivers are to have control of all school children conveyed between the homes of the children and the school house, and return.  The driver shall keep order, maintain discipline among the children while in the bus or along the route, shall treat all the children in a civil manner, shall see that no child is imposed upon or mistreated while in his charge, and shall use every care for the safety of the children under his/her charge.  School bus drivers shall assure that the following regulations are observed by all pupil passengers:

1. All riders will be assigned a bus, and they will only be allowed to ride the bus that has been assigned to them.

2. Students should be at their assigned bus stop 5 minutes prior to pick up time. It is important that the student is at their stop and not inside the house watching for the bus. The driver is not required to stop if the child is not out at their assigned stop.

3. No pupil shall stand or move from place to place during the trip.

4. Loud, boisterous, or profane language, or indecent conduct shall not be tolerated.  Smoking is not permitted.

5. Pupils shall not be allowed to tease, scuffle, trip, hold, hit, or use their hands or feet or body in any objectionable manner.

6. No windows or doors will be opened or closed except by permission of the bus driver.

7. No pupils shall enter or leave the bus until it has come to a complete stop and the door has been opened by the driver.

8. Students are not allowed to bring guests home on their bus, even if the guest is registered for bus service.

9. A student may bring a musical instrument onto the bus as long as the instrument will fit on the student's lap. Instruments should not be placed on the floor or on the seat.

10. No food or beverage allowed on the bus at any time.

Click here to view STM's School Crossing Guard Map

Students living in the "No Transportation Zone" will not be transported to school by a School Town of Munster bus.  A decline in funding is causing the School Town of Munster to enforce a No Transportation Zone (NTZ) policy.

Why The Change?

Property tax caps (also known as the Circuit Breaker) were passed by Indiana legislators in 2008.  When they were being considered, many districts across the state informed elected officials that they would result in reduced services.  This has now come to fruition.  Since 2009, the Circuit Breaker has prohibited the School Town of Munster from collecting millions of dollars for Transportation.

Public schools are limited in the funds that can be raised to pay for transportation and all other expenses.  On top of those limits, the Circuit Breaker reduced funds available even further. Regretfully, less funding = fewer services.

Find my bus stop

All students who live outside of the walk zone of the school for which their residence is zoned are eligible for school bus transportation. The walk zone for all schools is 1 mile from school grounds.  Whether you want your child to actually walk those distances, is your decision. Those are the distances at which transportation services begin.

The school should be contacted as soon as possible with address or telephone number change information. Once changes are recorded in the district's database, the data will appear in school bus routing software within 24 hours. A new bus stop will be assigned within 2 days of receiving the change. Remember, this information is used to verify your child's eligibility for transportation services and to contact you in the event of an emergency. It is very important that it remain current and valid.

 No. Students are not permitted to ride to or from an alternate location with a friend. In the event of a serious family emergency, contact the Transportation Office (219) 836-3234 x8005 as early as possible so alternate arrangements can be explored. 

Maybe.  Please click on the following link for information on transporting instruments on school buses.

Click HERE for details on Transporting Musical Instruments on the School Bus.