Dear Parent/Guardian:
Does your child need bus transportation to a private or parochial school for the 2022-23 school year?
In accordance with New York State Education Law and Bethlehem Central School District Policy, school-age children will be provided transportation to private/parochial schools within 15 miles of the child’s home. This request must be made in writing by April 1st, preceding the school year in which transportation is needed.
Annual Transportation Request Form – Due April 1
Parent(s) must submit a request for transportation each year if your child is enrolled in private/parochial schools.
Note: If you are unable to access the form as a PDF, please contact the Transportation Department at 518-439-7885.
All incoming kindergarten students requesting transportation to a private/parochial school must meet Bethlehem’s age requirements for kindergarteners and register with the district before transportation can be granted. A copy of the child(s) birth certificate is required along with the transportation request for incoming kindergartners.
Please return the Private/Parochial School Transportation Request Form by mail, email or fax to:
Mail: BCSD Transportation, 82 Van Dyke Rd., Delmar, NY 12054
Email: transportation@bethlehemschools.org
Fax: 518-439-7885
Transportation and the BCSD calendar
All Private/Parochial School students are transported by Bethlehem district buses and will follow the Bethlehem District Calendar for transportation on a daily basis as well as anytime there may be a delay or an emergency early release. Private/Parochial transportation is not provided when Bethlehem schools are closed for holidays or recess week(s). Click here to view the BCSD calendar.
Walking to a Bus Stop – BCSD Policy 8412
The current “Walking Distance to A Bus Stop” is outlined in Board Policy 8412.
This policy establishes the following walking distance from home to a bus stop:
- K-5 up to 1/10th of a mile
- 6-8 up to ½ of a mile
- 9-12 up to 1 mile.
Parents/guardians are responsible for the safety of their children to/from the bus stop.
Important notes about bus transportation
- Please remember the pickup and drop-off times are APPROXIMATE. We do not guarantee an exact pickup and drop-off time!
- For the first couple of weeks, have your child at the stop at least 10 minutes early. Times of pickup will vary until the kinks are worked out. We then ask that your child be at the bus stop at least five minutes prior to the bus arrival time. Sometimes the bus may be running a couple of minutes early or late with respect to the “advertised” time. Please call the bus garage if the bus is running late more than 10 minutes. Above all else, tell your children not to run after a missed school bus – doing so can be dangerous!
- Children should NOT wait inside the home or the garage. It is very hard for the driver to see them and the bus may not stop. We are not obligated to stop if we do not see a student at the stop.
- Please disregard the letter designation after the route number.
- The designated stops are SUBJECT TO CHANGE. If stop changes, we will notify the student and the parent either verbally, telephonically, in writing or a combination of. State Education Department mandates that we run an efficient routing system, therefore changes are inevitable.
- For parents who drop off children at the Middle School going to Out-of-District Schools, dropping off behind buses and walking in between buses is not allowed and is not safe. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.
- Door to door, pickup and drop off is for Kindergarten students, students who live on specially designated roads and children with special needs (IEP) only.
- Please make sure your house number is visible from the road.
- By law, we cannot allow any object (including any athletic equipment or musical instruments) that cannot fit on the lap of a child, to be brought on the bus. Equipment or instruments that do fit on the lap may not be higher than the seat in front of your child.
- Bus drivers, by law and regulation, are not allowed to wait or beep their horn at your stop.
- Objects with sharp points, such as an umbrella, are not allowed on the buses due to safety concerns.
- Please re-enforce the use of seat belts on school buses.
- Eating and/or drinking on the bus is not allowed.
- Please make sure your child(ren) never chase after a bus for any reason.
- Call the department if the bus is running late more than 10 minutes.
- Finally, yet importantly, the parent(s) is/are responsible for their child to and from the bus stop.
- If you have any questions regarding this information, please call the transportation office at the number listed on the opposite side.
- Bus drivers have the final sayon seating arrangements for students.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Transportation Department at 518-439-3830.
Sincerely,
Bethlehem Transportation Department