Transportation

If your child rides the school bus, we invite you to sign up for My Ride K-12 App. This app provides real-time mapping for your child’s school bus location and easy access to information like their bus number, bus stop location and bus stop time. (My Ride K-12 replaced the Ride 360 App in April 2024. By the end of May, the Ride 360 app will no longer be accessible. You can access your student’s bus information using your existing Ride 360 log-in information.)

Set up your account:

1. Download and open the My Ride K-12 app.
2. When prompted, search for Richfield Public Schools.
3. Click Sign up and register with a name, email address and password. 
4. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to confirm.
5. Log in to the app, then find a student by going to My Students and choosing the + button. 
6. Enter additional information to find your student(s). 
7. Once you have linked to a student, click on that student’s profile to see all relevant transportation information.

On a desktop, you can visit myridek12.tylerapp.com to set up your account.

Help, I don’t see any bus info!

• If you look at the app on a Monday, you will only see Monday’s information. If your child doesn’t ride the bus on Mondays, you will not see any bus information. The app only shows route information for the specific day of the week that you are looking at the app.
• If your student is in the walk area, or outside the district, there will be no bus information for you.

Don’t be late!

• Please note that these are the scheduled times for your bus. It is still District policy that students need to be at their bus stop five minutes before the scheduled time.

Pay-to-ride service will be available during the school year on a first-come, first-serve, space-available basis for secondary students (grades 6-12) who live within two miles of their school. Families must apply and pay a fee to ride the bus to school. Pay-to-ride services are not offered for elementary students.

For those students receiving free or reduced lunch, a discounted fee will be provided based on household income. Early bird pricing will be available to all students and/or families who have submitted the pay-to-ride contract before the early bird deadline. The early bird deadline is August 15 each year.

The rates are as follows:

Full pay-to-ride fee

• $300 per student for transportation from the first day of school to the last day of school (early bird - $275)
• $165 per student for transportation from the first Monday in November until the start of spring break (early bird - $150)

Fee for students who are eligible for reduced-price lunch

• $225 per student for transportation from the first day of school to the last day of school (early bird - $210)
• $125 per student for transportation from the first Monday in November until the start of spring break (early bird - $110)

Fee for students who are eligible for free lunch

• $162 per student for transportation from the first day of school to the last day of school (early bird - $150)
• $90 per student for transportation from the first Monday in November until the start of spring break (early bird - $80)

Download the pay-to-ride application form. (English) (Spanish)

We provide transportation for after school programs and athletic events at most schools. Please contact your child's school for information on transportation after school. 

Riding the school bus is a privilege, not a right. Students are expected to follow the same behavioral standards while riding school buses as are expected on school property or at school activities, functions or events. All school rules are in effect while a student is riding the bus or at the bus stop.

Rules at the Bus Stop

• Get to your bus stop 5 minutes before your scheduled pick up time. The school bus driver will not wait for late students.
• Respect the property of others while waiting at your bus stop.
• Keep your arms, legs and belongings to yourself.
• Use appropriate language.
• Stay away from the street, road or highway when waiting for the bus. Wait until the bus stops before approaching the bus.
• After getting off the bus, move away from the bus.
• If you must cross the street, always cross in front of the bus where the driver can see you. Wait for the driver to signal to you before crossing the street.
• No fighting, harassment, intimidation or horseplay.
• No use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs.

Rules on the Bus

• Follow the directions of the driver.
• Sit in your seat facing forward.
• No swearing or rude gestures.
• Keep your arms, legs and belongings to yourself and inside the bus.
• No fighting, harassment or intimidation.
• Do not throw any object.
• No eating, drinking or use of tobacco or drugs.
• Do not bring any weapons or dangerous objects on the school bus.
• Do not damage the school bus.
   

For more information, refer to School Board Policy 742.1: Administrative Guidelines Student Transportation Services.

Consequences for school bus or bus stop misconduct will apply to all regular and late routes. Decisions regarding a student's ability to ride the bus in connection with co-curricular and extra-curricular events (for example, field trips or competitions) will be at the sole discretion of the School District.

Parents or guardians will be notified if their student is experiencing behavior problems on the bus. Listed below in sequential order are the consequences that may result due to misbehavior incidents.

Elementary (K-5)

• Initially driver issues verbal warnings, confers with students and assigns seat as necessary.
• Driver completes Conduct Report. School official confers with students and parents. 
• One day suspension from riding the bus. School official confers with student and parents.
• Three day suspension from riding the bus. (parental notification).
• Five day suspension from riding the bus. (parental notification).
• Ten day suspension from riding the bus. (parental notification).
• Denial of bus privileges.

Secondary (6-12)

• Driver issues verbal warnings, confers with students and assigns seats as necessary.
• Driver completes Conduct Report. School official confers with students and parents.
• Three day suspension from riding the bus. (parental notification).
• Five day suspension from riding the bus. (parental notification).
• Ten day suspension from riding the bus. (parental notification).
• Denial of bus privileges

Other Discipline

Severe misbehavior includes such items as fighting, destroying property or bringing a weapon or drugs on the bus. In case of severe misbehavior, the building principal or designee will immediately complete a Minnesota School Bus Incident Report on the student(s) involved. More serious consequences may be imposed based on the severity of a student's conduct. Depending on the nature of the offense, consequences such as suspension or expulsion from school may also result from school bus or bus stop misconduct.

