West Shore

School District

Transportation

Now Hiring: We Need YOU!

Our bus drivers are the first to greet students each day and the last member of our team to see them before they return home. We have an amazing group of drivers, but can really use a few more caring individuals to join us!

First Student, our transportation contractor, is currently offering:

$20.00/hour starting wage
$3,000 sign-on bonus for CDL drivers
$2,000 sign-on bonus for non-experienced drivers
$1,000 sign-on bonus for van drivers
Paid CDL training
Child ride along program
Flexible Schedules
Five paid holidays
Benefits and 401k

We encourage those who are interested to contact First Student at 717-938-8788 or apply online at https://apply.workatfirst.com/vacancy/school-bus-driver-45814/46059/description/

The District provides transportation to and from school for students based on the state approved guidelines for reimbursement. Those guidelines indicate that elementary students who live 1.5 or more miles from the school and middle and high school students who live 2 or more miles from their schools are eligible to ride District transportation. Eligible students are assigned to a specific bus and a specific bus stop.

A parent request to change a bus stop must be submitted to the building principal on the appropriate form. The principal will forward this request to the Transportation Department where a final decision is made regarding each request. Parents are notified in writing as to the approval or disapproval of the request. While the District will make every effort to accommodate requests for bus stop changes due primarily to babysitting arrangements, parents are advised that a student may not be assigned to two different buses.

Students are to be at their assigned bus stops at least five minutes prior to the time assigned for that stop. Rules and guidelines for riding school buses and vans are published in each building’s student handbook.

Students who do not abide by these rules will be reported to the principal on a Bus Incident Report. Based on the severity and number of offenses, the principal will assign a disciplinary consequence to the student, which could include a suspension of bus riding privileges.

Bus Schedules

The Transportation Department is dedicated to ensuring students arrive to and from school safely and on time. As an added measure to protect student privacy and safety, the District no longer publishes bus schedules on the District website.

In August, elementary schools will email detailed bus stop information, including stop location and pick-up/drop-off times, to parents of students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Middle and high school parents and students will be able to access their busing information in PowerSchool at the same time schedules and class assignments are available.

If you would like to request a bus stop different from the assigned stop, a District Transportation Exception form must be submitted. Click here for additional information and a downloadable version of the exception form. If you have other questions or concerns about your child’s bus assignment, please contact the transportation department.

Related Board Policies

Board Policies 810 and 810.1 pertain to transportation issues. Policy 810.1 indicates that video cameras are placed on school buses to ensure that student behavior is consistent with the established bus rules. A notice is posted on each District bus notifying riders they are subject to video/audio surveillance.

Contacts

For bus stop issues and transportation exception request questions, please contact:

Kristen Pepperman
Supervisor of Transportation
[email protected]
717-938-9577

Reporting a Late Bus or Item Lost on a School Vehicle

Families are reminded that if a bus is late or has not arrived within an acceptable time frame to call the District’s transportation provider First Student at 717-938-8788. This contact number puts parents in direct contact with First Student staff who can radio a driver to inquire as to their whereabouts. Please do not call your student’s school or the District main office as a first option. Contacting First Student will yield an immediate or faster response.

Doreen Strayer

First Student Location Manager
[email protected]

717-938-8788

First Student

Since December 2013, the District has contracted the services of First Student to provide busing for the District. In order to meet the transportation needs of all District students, First Student utilizes existing West Shore School District busses and vans in addition to their own.

To view downloadable resources for parents and staff which encourage safe school bus behaviors, please visit First Student's Parent Resource website.