Forgive me if I am over-posting. But I thought I'd provide these 2 documents from the Clay County Schools Website.
If anyone would like to call the director, here is the info.....Bob Veres Director of Transportation (904) 284-6594
FAQ
How can I determine whether school bus service is available for my child?
The easiest way is to go to the school district website at
www.clay.k12.fl.us and click on MAPNETWEB. All
you have to do is put in your address and the information is right at your finger tips. You can also call your
child’s school and ask.
I checked and discovered there is no bus service for my child. Why?
B
y state law, transportation is only required for those students who live at least 2.0 miles from their assigned
school. Clay County’s policy however allows transportation of students who live at least 1.5 miles from his/
her assigned elementary school or 2.0 miles from his/her secondary school.I drove my car to the school, and my odometer indicates that the distance is over 2 miles. Why is there
a discrepancy?
Your home may be less than 2 miles walking distance from the school. According to State Board of Education
rules, the walking distance determines when transportation is required. Walking distance is measured
along the shortest available pedestrian path from your home to the school.
Does the “walking distance” rule prohibit the school district from transporting my child just because
he/she lives too close to the school?
Transportation from homes less than 2 miles away from school is at the discretion of the school district, although
it is NOT funded by the state. Again, Clay County’s policy provides transportation to elementary
aged children who live 1.5 (not 2) miles from their assigned school.
What about students with disabilities?
Most students with disabilities are eligible for transportation regardless of distance to school.
Are there other situations in which students, who live under 1.5 or 2.0 miles from their school, would
receive transportation?
Yes. Transportation is available to students who must travel along routes that would be subject to certain
hazards. These hazards are defined in state law on Hazardous Walking Conditions (Section 1006.23, Florida
Statutes, available at
http://www.leg.state.fl.us.
Who is responsible for getting my child to and from school safely?
The responsibility for ensuring the safe arrival of children to and from school must be shared among various
segments of the community. Parties involved include: schools, parents, law enforcement agencies, city,
county or state traffic engineers, and sometimes the students themselves, depending on their ages and abilities.My work schedule won’t let me drive or walk with my child to and from school.
There is dangerous
traffic along the route and, to make matters worse, I have heard that my child would have to walk by
a sexual predator’s house. What should I do?
Sometimes family-friendly employers will provide flexible working schedules to parents who explain to them
that they have to drive their children to school. If that doesn’t work, there are various other options you may
want to explore, such as carpooling with trusted neighbors or other parents or organizing a parent-led walking
group.Where can I get more information about student transportation?
If you need more information, you can visit the web site of the Florida Department of Education School
Transportation office at
http://www.fldoe.org/transportation/ or call the office at (850) 245-9795
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Dear Parent or Guardian,
The Clay County School Board Transportation Department’s mission is to provide safe,
efficient and effective transportation services for the students of Clay County. We are
honored to be entrusted with providing your child’s transportation.
Student safety is our number one concern. Therefore, we need to solicit your assistance
in reviewing and discussing proper school bus behavior with your student. Classroom
behavior is expected on the school bus. We all understand that driving in traffic today is
difficult and requires the driver’s complete attention. If the actions or behavior of a
student distracts a driver, they are jeopardizing the safety and welfare of the other
students on the bus. Clay District Schools take student behavior, on the bus, very
seriously. We can not ignore behavior that compromises the safety of others.
If a student misbehaves on the bus, the driver writes a disciplinary referral on said student
and it is turned in to the school for disciplinary action. The school administrator takes the
appropriate action, based on the Student Code of Conduct and the schools disciplinary
procedure. If a student’s bus riding privilege is suspended, they can not ride any Clay
District School bus.
School bus routes and stops are based on federal, state and local policies. While we
would like to honor all requests, obviously we must follow policy. Unfortunately, we can
not satisfy everyone’s request. The state considers any student that lives less than two (2)
miles from the school they attend to be in a walk zone and does not provide funding for
transportation services. Clay District Schools transports elementary school students living
greater than 1.5 miles from the school they attend. Residing within the “Walk Zone”
does not mean that your student must walk to school. The parent/guardian must decide
whether the student walks, rides a bike, is part of a car pool, a friend transports or
parent/guardian provides transportation. The only exception is if the walk path is
considered dangerous according to state or district policy. Many conditions that we as
parents consider to be hazardous are not hazardous by state or district policy.
Unfortunately, if the path isn’t hazardous by policy, it falls under parental responsibility.
Please remind your student of safety issues both on and off the school bus. It is
extremely important that they remain off the road and do not horseplay at their bus stop
location. They should report any safety issues to you, the school administrator, or law
enforcement. Actual bus concerns are to be reported to transportation. Once again,
classroom behavior is expected on the bus. Students should sit in their assigned seat and
Page 2
Bus Student Safety
refrain from any loud talking or yelling. Food and drinks are not permitted on the bus,
due to the possibility of a choking hazard. Cellular phones, MP3 players, video type
games, etc. are not permitted to be used, same as in the classroom. These items could
distract the student from hearing or being alert to driver instructions, in case of an
emergency. Also, please have your student avoid loose draw-strings, straps and similar
objects that could get caught on the bus door or within the loading area. No items, larger
than those that can be held on the students lap, are permissible on the school bus. These
items could become projectiles in the event of an accident. Once again, your student’s
safety is our main concern.
If the Transportation Office can be of assistance to you, please call 284-6523. Your
patience is respectfully requested, due to the phone lines being extremely busy, at the
beginning of the school year.
Thanks in advance for your assistance and cooperation!
BEST WISHES FOR A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE SCHOOL YEAR!
Respectfully,
R.L. “Bob” Veres
Director of Transportation
Clay District Schools
(904) 284-6594
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FYI, I couldn't find it on the site, but I have been told by a member of transportation that bus stops often are NOT within a subdivsion but on a main road because of time limitations.