Frequently Asked Transportation Questions

Campbell Bus Lines provides contracted transportation services for the Mointeau School District. If you have additional questions regarding transportation services, please contact Campbell Bus Lines at (724) 637-9920. You may also email or call the Transportation Department.


Beginning of the School Year Questions

Bus stop change/addition requests should go through the transportation office in writing and include a parent/guardian signature. All pertinent information should be included on the note, such as requested stop address, other students that board or off-load at that stop, reason for the request, etc.

If you need immediate attention, please call (724) 637-2117, ext. 1128.

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Bus Passes

Will the school issue a bus pass for a student to ride another bus?
Bus passes are issued on a limited basis from each building office depending on available bus seating. Before issuing passes, schools are required to check the seat count to verify that there is enough room on a bus.

If a bus has open seats, depending on the age of the child, a pass may be used to accommodate alternate home situations over the full school year, e.g., divorced parents. Because a young child could easily get confused, alternate arrangements should be very simple, e.g., every other week and not Tuesday and Thursday every other week. These accommodations are provided as a courtesy. School districts are not required to make accommodations for parent and student special situations, e.g., after-school programs, work schedules, and divorce arrangements.

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Bus Safety

What are some safety rules to teach your child?
Students, parents, teachers, administrators, transportation personnel and the motoring public all play important roles in keeping our children safe while on or around the school bus. Please take a moment to review the following safety tips to help ensure our children arrive to and from school safely each day:

  • Get to the school bus stop ten minutes early, so you won't have to run across the road to catch the bus.
  • When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic. Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus.
  • Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
  • Never push when getting on or off of the school bus.
  • Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you.
  • If crossing a road or street, wait until the bus has the red flashing lights on and all traffic has stopped before crossing.
  • When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat. Never put your head, arms, or hands out of the window.
  • Talk quietly; do not distract your school bus driver.
  • If your school bus crosses railroad tracks, be calm and quiet so that your driver can listen for a train. Always obey your school bus driver's instructions, so that he or she can make safe decisions.
  • Never play with the emergency exits. Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block the aisle or emergency exits. If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.
  • When getting off of the school bus, make sure that all drawstrings and other loose objects are secure so that they don't get caught on the handrail or the door.
  • Never cross the street behind the school bus. Do not walk alongside a moving bus.
  • If you leave something on the bus or drop something outside of the bus, never go back for it. The driver may not see you and begin moving the bus.
  • Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger.

What if a bus breaks down?
 Do not drive to pick up your child. A bus will be sent.

What if I have a concern about a bus driver?
If you have a concern about the bus driver, contact the transportation department.

Can I get on the bus to talk to the driver?
Due to safety and efficiency reasons, this is strongly discouraged. Pennsylvania state law does not permit parents to get on a school bus after being forbidden to do so by a bus driver or school principal. Violation of this law is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Can a child be suspended from riding the bus?
Yes, transportation is a privilege, not a right. The school principal handles the discipline.

Can my child be required to sit in a designated school bus seat?
Yes, students can be assigned to a seat. This is a practice used by many school districts to control behavior or maximize utilization of bus capacity.

Why don't buses have seat belts?
Buses are constructed for the safe transportation of children. The seating is compartmentalized and padded to provide a seated child with a safe area in the event of an impact. The height of the vehicle places the seating above impact zones providing extra safety for the riders.

There is no room for my child to stand at the bus stop, is it legal for cars to park on at a bus stop?
Cars should not park in the area where children can stand. The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code addresses vehicles parking near an intersection with a stop sign or other traffic signal.

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Bus Stop Change/Addition Requests

There are very few bus stop changes or additions once the schedule is developed. The schedule is set up while taking safety and efficiency into consideration.

Each year, parents ask the following questions:

  • I think my child has too far to walk to the bus stop, can the stop be moved closed to my house?
    Bus stops and schedules are not changed for this reason. Pennsylvania state law allows a district to ask a child, regardless of age, to walk up to a mile and a half to a bus stop.
  • There is a bus stop for elementary students near my house, why doesn't the high school bus stop at this stop?
    The bus company runs two bus schedules, i.e., elementary and high school. The schedules and stops are designed based on ridership, safety, and efficiency for each schedule. There are no additional bus stops added for this reason.
  • I think my child's ride is too long; can the bus schedule be changed?
    Bus stops and schedules are not changed for this reason. Transporting nearly 1,200 students over a large area will require some students to be first on the bus in the morning and last off in the afternoon, i.e., some will have a longer bus ride. Routes are based on population distribution, efficiency, and safety. There are no time limits set by Pennsylvania state law or regulations.
  • My child has to walk up a steep hill; can the bus stop be moved closer to my house?
    Bus stop locations are based on an analysis of both safety and efficiency. If possible, bus stops are not located on steep hills where it may be difficult for the bus to stop or start.
  • My child is the only student at the stop this year, why can't the stop be moved to my house?
    Stops are evaluated each year. Once stops are established, stops are not changed for the convenience of an individual or a small number of students or families. Although stops are reviewed each year, it is important for reasons of safety and efficiency to maintain as much consistency as possible from year to year.
  • I can't see my child while walking to the bus stop; can the bus stop be moved closer to my house?
    Bus stops are not changed for this reason. Pennsylvania school law permits student-walking distance up to a mile and a half.
  • My child has to cross the street to the bus stop; can the bus stop be changed to my side of the street?
    Some students will have to cross streets and roads to a bus stop. Children should wait to cross the road to board the bus until the bus is at a complete stop with red lights activated.
  • We had a bus stop closer to our home last year, why was the stop changed?
    Stops will change year to year depending on the number of students in each residential area and grade levels.
  • What if I think that my child's walk to the bus stop is unsafe?
    Campbell Bus Lines and district personnel will both review bus safety concerns. This review may involve a site visit.
  • How to I contact the district or bus company?
    We have Campbell Bus Lines and school official information listed on the Transportation page.
  • What if I want “School Bus Stop Ahead” signs placed at my students stop?
    Parent/guardians that would like a sign placed at their stop must make the request thought the district Transportation office. The district will review the request and then either deny the request or forward the information to the PA Department of Transportation. The PA Department of Transportation must issue a permit in order for a sign to be installed.

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Daycare and Special Situations

Can my child to be picked up in the morning or dropped off after school at a daycare?
The district will provide one morning and one afternoon "rostered" stop. If your child's daycare is every day and on an existing bus route, the district will provide transportation as a courtesy. School districts are not required to provide this service. This rule also applies to students with divorced parents.

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New to District

We're new to the district, what do we do to arrange bus transportation?
The first step is to contact the district office and enroll your child. The district office will notify the district's Transportation Department. The bus company will be notified, and a bus company representative will call you once transportation is set up. Expect a minimum of five school days. If your move-in date is weeks away, please call the transportation office two weeks before your move-in date to verify transportation services.

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Non-Public and Private Schools

Will the district transport my K–12 child to a non-public or private school?
Yes, if the school is state licensed with non-profit status and is not beyond 10 miles.

Will the school district transport my student's friend that attends the same school, but resides in a different school district?
No, we only permit Moniteau School District students to ride our buses.

What if the school district has a bad weather delay or cancellation?
Bus transportation follows the Moniteau School District Schedule. If Moniteau closes school, we will not be providing transportation to your building even if they remain open. If Moniteau operates on a two-hour delay, we will transport your students to their school two hours later, unless your school closes.

What about when the non-public or private school announces a weather delay and the school district doesn't?
In this case, transportation runs on the Moniteau regular schedule.

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Pennsylvania Law - Frequently Asked Questions

The school district is often asked questions that relate to the Pennsylvania state law. Many of these questions are answered on the Pennsylvania Department of Education's FAQ web page.

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School Delays/Cancellations/Late Buses

Bus schedules for non-public, private schools Dassa McKinney Elementary and Moniteau High School follow the Moniteau School District schedule.

For example, if Moniteau School District is on a two-hour delay, the bus schedule for these schools will also be delayed two hours.

Why was my child's bus late?
On occasion, a bus might be late picking up students due to traffic congestion/accidents, weather conditions, or a substitute driver. Please know that we do everything possible to have all buses running on the schedule each and every day. In the event that your bus does not arrive as scheduled, contact Campbells at (724) 637-9920. Please allow 10 to 15 minutes before calling.

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Special Education Student Transportation

If I have a question about my child's transportation, whom should I contact?
If special transportation is required, the director of special education will contact the district's Transportation Department.

If my child is a pre-school special education student attending an IU4 program, whom should I contact?
The Intermediate Unit sends a transportation request to the school district Transportation Department. A district staff member or Campbell's Bus Lines employee will contact the parent regarding transportation.

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Other Questions

How soon should my child arrive at the bus stop prior to pick up?
Students should arrive at the bus 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time, especially the first several weeks of school. Please allow the driver a window of 10 minutes, especially for variables such as changing traffic patterns and even passenger load, which can change daily and can impact the schedule slightly.

My child left an item (e.g., coat) on the bus. How do I get it back?
Personal items will be left on the bus for two days or returned to the school building. The school district and bus company are not responsible for lost or misplaced items.

My child obtained a parking permit to drive to school; can my child ride the bus on bad weather days?
Yes. Students in grades K –12 are all assigned a bus stop for safety purposes.

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