Transportation
Bus
For the safety of our students, families, and bus personnel, our bus routes will no longer be publicly posted. Bus routes are made available via the PowerSchool Parent-Student Portal. You will need login credentials to access the bus routes within PowerSchool. If you have forgotten your login credentials, have never received them, or for students in grade K-2, please contact your child's school.
We ask that you support our safety efforts by not publishing any bus routes on a public site (social media, web pages, etc.).
All requests for changes to existing bus stops or new stop additions must be submitted using the form below.
Submit a bus stop change or addition request
The safety of our students is the top priority in Trussville City Schools. School bus drivers serve as the district’s authority on the bus and are responsible for ensuring a safe and orderly environment. Therefore, students are expected to follow and respect all instructions given by the driver—both while boarding and exiting the bus and during the ride.
Safe transportation depends on the driver’s full attention and the cooperative behavior of all student passengers. To support this, we encourage parents and guardians to talk with their child about the importance of following bus rules and behaving responsibly. These expectations are grounded in district policy and are essential to maintaining the safety and well-being of every student on board.
Expectations
- General Safety Rules
- Waiting for the bus
- Exiting the bus
- Missed the bus
- Permission to ride a different school bus/different route stop
General Safety Rules
- Obey the instructions of the bus driver. At no time should a student be disrespectful or refuse to cooperate with the driver.
- Board and leave the bus at designated stops only.
- All students must ride their assigned bus. Student transportation on a bus other than the bus regularly assigned will be granted only if room is available on the bus and the school administration approves the written parental request.
- It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide transportation to school if a child misses the bus.
- The driver will not allow any unauthorized person to board the bus.
Waiting for the bus
- Students should be at their designated bus stop ten (10) minutes early and visible before the scheduled pickup time. The driver will not wait or honk, nor will he/she stop for late students or students running for the bus. Allow the driver ten (10) minutes before and/or ten (10) minutes after the scheduled time to get to the stop.
- Note: The "ten-minute" expectation also gives us a cushion in case we encounter unusual or unexpected conditions (accidents, broken traffic signals, traffic jams, trains, inclement weather, etc.) that might delay our route. We rarely arrive at school after the starting bell and routinely meet our goal to deliver the students to campus "on time and ready to learn".
- Students should be no closer than 10 feet from the bus, which is called the "Danger Zone". Be in plain sight of the approaching bus driver and other traffic. Be watchful and don't play around.
- Before the bus approaches, form a line and be prepared to load immediately.
- Stand still and clear of buses. Move toward the bus ONLY after the bus driver opens the door and/or driver signals you to load.
- Parents/guardians should instruct their children on what to do if they miss the bus.
Exiting the bus
- Stay seated until the bus has come to a complete stop and the door has opened.
- Use the handrails and take one step at a time leaving the bus.
- Wait for your turn to leave the bus. Pushing and crowding will only slow exiting and may cause an accident.
- Students must move away from the bus as soon as possible. They do not chase or hang onto the bus at any time. Stay out of the bus "Danger Zone".
- If crossing the street, wait for the driver to signal, and cross in front of the bus.
- If an article drops or rolls near or under the bus, get the attention of the driver immediately. Do not attempt to retrieve the item. Keep your eyes on the bus driver at all times.
- Parents/guardians should instruct children (especially young ones) on what to look for to know whether it is the correct stop for them and where to go after exiting the bus.
Missed the bus
- If a student misses the bus, it is the parents'/guardians' responsibility to provide transportation to and from school. Parents/guardians, please instruct your children on procedures to follow if they miss the bus.
- If the bus is missed in the morning, go home immediately.
- If the bus is missed in the afternoon, go to the Principal's office.
- Once the bus starts moving, it will not stop to pick up a late student. Do not run after a moving bus at the bus stop or at school.
Permission to ride a different school bus/different route stop
Trussville City Schools Transportation Department is required by ALSDE regulations to account for all students on each school bus. Unauthorized passengers are not permitted on the bus. However, the Transportation Department recognizes that circumstances may arise where long term child care is needed and a student needs to ride a different bus or use a different stop on their zoned bus (birthday parties, sleep-overs, etc. are not permitted).
Approval to ride is based upon the space available on the bus and is given on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions, please contact the administration at your child’s school.
Please complete the Permission to Ride a Different School Bus or Use a Different Stop on the Route document and have the student obtain approval from a school administrator. The student will give this form to the bus driver and the bus driver will keep this form with the other bus cards. The form serves as an accountability measure for student counts, in the event of an emergency situation.
Tips
We recommend having your child at the bus stop ten (10) minutes before the posted pickup time. For the safety of all riders, students may only get on the bus at their designated/zoned stop. If your child arrives late at their bus stop and misses the bus, please do not take them to a different bus stop on the route. Please take your child directly to school.
You do not have to call and "register" or sign your child up to ride the bus. Please have them at the bus stop. Within the first few days of riding, the driver will give each rider a Student Information Card which you need to complete and have your child promptly turn back into the driver. Thank you!
Please Note: All schools now dismiss one hour earlier on Thursdays. Cahaba, Magnolia, Paine, and HTMS dismiss at 2:00 PM while HTHS dismisses at 2:15 PM.
Bus Routes
Bus routes are created to enhance student safety while maximizing vehicle efficiency. Fewer bus stops helps with bus maintenance, fuel cost, etc. Bus routes are designed to keep the ride time to a minimum for as many students as possible. TCS attempts to establish bus stops at central locations to gather as many students as possible to that location. School bus stops are situated so as to allow students to wait off the main roadway for the bus if at all possible. Stop locations are determined by analyzing the following:
- population density within a given neighborhood
- traffic
- bus stopping safety considerations
Stops are spread as far apart as policy will allow in order to decrease the number of stops each bus will make on its route, thus minimizing riding time for the students. TCS endeavors to make bus stops that are at least 0.2 miles (Elementary), 0.3 (Middle School), 0.4 (High School) apart unless there is a danger such as a blind hill, blind curve or main thoroughfare.
Please note: bus stops and times are subject to change, especially at the beginning of a school year. You do not have to call to register or sign your child up to ride a bus. All students of TCS will be assigned a bus for their route. Each stop has a posted pickup time assigned; please have your student at that stop 10 minutes before the assigned pickup time.
For the safety of our students, families, and bus personnel, our bus routes will no longer be publicly posted. Bus routes are made available via the PowerSchool Parent-Student Portal. You will need login credentials to access the bus routes within PowerSchool. If you have forgotten your login credentials, have never received them, or for students in grade K-2, please contact your child's school.
We ask that you support our safety efforts by not publishing any bus routes on a public site (social media, web pages, etc.).