Transportation

Accessing Your Student's Bus Information

The Horseheads Central School District Transportation Department uses My Ride K-12 to share busing information with families. My Ride K-12 is a mobile app that is integrated with ourt transportation software that allows both you, your student, and others that you designate to access estimated bus arrival and departure times, as well as tracking the bus in real-time. This helps ensure that you and your student are on time for pick-ups and drop-offs.

Download My Ride K-12 App Parent Resource
(Spanish version)

Bus Request Process

At HCSD, all children in the district can ride a school bus to and from their school (with certain exceptions). In order for us to know which families require transportation each year, we ask parents/guardians to submit a bus request form for the following school year beginning in April, and we ask that parents/guardians request transportation by the end of June. In the spring, we will share more information on how to request busing. If you have questions, please contact us at 607-739-6338 or contact one of our dispatchers at the email addresses listed below.

Questions about busing? Contact one of our dispatchers:

Nicole Bond: nbond@horseheadsdistrict.com
Laurie Bonci-Rosplock: lboncirosplock@horseheadsdistrict.com
Erica Emanuel: eemanuel@horseheadsdistrict.com

For frequently asked questions about transportation, click here. For information on school closings/delays, click here.

The Horseheads Central School District includes approximately 143 square miles. The Transportation Department provides transportation for approximately 4,000 public and parochial school students each year. Buses travel 900,000 miles yearly. On a typical day, our 74 buses log about 4,000 miles. The district has a 100% busing policy, meaning any child in the district may be bused to school. We also transport district students to private and parochial schools. Bus stops are set at quarter mile marks so that no student walks more than 1/8 of a mile to a bus stop. We also transport our students to field trips, athletic competitions, and other educational events.

The district is one of the only school districts in the state to require all employees in the Transportation Department to have a CDL Bus Driver's License. All bus drivers must undergo required physical exams, background checks, and random drug testing as well as complete safety courses, special needs training, and first aid/CPR training. The department maintains a near 100% passing rate on all Department of Motor Vehicle inspections, which is above the state average.

Bus Safety

Safety is our priority. Our buses are equipped with the most up to date safety equipment, including flashing red lights, stop bars, and cameras. Bus drivers conduct three bus safety drills per year at each school. We remind drivers that passing a school bus with red lights flashing is a violation of motor vehicle law.

School Bus Safety Guidelines

The school district may deny bus transportation to any student if these safety guidelines are violated. Parents and guardians still have the legal responsibility to have their children attend school.

Students must arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes prior to their bus arrival time.
Students are to wait several feet from the highway.
As students depart the bus, they should look both ways in case of vehicles passing on the right.
Students crossing the road must wait for a signal from the bus driver and then cross te feet in front of the bus, stopping at the center of the road to look both ways before proceeding.
Students will show identification upon request and must comply with any request by the bus driver, monitor, or district personnel.
Students will board the bus in an orderly fashion, face forward, and remain seated until the bus stops. Distracting behavior is not allowed. Students may not change seats when the bus is in motion. Drivers will assign seats.
Students may not put hands, arms, head, or feet out of the bus windows or throw any articles in or at the bus or at any other vehicle. Conduct should be no different than in the classroom. Drivers may establish more restrictive guidelines if conditions warrant.
There is absolutely no smoking, chewing, or possession of tobacco products or electronic cigarettes on or near the school bus at any time by students or school personnel.
Drink, food, or candy is not permitted on regular bus routes.
Destruction or damage of a school bus or a student’s property could result in immediate suspension and/or restitution for damages.
At school dismissal time, students are to go immediately to their buses. At the High School and Middle School, a warning signal is given, then two minutes later, the final signal. At that time drivers are required to close their doors. Students are not allowed to board the bus after the final signal. Students who miss their bus should report to the school office and make arrangements for a ride home.
Students who must transfer from one bus to another must go directly to their transfer bus.
No pick-ups at the transfer points are allowed unless the request is received in writing and approved by the Transportation Department.
Students must get on and off the bus at their regular, designated stop. If a student wishes to get on or off at another stop when riding the regular bus, he/she must have a written request from the parent/guardian.
Cell phones are not to be used to take photos/videos and must be in silent mode.
We cannot accommodate friends riding home with friends.
Articles such as aerosol and glass containers, perfume products, laser lights, knives, weapons of any kind, firecrackers, lighters, or sharp objects are not allowed on the bus.
Large parcels, certain musical instruments, and athletic equipment such as skis, poles, hockey sticks, baseball bats, etc. are not allowed.

The school district may deny bus transportation to any student if these safety guidelines are violated. Parents and guardians still have the legal responsibility to have their children attend school.

Questions? Call (607) 739-5601, x4501 or email hcsdinfo@horseheadsdistrict.com.