TRANSPORTATION UPDATES PREPARING FOR THE 2017-18 SCHOOL YEAR

As the 2016-17 school year comes to a close, the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Transportation Department would like to thank you and your entire staff for a great year. DPS Transportation is a gateway to academic achievement, facilitating equal access to all eligible students and meeting the needs of parents and schools.

Please review this flier, which outlines changes, resources and tips for the 2017-18 school year.

Traditional Transportation

DPS Transportation Services are provided based on the Board of Education policy EEAA:

• Students in grades kindergarten to five must reside more than 1 mile from their boundary school.

• Students in grade six to eight must reside more than 2.5 miles from their boundary school.

• Students in grades nine to 12 must reside more than 3.5 miles from their boundary school.

Note: Remember that incoming sixth- or ninth-graders may not be eligible for transportation; the walking distance for eligibility increases at those grades.

Zonar

This GPS-based software allows schools to track bus routes, as well as student +Pass usage. Gain access to Zonar by submitting a HEAT ticket through DoTS.

Bus Bulletin Notifications

At the start of each school year, Transportation Services updates school contacts within Bus Bulletin, using information from DoTS. If there are additional staff members that should be added, email transportation@dpsk12.org.

E-Link

E-Link can be found on the Transportation website and can help schools see a student’s bus information, eligibility and more. Training is available on the “Information for Schools and Departments” page at transportation.dpsk12.org. E-Link reduces the time secretaries spend on the phone when contacting Transportation Services. Routes are updated every Tuesday and Thursday each week.

Transportation Resources:

New School Year Mailer to Parents Each year, Transportation Services sends a “new school year” mailer to families and students at the end of July that details important tentative bus route information, along with other pertinent information to assist students and families who ride the school bus. This information is also available on our website at transportation.dpsk12.org and by visiting the Transportation tab on the Parent Portal.

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+Pass Changes F O R 2 0 1 7 - 1 8 S C H O O L

Y E A R

All transportation-eligible students that ride the yellow

school bus will receive a +Pass for the 2017-18

school year, which they will be required to use to ride the bus. +Passes will be issued at the start of the

school year to each student. +Passes are to be scanned by the student when they

enter and exit the bus. Find out more information on the

“Information for Schools and Departments” page at transportation.dpsk12.org.

Schools can check Zonar to see where each student has scanned their +Pass in order to stay in-the-know.

Replacement passes are $5 each and must be requested through each school’s front office via Infinite Campus.

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Who to Contact:Please keep in mind that Transportation Services experiences long wait times on the phone during the summer months.

Where to Start

If you have questions for Transportation Services, but are not sure where to start, email transportation@dpsk12.org or call 720-423-4600.

Bus Route, Exception Requests and Eligibility

For information on bus routes, Exception Requests or elgibility, call 720-423-4699. Information on individual students can be obtained through Infinite Campus.

Mutli-Functional School and Activity Bus (MFSAB) Training

The Safety and Training team offers MFSAB training classes for new certification and re-certification. Registration is required; no walk-ins are accepted for any traning class. Visit the Training and Safety tab on the “Information for Schools and Departments” page at transportation.dpsk12.org.

Preparing for 2017-18:• When will students receive bus route information?

Transportation routing information and family resources should arrive in homes by the end of July. Information will also be available in the Parent Portal prior to the first day of school. Families are asked to update their address with their student’s school office in the event that there is a change because this can affect the bus assignment information.

• How can students submit an Exception Request to ride the bus?

Transportation Exception Requests must be completed using the online form via the Parent Portal. Exception Requests should be completed if a student would like to ride the bus and is not eligible for transportation under the Board Policy EEAA. The 2017-18 form will be available in July.

• Where can our school find important transportation information?

Principals and secretaries can find important information via their respective portals. Additional information is also available online at thecommons.dpsk12.org/transportation and transportation.dpsk12.org.

• What is Trip Tracker?

Trip Tracker is Transportation Services’ trip-request tool that is used for athletic events and excursions. Training to use Trip Tracker is available under the “Services” tab, on the “Information for Schools and Departments” page at transportation.dpsk12.org.

• How can I request a new bell time for 2018-19?

The bell time request window will open again December 2018. Schools interested in requesting a new bell time can submit a request during that window via the Bell Times tab on the “Information for Schools and Departments” page at transportation.dpsk12.org. Bell time data, our menu of services and costs, along with the current school year’s bell times are also available online.

Transportation Services has an updated website

to better provide schools and departments with key information. Visit

transportation.dpsk12.org to learn more about services and

stay up-to-date on changes.

TRANSPORTATION WEBSITE: