Frequently Asked Questions

 

Where can I find my student’s school bus information?

• All bus rider information is privy to the parent/guardian of the student that has access to the district’s Student Information System SIS, Skyward. Please highlight and select “Transportation” along the bottom left side of the student’s profile. You may review the student's bus assignment once you’ve clicked on “Student Transportation” and “Bus Stop.”

 

What determines bus eligibility? Is my student eligible for transportation services?

 

• Your student may be eligible for transportation services if the student lives 2 or more miles from the boundary of the designated school campus.

  • Please Note: Huffman ISD uses a computerized routing program as the standard tool for eligibility measurements. We measure the shortest path on the public roadway between the home address and the school campus. Your student can only be assigned to a bus stop from the address indicated in Skyward, so please ensure that information is accurate.

  • As an alternative, transportation may be provided to eligible riders if the student is being transported to a grandparent’s home, or state-recognized childcare facility (CCF). 

 

Why are only students who live more than two miles from school eligible for bus transportation?

• The two-mile rule is the distance set by the state of Texas in regards to reimbursement of services.

 

 

I have a dual custody situation. Why can't my student ride multiple buses?

• For safety and accountability reasons, Huffman ISD will only allow students to be bused to the PRIMARY ADDRESS listed on the student’s registration form. In addition, transportation may be provided to eligible riders if the student is being transported to a grandparent’s home, or state-recognized childcare facility (CCF). Please call our office if you are requesting your student to be dropped off at one of the above locations. Huffman ISD is dedicated to the needs and safety of all Huffman ISD students. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in making Huffman ISD the best and safest transportation for all our students.

 

How do I update my contact information if we move or change schools during the year?

• Please contact the school campus to update or change any and all student information. Once the changes are made with the school campus in our SIS, the information will automatically update in our routing & planning program. The Transportation Department will not change information such as phone numbers and addresses unless approved and notified by your student’s school campus.

 

 

If my student falls within grades Pre-K through 2nd and I am not at home in the afternoon when the bus arrives to drop my student off, will my student be released from the bus?

• No. You may authorize a different person to accept your child at the bus stop by completing an Authorized Student Receiving Form. This form will be accessible to parents/guardians by request only. You may email transportation@huffmanisd.net or ask the Bus Driver or Monitor for a form. Please be advised, we recommend the person must be over 18 years old and show proper identification to the Bus Driver or Monitor before the student is released from the bus. 

• If the student has an older sibling in grades 3rd through 5th and is assigned to the same bus, your student will be released from the bus without the presence of a parent/guardian.

 

 

Why don’t some school buses have seat belts?

• School buses are carefully designed on a different transportation and protection model than the average passenger car. The children are protected like eggs in an egg carton – compartmentalized, and surrounded with padding and structural integrity to secure the entire container. The seat backs are raised and the shell is reinforced for protection against impact. Regular education buses have not been required to have seat belts until the new law went into effect Sept. 1, 2017. However, this only applies to buses, purchased by a district that has a model year of 2018 or later. 

 

Is my student required to wear safety belts while riding on a school bus?

• Texas state law states if a school bus is equipped with seat belts, all students must wear a seat belt while riding the bus.

 

Is my student required to comply with a seating chart or seating arrangement on the school bus?

• The bus driver is responsible for the safe operation of the school bus and the safety and discipline of the students. The bus is an extension of the classroom. Just as a teacher manages behaviors of students and assigns students to a desk in the classroom, Bus Drivers have the authority and responsibility to ensure students are assigned a seat on the school bus. The goal of seat assignments is to reduce the likelihood of conflicts between students and help set positive expectations for daily behavior. Moreover, in the event of an accident or emergency situation, the bus driver is required to have an accurate seating chart.

 

 

Can students take large items/sports equipment/instruments on the bus?

• Any items brought on the bus must fit in the student’s lap. Please make special arrangements for transporting large articles such as large band instruments (such as, but not limited to, tubas and euphoniums), large projects, or any other item which would take up another student’s seat.

 

 

My child got off the bus sweating and said the bus was too hot. Are the school buses equipped with AC?

• All of our buses are equipped with AC, and our drivers are instructed to continuously run the AC to keep the bus as cool as possible. However, according to the specifications of the buses that were purchased at that time, some were built with only two AC evaporators (front bulkhead and rear) of which keeps the bus cooler than the hot temperatures outside. Fortunately, Huffman ISD is now purchasing buses with 3 AC evaporators and dash air conditioning. The temperature on the buses depends on the limited times the front door opens and closes releasing the cool air throughout the route. We appreciate your patience as we do everything within our power to keep your student(s) cool during high-temperature days. We encourage students to bring water to help keep their bodies hydrated throughout the bus ride, if needed.

 

 

Do school districts have to provide bus transportation for students?

• No, bus transportation is a privilege not a right, except in the case of special education students. General education transportation is a service that Huffman ISD elects to provide.

 

 

The bus did not show up on time for my child, how long should he/she wait at the stop?

• Your child should arrive at their designated stop at least 10 minutes before the regular arrival time of the bus. If there is a substitute driver, the times may not be absolutely consistent with the regular times. If the bus is late, ask your child to remain at the stop. Unfortunately, there are some times where buses have mechanical failure, construction detours, or other emergencies, but there will always be a bus at every stop. If the wait becomes extreme (approximately 10 minutes after the scheduled arrival time), please call the transportation office before leaving the stop at 281-324-1711.

 

 

My child's bus is overcrowded. Can some children be placed on another bus?

• School bus sizes are stated in terms of total passenger capacity. Maximum capacity allows three per seat. If the bus has three per seat, it will seem crowded, but it will not be over capacity. It is our goal to fully utilize all the space on all the buses in our fleet.

 

 

What happens if my student does not ride the bus three times in a row?

• If there are no riders at a stop for 3 consecutive days, the stop may be deleted and you would need to call the transportation office to get it reinstated.

 

 

Can my student have their phone on the bus?

• Yes, as long as it is not a distraction or safety issue. Students are not allowed to take pictures or videos while riding the bus. If the student’s cell phone becomes a distraction or safety issue, the driver can ask the student to put the phone away until the bus arrives at the student’s bus stop.