Pittsfield Public Schools Administration Center

269 First Street Pittsfield, MA 01201

www.pittsfield.net

Jason P. McCandless Ed.D. Superintendent

413.499.9512 • Fax 413.448.2643 jmccandless@pittsfield.net

May 15, 2020 Dear Parent/Guardian, Enclosed please find transportation forms and information for your child for the 2020-2021 school year.

Ticket Transportation Form – (2 sided)- Required if you are interested in having your child take the bus instead of walking and you reside closer than the mileage allowed for free transportation*

Daycare Request Form School Committee Policy On Transportation (2 sided) Decision Process For Bus Stop Locations Medical Alert Form – Applies to all bus riders

If you have any questions or require a different form, please feel free to call Bus Operations at 413-499-9525. Pittsfield Public Schools admits students and makes available to them its advantages, privileges and courses of study without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. If you need assistance translating this document into a language other than English, please contact the district's Coordinator for English Language Learners at 413-448-9745.

Si usted necesita ayuda que traduce este documento en un idioma de otra manera que inglés, contacta por favor al ELL Coordinador del distrito en 413-448-9745.

Si vous avez besoin de l'assistance traduisant ce document dans une langue autrement que l'anglais, s'il vous plaît contacter le ELL Coordinateur à 413-448-9745..

Se necessita auxílio traduzindo este documento numa linguagem outro que inglês, por favor contata o ELL Coordenador em 413-448-9745.

Если Вы нуждаетесь в помощи, переводящей этот документ на язык кроме английского языка, пожалуйста свяжитесь с ELL Координатором в 413-448-9745.

*The policy states that kindergarten students who reside in excess of one-half mile from school, elementary and middle school students who reside in excess of one and one-half miles from school, and high school students who reside more than two miles from school shall be eligible for transportation services. In addition, transportation will be provided in situations where walking routes are determined to be hazardous. Bus stops for all students may be up to one mile from their residence, according to MGL Ch. 71, §68.

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CITY OF PITTSFIELD

PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION CONSENT FORM FOR THE

MEDICAL ALERTNESS PROGRAM

As parent/guardian, I wish to participate in the Medical Alertness Program with the Pittsfield School Bus Transportation and Safety Operations, by providing the following medical information about my child. I understand that all information is kept in confidence in respect to the HIPPA law, for the individual’s medical privacy. My child’s name is ____________________________________________________________. My child’s date of birth:_____________________________, he/she is ____________years old. In the event of a medical emergency during transport of my child to or from school, while on a Pittsfield school bus, I would want the Bus Operations Director to inform the EMT’s of the 911 emergency service that my child:

a.) Has a medical diagnosis of __________________________________________. b.) Has a life-threatening allergy to ______________________________________. c.) My child carries an inhaler for respiratory problems. Yes _______No ________. d.) My child carries an Epipen for emergency use. Yes __________No __________ If you answered yes, please write where your child’s Epipen can be found: ______________________________________________________________________

I DO give my consent for this form to be returned to my child’s principal, who will assure that it will be given directly to the Bus Operations Director of Pittsfield School Bus Transportation and Safety. In the event of a medical emergency, involving the bus in which my child is transported to and from school, I give my permission that upon being notified of the emergency by the bus driver, the Bus Operations Director, will determine if 911 needs to be notified. If the Director determines that 911 needs to be called, she has my permission to inform them of the information I have identified above. I understand that any change in this information must be communicated by me in writing and given to my child’s principal to be forwarded to the Director of Bus Operations. I DO:

PARENT/GUARDIAN_______________________________________DATE:___________

I DO NOT: PARENT/GUARDIAN_______________________________________DATE:____________

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SCHOOL/________________________________________________GRADE__________________ AGENCY

MUST BE RESUBMITTED YEARLY FAX – 447-7573

DAY CARE BUS REQUEST FORM 2020-2021

NOTE: DAY CARE TRANSPORTATION MUST BE 5 DAYS A WEEK AT THE SAME LOCATION AND ON THE SAME BUS. ANY CHANGES DURING THE YEAR TO THIS ARRANGEMENT MUST BE IN WRITING. Section A- Parent Date___________________ I am requesting that _______________________________________________ (Student name) be picked up O dropped off O at a day care. Day Care address______________________________________________ Signature of parent________________________________________________ Parent Telephone #: Home___________________ Work__________________ Cell___________________ Section B- Day Care Provider As the day care provider for the above student, I accept the responsibility for this child before school O after school O. Day Care Provider Name (Print)______________________________________ Day Care Provider Signature_________________________________________ Day Care telephone number: __________________ cell__________________ Section C- Please End Daycare (Sign here only to end your daycare arrangement)

