FAQ

Where will my student's bus stop be?

Routing is completed by examining stops for safety, accessibility, and driver visibility. The backing of buses, entering cul-de-sacs, and dead ends are avoided if at all possible. Bus stops are kept to a minimum. Please check skyward for bus stop location and times.

Does my student need to be registered to ride the bus?

Yes, all students that ride the bus need to be registered.  Students not registered may not have a seat on the bus due to capacity limits.

Click here to access the transportation registration form.

What should I teach my child in order to be a safe rider?

Riding on a school bus is a privilege - NOT A RIGHT.  Failure to comply with the rules could result in the loss of your bus riding privilege. 

When talking with students about Bus Rules and Behavior Expectations on the school bus, we try to keep it simple:

1. Sit in your assigned seat, facing forward.

2. Keep hands and personal items to yourself.

3. If the bus is moving, you stay seated.

4. Obey the bus driver at all times.

The bus is an extension of the classroom. As such, behavior expectations on the school bus are very similar to behavior expectations in the classroom.

When should my child be at the Bus Stop BEFORE school?

Bus riders should be at their assigned bus stop at least five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time.  This allows for some variation in the bus route due to unanticipated events.

When should I anticipate my child to be at the bus stop AFTER school?

Parents, guardians, or other responsible persons who meet their child at the bus stop after school should be ready to receive their child anytime after the school’s ending bell time.

At a minimum, the responsible person should be at the bus rider’s after-school bus stop at least five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled drop-off time.  This allows for some variation in the bus route due to unanticipated events.

Are parents/guardians allowed to board the School Bus?

For the protection of all students, a parent/guardian should never board a bus with students on board because it can be very frightening to the bus riders and can startle the bus driver.

Should I call if my student will not be riding the bus?

Yes, if the bus has to go out of its way to reach your assigned bus stop, a call to the Bus Garage 217-498-9834 will be helpful.

Can my student ride home with another student?

Rochester does not allow students to ride home with friends.  Students will only be allowed to ride to another student's home for babysitting and/or emergency situations.  These transportation changes have to be approved by the designated administrator at your student's building.

We just moved to the district or are moving to a new house in the district, how do I get my address changed?

Parents/legal guardians have to call the Rochester District office at 217-498-6210 to change the student bus stop address.  Bus transportation can not be changed until the District Office is notified and supplied with the appropriate paperwork.

My student lost/left an item on the bus. How do I retrieve said item?

Call the bus garage at 217-498-9834.  Hours are 6:30am- 4:30pm. Have students ask the bus driver the following day for the item.   Having students' names written on items will help the bus garage get the item back to students.

Can my student get off at another bus stop on their bus route?

No, students will not be allowed to exit the bus until their bus stop.  The driver will not allow students to get off unless a note has been sent from the parent to the student's school office for permission.  

Who selects the seating on the bus?

It is the driver's responsibility to assign seats on the bus.  Principals may ask for students to be moved at times but it is strictly the driver's decision to seat students.  Seats are assigned by many variables: safety, behavior, medical, & health reasons.  

Are students allowed to eat on the bus?

Eating, drinking, and gum chewing are NOT ALLOWED on the school bus. This policy is enforced to avoid choking hazards and any anaphylactic reactions.

How many bus stops can my student have?

Students are allowed a primary bus stop and one alternate bus stop.

What determines if a student is eligible for transportation?

All Students living one and one half miles or more from school are eligible for transportation. (105 ILCS 5/29-3)  

All Students K- 8 grade are eligible for transportation.

*High School students living less than 1.5 miles from school, North of HWY 29, are not eligible for busing per Illinois School Code. (105 ILCS 5/29-3)

 SAFETY

Illinois State Board of Education School Bus Safety Brochure

Do I have to stop when I see a school bus with its overhead “red” lights on?

YES, YOU MUST STOP.  

 A driver must stop before meeting or overtaking (passing) a school bus that is stopped and loading or unloading passengers. This includes: 

 • Any two-lane roadway, in rural areas and within city limits.

 • Any roadway, highway, or private road.

 • Any parking lot located on school property. 

A warning will be given by the school bus at least 100 feet (200 feet in rural areas) in advance of a stop. The bus driver will flashlights on the front and rear of the bus. The school bus stop signal arm will be extended after the school bus has come to a complete stop. A driver approaching a school bus from the opposite direction must come to a complete stop and remain stopped until the stop signal arm is no longer extended and the flashing lights are turned off or the school bus driver signals vehicles to pass. 

A conviction for passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights and the stop arm extended will result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license. If the owner(s) of the vehicle were not driving when the offense occurred, they must provide the State’s Attorney’s Office with the name of the person driving the vehicle or their vehicle registration will be suspended for three months.  

Illinois State Police School Bus Safety Brochure