Watervliet City School District > Departments > Transportation

Transportation

New technology to enhance school bus safety

Watervliet City Schools has partnered with BusPatrol and the City of Watervliet to launch a new school bus stop-arm photo enforcement program aimed at reducing the number of drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. This proactive effort will help combat reckless driving around school buses and protect students who ride buses to and from school. Ticketing to begin June 20, 2024. Read more

Transportation Requests

Watervliet City School District transportation requests must be made to the school district each year for transportation of each child who is eligible (see policies below to determine if your child is eligible.) All requests must be submitted on the approved form and returned by April 1 for children who will be attending school in the fall. The pupil must be a resident of the Watervliet City School District. 

Transportation Policies

Elementary Pupils, Grades K-6

Elementary pupils who reside one-half (0.5) mile or more from school are provided round-trip transportation. Students are assigned specific buses, as well as bus stop pick-up and return points. These assignments are made based on a student’s residence.

Secondary Pupils, Grades 7-12

Transportation is offered for students who live 1.2 miles or more from school.

Pupils with Disabilities

Children who have been classified as disabled and attend school outside the district receive round-trip transportation to school provided the child has been recommended for placement by the District Committee on Special Education (CSE) and that recommendation has been approved by the Board of Education.

Children classified as disabled and attending a District school are provided special transportation if recommended by the CSE and approved by the Board.

School Bus Behavior

Transportation to and from school activities is a privilege, not a right. To ensure the safety of students who ride on the bus, the following rules must be followed.

All students shall:

  • Walk when entering and exiting the bus.
  • Show concern for the rights of others by not shouting, pushing, or throwing objects.
  • Remain seated at all times.
  • Leave windows as they are. If opened, arms and hands must not extend out the window.
  • Follow directions given by the driver promptly and courteously.

Violations of the rules may result in the following consequences for students:

  • Be warned by the driver. If the student does not comply, the driver will file a report with the school administration.
  • The parents will be contacted by the principal or assistant principal, and a copy of the driver’s report will be mailed to the parent. A conference may be requested by the principal, assistant ­principal or parent. The student is subject to a two-day suspension from riding the bus.
  • The student is subject to a five-day suspension from riding the school bus. If the student’s conduct on the bus fails to improve, the student is subject to a 10-day suspension from riding the bus. If the conduct on the bus still fails to improve, the student will lose bus privileges for the remainder of the school year.

Emergency Closings

The district uses several communications channels to inform parents and community members when school is closed, delayed, or closing early due to inclement weather, facility systems failure and/or other events that warrant a schedule change. Announcements will posted on the website, the district’s Facebook page, and sent via the One Call Now notification system.

Please be sure to check the following local media stations for school closings/delays, as well: WRGB (Channel 6), Spectrum News, WTEN (Channel 10), WNYT (Channel 13), WFLY (92.3 FM), WGNA (107.7 FM), WGY (810 AM), WYJB (B95.5), WRVE (99.5 FM), and the Times Union.

It is best to rely on more than one source of information when it comes to weather-related announcements. This is particularly true in situations that involve power outages, which can affect the district’s ability to send electronic notifications.

It also is important that parents make sure that their child knows where to go in case of an emergency dismissal. Please be sure to develop a plan of action.