Parent Signature _________________________Date___________

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Petición del Transporte 2020-2021 año escolar

Escuela_________________________________ Grado ________ Estudiante _____________________________ Fecha de nacimiento ______________ Dirección ________________________________________________________________ Teléfono _________________________ Celular___________________ Pariente ____________________________________ Entiendo que las operaciones del autobuses tienen la derecha de negar o de revocar un paso cuando el comportamiento de un estudiante compromete la seguridad de otros. Firma del Pariente _________________________ Fecha __________________ ¿Califica usted para transporte escolar libre por la aplicación guía de ingresos? Sí ______No______ Compruebe por favor la estación para la cual usted está solicitando el transporte: (Cada estación debe ser pagada por completo antes de que estudiante se programa en un autobús.) Año completo _______ El Otoño solamente _____ El Invierno solamente______ La Primavera solamente______ (Sept - Nov 6) (Nov 9-Abril 9) (Abril 12 - el último día escolar)

Costo anual: $45.00 el Otoño $90.00 el Invierno $45.00 la Primavera ($180.00 el ano) No Dinero En Effectivo. Por Favor Haga El Money Order o El Cheque Pagadero a: City of Pittsfield Correo: Escuelas Públicas de Pittsfield Fax: 413-447-7573 Oficina de Transportación Preguntas: 413-499-9525 442 Merrill Road Pittsfield, MA 01201 DEBE SER SOMETIDO ANUALMENTE DESPUES DEL 1 DE JUNIO Y ANTES DEL 15 DE JULIO POR EL AÑO SIGUIENTE.

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DECISIONS FOR MAKING BUS STOPS The School Department receives a lot of inquiries and requests relative to bus stops. During the last school year, we received over 100 requests to make new bus stops. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, road conditions, and a number of other factors, we can not respond favorably to every request. Each request is reviewed, often by more than one person, before decisions are made. The first thing we do when considering a bus stop is determine whether the student is eligible for transportation per the Pittsfield School Committee Policy number SRV-29, Student Transportation Services. The policy states that kindergarten students who reside in excess of one-half mile from school, elementary and middle school students who reside in excess of one and one-half miles from school, and high school students who reside more than two miles from school shall be eligible for transportation services. In addition, transportation will be provided in situations where walking routes are determined to be hazardous. Bus stops for all students may be up to one mile from their residence, according to MGL Ch. 71, §68. The determinations for the distances are measured from the property line of the residence over regularly traveled ways to the designated bus stop or the property line of the school. While the parent/guardian is responsible for the safety of the student between the residence and the designated bus stop, every attempt is made to designate locations for bus stops which are as safe as possible under local conditions, and as considerate as possible of the continuous and smooth flow of traffic. (Stopping too frequently presents hazards to other vehicles on the road.) Once the determination of eligibility for transportation has been made, we then look to see where the student resides and if there is a current stop within the parameters set by the policy. If there is a stop within the parameters, the student is added to that stop. If there is not a stop in that location, we then determine if there are any other students eligible and make a stop that is conducive for all students. We look at a number of other factors in making decisions on where to locate bus stops, including, but not limited to:

- age of the student(s); - whether there are sidewalks in the area; - whether we can centralize a stop on a corner, and not send a bus down a side street; - if a bus must go down a side street, we must determine if the bus can turn around; - whether we can centralize a stop if it affects multiple students

Unfortunately, it is impossible to accommodate every request based on the current number of stops per bus and the timing of the bus routes. Some routes have fewer stops but longer runs (miles) and some buses have more frequent stops with shorter routes. Because the entire network has to operate within the time constraints set by the School Committee (based on the opening and closing times for each school), we cannot make enough stops to accommodate every request. The school bus industry estimates that each stop can add 3-5 minutes to a route (it varies based on the speed of the bus before it starts to brake for the stop, the number and age of the students loading, whether students are crossing the street, and other factors). We try to give the best possible service to students, however it is impossible to have stops at every house or to go down every side street as this will effect the time that students arrive at school. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