Records

A Bus Conduct Report will be forwarded to the individual school building and will be retained in the same manner as other student discipline
records. Reports of serious misconduct will be provided to the Department of Public Safety. Records may also be maintained in the transportation office.

Vandalism/Bus Damage

Students damaging school buses will be responsible for the damages. Failure to pay such damages (or making arrangements to pay) within two
weeks may result in the loss of bus privileges until damages are paid. 

Notice

Students will be given a copy of school bus and bus stop rules during school bus safety training. Rules are to be posted on each bus and both
rules and consequences will be periodically reviewed with students by the driver.

Criminal Conduct

In cases involving criminal conduct (for example, assault, weapons, possession or vandalism), the Superintendent, local law enforcement officials and the Department of Public Safety will be informed.

When will the bus route begin for my child?

Every effort is made to arrange transportation as quickly as possible. When a student is assigned to a program one week or less before school starts in the fall, it may not be possible to arrange busing before the start of school. Families may be asked to transport their child for a short period of time. Families will receive a phone call with bus times. During the school year, most bus requests should be able to be started within three to five school days.

If we move to another address in the District, will my child have the same bus?

An address change may require a bus change. Families should call their child’s special education teacher in advance to provide the moving date, new address and phone number. Bus drivers are not authorized to make any route changes. Bus route changes can take up to one week. It is the family’s responsibility to transport the student until the route change takes effect. 

What if my child is picked-up and dropped-off at an address other than our home?

Bus routes only allow for one address for the pick up and one address for the drop off.  For the safety of your child, one-day changes cannot be made. Families are encouraged to keep the daycare address close to home. Frequent changes and short notice changes may not be possible.

Can the pick-up and drop-off time change from day-to-day?

Bus routes vary according to the needs of each student who rides the bus. Bus route times may also vary according to the attendance patterns of the students on the route. Some students may attend only one or two days of the week, and this will affect pick up and drop off times. Allow for a five-minute window of time for pick up and 15-minute window of time for drop off.

What are my responsibilities at pick-up time?

Have your child fully clothed, toileted and ready for the bus five minutes before pick up time. Tight routing does not allow time for buses to wait or blow the horn. Accompany your child to the bus. 

If your child will not be riding on any given day, call at least one hour before pick up time so the bus driver can bypass your stop. If a driver makes a stop for three days in a row and the student doesn’t show up, the stop may be dropped from the route. That is why it is so important to notify the bus company if your child will not be riding. Notify the district in advance if your address, phone number or daycare assignments change. If your child will be out of school and not riding the bus for more than three days, you should notify the district.

If my child misses the bus, can the bus come back?

The driver can not come back because of commitments at other bus stops and other schools.  Transport your child to school as quickly as possible.

What are my responsibilities at drop-off time?

For students needing supervision, be ready to meet the bus 15-minutes before the designated time. Students in preschool and kindergarten must be met at the bus door by a parent or responsible person at the drop off time. Since this is a safety issue, there are no exceptions allowed. The emergency information should address the level of independence for children grades pre-k through graduation.

The school bus safety rules are:

• Be at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time
• Always sit down
• Buckle seat belt and face forward
• Speak quietly
• Follow the directions of the driver and/or assistant
• No eating or drinking on the bus
• No fighting

Following these rules is very important for the safety of your child and others who ride the bus to and from school.

If a student does not conduct appropriate behavior on the bus, the driver will write up an incident report which will be shared with the appropriate staff.
 

Can a bus driver or assistant come to the door to help with pick-up or drop-off?

Bus drivers and assistants can only work with students in the area in and around the bus. They cannot assist a student beyond the curb.

What are the bus driver's responsibilities?

School bus drivers are professional drivers with special training and Commercial Driver’s Licenses. They are responsible for the safe transportation of students and to keep on schedule.  The bus driver is responsible for ensuring all child restraints are secured appropriately before the bus departs and to report any student concerns to the student’s special education teacher.

On rare occasions, a bus assistant may be needed. The bus assistant works with the driver to be sure the students are safe on the bus. They may assist in securing seat belts, wheelchair restraints, necessary supports, etc. The assistant may maintain discipline, see that students stay in their seats and report problems to the school. They seek emergency medical help when needed. 

Why do I need to provide emergency information?

State Board of Education rules require that the bus driver have emergency and health information in the bus for each student. Families must provide this information and it must be updated by parents or guardians if the child’s needs or program changes during the school year.  The information is required before the student can ride the bus.

What if my child becomes ill at school?

If your child becomes ill at school, or for some other reason can not be transported by bus, you will be expected to transport your child.

If my child needs medication at school, can I send them to school with my child on the bus?

Medications should not be sent with a student on the bus since they can easily become lost, misplaced or stolen. If your child needs medication during the school day, please contact the school’s health office to make arrangements to drop off the medication at school.