Transportation
District Transportation Supervisor
Eddie Adams
Student Transportation Information
- Transportation Eligibility
- School Bus Drivers
- Behavioral Expectations
- Items not Allowed on the School Bus
- Cell Phone use on the School Bus
Jefferson County School District 509J provides transportation for elementary students who live more than 1 mile from their school of residence, and for
secondary students who live more than 1.5 miles from their school of residence, as required by state law.
Students with special needs may qualify for special transportation if they are unable to access school without it. Transportation must be included in your student’s individualized education plan (IEP) to receive service (Board Policy EEA-AR).
Students who attend a school outside their school of residence boundary are required to provide their own transportation to and from school. Students may not “hop on” any bus that will take them to school, nor ride home with a friend without a note from a parent/guardian and a bus pass from
student’s school office.
We encourage you to get to know your student’s school bus driver. They have an increasingly challenging (although rewarding) role in our community; a smile or a friendly “good morning” from students and parents goes a long way.
I AM SAFE:
• I keep your body and all objects to yourself and inside the bus
• I stay seated until the door opens at my stop
• I stay in the “Safety Zone” away from the bus
• I only cross in front of the bus as directed by the school bus driver
I AM RESPECTFUL:
• I follow the driver’s instructions
• I treat others with kindness
• I use appropriate language and speak in an inside voice
• I do not use any hygiene or cosmetic products on the bus
I AM RESPONSIBLE:
• I arrive at my bus stop 5 minutes before scheduled time
• I keep my belongings in my backpack and leave the bus clean
• I use technology responsibly
Animals, glass containers, aerosol cans, long-boards, fishing poles, weapons or look-alike weapons, golf clubs, helium balloons, or laser pens.
Roller blades, skateboards and shoes with wheels must be transported in a duffel bag or backpack. Skateboards may also be transported if they are securely attached to a backpack. Craft projects must be in a bag or box. Any item used in an unsafe manner may be confiscated and the student must bring a parent or legal guardian to the School
Administration Office to retrieve it.
We realize that it is important for students to
make contact with their friends and family before and after school. Personal cell phone use is allowed on the bus as long as it does not cause distractions. Phones and other technology may not be passed back and forth between students as this causes distractions.
In keeping with district practices, use of technology may not interfere with our core principles of respect and safety. Students are not allowed to use cameras on the bus nor share images to social media. Students may not show to other students any disrespectful or offensive movies, recordings, or images that are against district ethics (violence, pornography, etc.).
The school bus driver may ask the student to put their phone away, or confiscate the phone to be returned at the student’s stop. Students who do not follow these guidelines may lose technology privileges and/or face other disciplinary actions.
FAQs
Our family has moved or my child has changed schools. How does my child get on the bus?
Make sure you update your address (and all information) in your PowerSchool account. If you need assistance, please call your child’s school and they will be glad to help. Once your child’s information is updated you will fill out bus stop request form. You can access the form by clicking here.
Transportation will begin routing for the 2025/2026 school year on June 10, 2025. If you need help filling out the form, please give Transportation a call at 504.475.3536, ext. 2101 and we will be happy to walk you through the process.
How will I be notified about my child's bus route information?
By email which will include;
• Route #
• Address of the bus stop
• Pick up time, Monday Late Start
• Pick up time, Tue-Fri
• Drop off time, Mon-Fri
When will I know my child's bus route information?
August 25, 2025. This means that all bus stop request forms that have been received by Transportation, between June 10, 2025 and August 25, 2025, will be answered by email on the same day. The routes will
also be posted to ParentSquare and our district web site on August 25, 2025.
Why do I have to wait until August 25, 2025 for my child's bus route information?
Between June 10, 2025 and August 25, 2025, your child’s bus route could change many times depending on how many other children are also being added to the particular route your child rides. After August 25, all new bus stop change request forms will take up to 10 business days to route. Thank you for your patience as the department works through this process in order to best serve our students and families.
May my student be transported to/from a day care instead of home?
Your student may be transported to/from a day care if the following requirements are met.
1. The pick-up/drop-off point is located along a regularly scheduled route and
there is seating space on the bus.
2. No extra stop is required.
3. Notes to the driver from student/parent will not be accepted – the pass must
come from the Transportation Office.
4. PowerSchool must reflect the following. In ‘Contacts’ whomever is providing daycare must be registered as an emergency contact and school pick up. They must have a working phone with a current/working phone number. Please contact your child’s school if you need assistance.
If your child needs to be met at the bus, like kindergarten students, is there an adult available to meet your child at the bus stop, including group stops?
Approval to ride the bus does not carry over to the next school year. You must follow this
same process each school year.
Why can't the driver add a stop?
We take many things into consideration when constructing bus routes. Of those, student safety is the most important. Transportation uses established standards to decide where a bus stop is located. These decisions are not made while a bus driver is in route. Please do not ask drivers to make “special” stops for your child. Any changes to a route that have not
been approved by the Transportation Supervisor could make it difficult to share critical information with families in the case of an emergency.
When will my child be picked up when there is a two hour delay?
Please do not call the transportation office to find out
what time your bus will arrive. Add 2 hours to their regular stop time (i.e. if the bus usually arrives at 7:25 a.m., expect it to arrive at 9:25 a.m., 2 hours later)
When will my child be picked up when on Monday late start?
Please do not call the transportation office to find out
what time your bus will arrive. Add 1.5 hours to their regular stop time (i.e. if the bus usually arrives at 7:25a.m., expect it to arrive at 8:55 a.m., 1 hour and 30 minutes later).
What do I do if my child misses the bus?
The parent/guardian is responsible for transporting their child to school.
During inclement weather, how will I know if schools will be open or buses will be running on time?
- Sign up for ParentSquare
- Check the Jefferson County School District 509J website
Check the Jefferson County School District 509J Facebook or Instagram Page - Check out our inclement weather page to learn more about how we inform our families about delays or emergency closures.
If my student has not arrived at the normal drop off time, who do I call?
Afterschool route times are estimates and may vary depending on many factors. Call the Transportation dispatcher at 541-475-3536, ext. 2100. Dispatch can radio the driver to confirm any delays and provide an estimated arrival time.
Can a parent take their student off the bus along the route?
Federal and State Transportation regulations only permit the students to depart the bus at their designated stop or at school. This is for the safety and security of all students.
About Us
Our 509J School Bus fleet transports nearly all of our approximately 2,700 students
to and from school, sporting events and after-school programs each day.
Inclement weather, traffic patterns and road construction can impact the arrival time of your child’s bus and can also affect the time your child arrives at school. During the winter, it is important to make sure your child is dressed appropriately before heading out to the bus stop. Appropriate dress for winter weather includes gloves, hats, coats, and boots.