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Jason P. McCandless, Ed.D. Superintendent

Pittsfield Public Schools Administration Center

269 First Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 pittsfieldpublicschools.org

Susan Donnelly Director of Bus Operations

442 Merrill Rd Tel. 413.499-9525 • Fax 413.447-7573

sdonnelly@pittsfield.net

PROPER CONDUCT ON BUSES

1. Your safety and the safety of your fellow passengers is in the hands of your bus driver and monitor. OBEY THEM PROMPTLY.

2. Board bus in single file. Stand back until the bus door opens and the bus is completely stopped.

3. Take your seat promptly and REMAIN seated.

4. Do not lean out or expose any parts of your body outside the windows. The consequences may be serious.

5. Do not smoke – or use alcohol or drugs. 6. Do not push, fight, or participate in “horseplay” at any time.

7. Treat the bus property as you would your own. You could be held

financially responsible for any damage.

8. Respect the rights of fellow passengers at all times. Profane language and inappropriate conversations are not allowed.

9. Do not cross the street until you are ABSOLUTELY sure you can do so

safely.

10. Do not throw objects of any kind on or from the bus. 11. Do not eat food on the bus. It could be a choking hazard and many students have life threatening food allergies. Keep lunches in your backpacks.

INFRACTION OF ANY OF THE ABOVE RULES COULD RESULT IN SUSPENSION OF BUS PRIVILEGES

Please contact Susan Donnelly at Bus Operations with any question. 413-499-9525

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SRV-29PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICESPOLICYHigh school students who live more than two miles from school will be bused and middle and elementary students who live more than a mile and one-half from school will be bused; and kindergarten students who live more than one-half mile from school will be bused. In addition, transportation will be provided in situations if determined tobe hazardous. Appropriate transportation shall be provided pupils in special classes.

Subject to appropriate authorization, paid transportation may be available for students not meeting the above requirements. Such transportation will be available within the limits of existing seating capacity on established routes.

Bus transportation will be limited to public throughways.

REGULATIONSPART ONE:1. The schools shall provide an accurate list of all students.2. Bus Operations shall determine eligibility for transportation.3. Bus Operations shall provide the schools with copies of all bus routes that pertain to the individual school.4. Bus Operations shall provide a complete bus route schedule to any and all media for publication prior to the openingday of school if requested.5. All eligible riders for the beginning of each school year should be notified in writing of their transportation scheduleby Bus Operations. It shall be the responsibility of the school to notify all parents or guardians. If any schedulingchanges occur during the school year, it shall be the responsibility of the school to notify all parents or guardians.6. All eligible Special Education students will be notified of their transportation schedule by the Special EducationOffice prior to the opening of school. If any change occurs during the school year, it shall be the responsibility of theSpecial Education Office to notify all parents or guardians.

PART TWO:The following regulations have been established in order to insure efficient and effective implementation of the school system’s fundamental transportation responsibility which is to bus eligible students to and from their place of residence on a daily basis in a safe and timely fashion.The school system is not in a position to customize transportation services. Therefore, the following provisions shall apply.1. Except in an emergency a single consistent pick-up and drop-off plan will be established and maintained for each rider. That plan may not be altered from day to day.2. The pick-up and drop-off plan will, as a matter of course, be to and from the designated bus stop nearest the student’s place of residence, unless a request involving variation therefrom is submitted by the parent or guardian and approved by the Director of Bus Operations.3. This single pick-up and drop-off plan shall remain in effect for the duration of the school year unless the student’s residence arrangements change or a revised plan is approved by the Director of Bus Operations.4. Pick-up and drop-off of students is to take place only at designated bus stops.5. A student is eligible for transportation only if his or her residence and pick-up and drop-off location, if different, meet the following criteria:A. Satisfy the mileage requirements for bus transportation*;

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B. Are located within the district.

*Other than when paid transportation is being approved.

6. In order for a student to be picked up and dropped off at a residence other than his or her home on a regular basis, written authorization from the parent or guardian, as well as written acceptance of responsibility for the student by an adult designated by the parent or guardian are required.7. Use of school buses to transport students to and from other than a designated residence shall not be permissible unless specifically authorized by the School Committee.

REFERENCES

M.G.L., CH. 71, S. 7A, TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS...no reimbursement for transporting a pupil between school and home shall be made on account of any pupil who residesless than one and one-half miles from the school which he attends, measured by a commonly traveled route.....M.G.L., CH. 71, S. 68, DUTY OF TOWNS TO MAINTAIN SCHOOLS; PUPIL TRANSPORTATION; SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION...If the distance between a child’s residence and the school he is entitled to attend exceeds two miles and the nearestschool bus stop is more than one mile from such residence and the school committee declines to furnish transportation, thedepartment, upon appeal of the parent or guardian of the child, may require the town to furnish transportation for children ingrades kindergarten through six for a part or for all of the distance between such residence and the school...

M.G.L., CH. 145 OF THE ACTS OF 1991, S. 32...Any reimbursement made by the commonwealth pursuant to this section shall be subject to appropriation and shall onlyapply to transportation costs incurred for pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten through six.

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TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HAZARDOUS STREETS PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2020-2021

SCHOOL

STREET TEMP OR PERM

ALLENDALE ALLENGATE AVENUE KINDERGARTEN= PERM BENEDICT ROAD 272 TO END = PERM BOSSIDY DRIVE PERM BRIGHTON AVENUE KINDERGARTEN = PERM CRESTVIEW DRIVE PERM ELBERON AVENUE KINDERGARTEN = PERM HURLEY DRIVE PERM RIDGEWAY AVENUE KINDERGARTEN = PERM SOMERSET AVENUE KINDERGARTEN = PERM WINDSOR AVENUE KINDERGARTEN = PERM YORKSHIRE AVENUE KINDERGARTEN = PERM CAPELESS ASH LANE PERM AUBURN STREET PERM BAKER’S ISLAND PERM BEACON AVENUE PERM BRIERWOOD LANE PERM BROMBACH STREET PERM BROOKLINE AVENUE PERM CARDINAL STREET PERM CLUB CIRCLE PERM CONSTITUTION ROAD PERM CROWN STREET PERM CURLEW STREET PERM CYPRESS LANE PERM DAYTONA AVENUE PERM DOGWOOD LANE PERM DOVE STREET PERM FAIRWAY AVENUE PERM FIELDSTONE WAY PERM GREEN HILL ROAD PERM HANCOCK ROAD PERM HAWK STREET PERM HODECKER PARKWAY PERM HONWEE ROAD PERM HORICAN STREET PERM JAY STREET PERM KEARNEY AVENUE PERM KELLIE DRIVE PERM KIRKWOOD DRIVE PERM

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TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HAZARD STREETS

PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2020-2021

SCHOOL

STREET TEMP OR PERM

CAPELESS - (cont’d) LAKECREST DRIVE PERM LAKELAND AVENUE PERM LAKEWAY DRIVE (541-END) PERM LARK STREET PERM LEE STREET PERM MAPLE TERRACE PERM NEWTON AVENUE PERM OAKHURST AVENUE PERM OLD FIELD ROAD PERM ONOTA LANE PERM ONOTA STREET (376 – END) PERM ORIOLE STREET PERM ORLANDO AVENUE PERM OVERLOOK ROAD PERM PECKS ROAD (203 – END) PERM PETER’S PATH PERM PINEHURST AVENUE PERM RIDGE AVENUE PERM RING STREET PERM SADDLE BALL VIEW STREET PERM SHEFFIELD STREET (100 – 103) PERM SHORE DRIVE PERM SOUTH SHORE DRIVE PERM SPANIOL STREET PERM STEVENS STREET PERM SWAN STREET PERM TAMPA AVENUE PERM THOMAS ISLAND PERM THOMAS ROAD PERM TORONITA AVENUE PERM VICTORY ROAD PERM WAUBEEK ROAD PERM WREN STREET PERM CONTE ONOTA STREET 369 TO 375 = PERM CROSBY JASON STREET (0-279) PERM SALISBURY COURT PERM TOR COURT PERM

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TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HAZARD STREETS

PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2020-2021

SCHOOL

STREET TEMP OR PERM

CROSBY – (cont’d) VALENTINE ROAD (TO 501) PERM ZEFF DRIVE PERM EGREMONT ARTHUR STREET GRADES 1-5 = TEMP BELMONT STREET GRADES 1-5 = TEMP DORCHESTER (58 – 157) GRADES 1-5 = TEMP EDISON AVENUE GRADES 1-5 = TEMP HOLMES ROAD (181/192-399) PERM KNOX STREET GRADES 1-5 = TEMP LONGFELLOW AVENUE GRADES 1-5 = TEMP SPENCER STREET GRADES 1-5 = TEMP MORNINGSIDE BERKSHIRE AVENUE PERM CROMWELL AVENUE PERM DEMONT AVENUE PERM GARLAND AVENUE PERM MALDEN STREET PERM NORTH STREET (1026 – CRANE) PERM WILLIAMS DAN AVENUE GR. 1-3= PERM GR. 4-5= TEMP DARLENE AVENUE GR. 1-3= PERM GR. 4-5= TEMP DEBORAH AVENUE GR. 1-3= PERM GR. 4-5= TEMP DENISE AVENUE GR. 1-3= PERM GR. 4-5= TEMP GIOVINA DRIVE PERM KARA DRIVE PERM MOUNTAIN DRIVE PERM RICHARD DRIVE PERM STONEHENGE RD PERM WILLIAMS STREET (6 – 720/727) GR. 1-3= PERM GR. 4-5= TEMP WILLIAMS STREET(867/872 -1080/1087) GR. 1-3= PERM GR. 4-5= TEMP HERBERG CLYDESDALE STREET PERM CROFUT STREET (0-120) TEMP DAN AVENUE TEMP DARLENE AVENUE TEMP DEBORAH AVENUE TEMP DENISE AVENUE TEMP EAST NEW LENOX ROAD (TO 176) PERM

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TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HAZARD STREETS

PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2020-2021

SCHOOL

STREET TEMP OR PERM

HOLMES ROAD (400 – END) PERM HERBERG – (cont’d) PALOMINO DRIVE PERM PINTO DRIVE PERM SHETLAND PERM SOUTH STREET (379 – 561) ODD TEMP UNDERHILL PLACE (4 – END) TEMP WARREN TERRACE TEMP WILLIAMS STREET (507 – 601) TEMP REID LOUISE STREET (0 – 25/36) TEMP LUCILLE STREET (0 – 38/39) TEMP MCALLISTER STREET (0 – 24/27) TEMP NORTH STREET (1322 – 1428) TEMP PAUL AVENUE TEMP PECKS ROAD (89 – 342/363) TEMP RING STREET PERM PITTSFIELD HIGH BENEDICT ROAD (267/279 – 391) PERM EAST STREET (1308 – 1561) PERM TACONIC HIGH APPLEWOOD LANE PERM ASH LANE PERM BRIERWOOD LANE PERM BROMBACK STREET PERM BURNS STREET PERM CARDINAL STREET PERM CLUB CIRCLE PERM DOGWOOD LANE PERM EAST ALFORD STREET PERM ELEANOR ROAD PERM GILLETTE STREET PERM GRANT STREET PERM HAMPSHIRE STREET TEMP HAWK STREET PERM KEARNY AVENUE PERM KELLY DRIVE PERM LAKEWOOD CIRCLE PERM LAKEWOOD DRIVE PERM LOUISE STREET PERM LUCILLE STREET PERM

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TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HAZARD STREETS PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2020-2021

SCHOOL

STREET TEMP OR PERM

MCALLISTER STREET PERM TACONIC – (cont’d) MCKINLEY TERRACE TEMP MORIN STREET PERM ONOTA STREET (529 – 595) PERM ORIOLE STREET PERM OTIS STREET PERM PECKS ROAD (81 – 583) PERM REYNOLDS STREET PERM RING STREET PERM ROBERTA ROAD PERM SAVOY STREET PERM STEVENS STREET PERM THOMAS ISLAND PERM TOR COURT PERM TORONTO AVENUE PERM VALENTINE ROAD (196 – end) PERM WESTWOOD ROAD TEMP

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