DUE TO THE PANDEMIC

NO BUS PASSES WILL BE ALLOWED

Due to the fact that our buses are at high-rider capacity and our obligation to safety, we ask that your child only ride the bus assigned to them and to only one location.  This reduces the chance of students getting on the wrong bus or going to the wrong location.

We are unable to accommodate students riding for sleepovers, birthday parties, etc.  

Glass (such as flower vases) and balloons are not able to be transported on the bus for safety reasons.  

"A Consistent Ride Is A Safe Ride"

Please select transportation from one location to school and one location from school. The morning and afternoon locations may be different. The most important item is that the ride on the bus is consistent each day. 
 
To maintain that consistency we will not allow students to ride buses they are not assigned to. This includes after-school activities (i.e. having friends over, scouts, or birthday parties). The safest ride occurs when the regular riders are the only ones on the bus. 
 
In past years there has been more than one occasion where a young child has been confused as to which bus to ride home or which house to get off at. This has resulted in excessive worry by parents and transportation personnel. Frantic searches have taken places including the sheriff's department to find missing children. 
 
If you require a changing schedule then pick your child up at school or your daycare on these days. That keeps your child safe, which is our number one priority.

Changes in School Transportation Service

Changes in school transportation service will always be a part of each school year. We continue to group students at bus stops in order to be more efficient. This means certain students may have to walk further to reach their bus stops. The reduction in school bus stop locations is one measure the transportation program is taking to help save money.

Beth Hobbs, Transportation Supervisor, references several issues considered in making decisions on bus stop changes, including the distance between home and school, the age of the students, safe walking routes, and the number of students at each bus stop location. 

Enrollment increases alone put demands upon our program. The length of time and the number of riders determine the overall capacity for a route. Parents and students are reminded that students are to only ride assigned buses.  High School and Middle School bus routes will be full.  Only emergency bus passes from the principal will allow a student to ride a different bus than assigned. (No passes are allowed during COVID pandemic) The increase in the number of students will bring many bus routes close to capacity. We will make two runs on many routes to bring two different loads of students to a school. This means that some students are picked up earlier and arrive earlier at school.

The District is uncertain about unpredictable and fluctuating energy costs.  The District is participating in the Safe Routes to School Grant which will be proposing changes in the community to help students walk to school. 

Daily Transportation

Daily transportation services are provided between all locations in the district and schools as prescribed by the District and Elementary Schools' Boundaries.  Bus times are now available via the Infinite Campus portal under the Transportation Tab -  CLICK HERE for step-by-step directions. Your child's bus number, location for pick up/drop off, times and driver's name are all available on this tab. The bus times are only estimates and can change as ridership changes on the routes.  We always suggest being ready 5 to 10 minutes before your bus is scheduled to arrive.

Transportation will continue to group students at bus stops in order to be more efficient.  This means certain students may have to walk further to reach their bus stops.  The reduction in school bus stop locations is one measure the transportation program is taking to help save money.

If you do not receive this information or move into the community after the school year has started, please contact the transportation office at 608.526.4752 for your specific information.

Daycare Transportation

The district may provide limited services to those families needing transportation to alternate caregivers before and after school. Transportation is for caregiver locations inside your child’s school attendance area (Elementary School Boundaries). Transportation across school attendance boundaries is considered when specific guidelines are met. These include:

• The caregiver location must be on an existing route serving the student’s home school
• The student may not transfer or shuttle between vehicles
• The district will incur no additional cost associated with the service
• The bus must have adequate capacity to serve the student without displacing those non-daycare students assigned to the bus

Your child’s pickup and drop off location must be the same each day. However, the morning pickup location may be different from the afternoon drop off location. When school-furnished transportation is essential to meeting your family's needs, the availability of transportation should be investigated and fully understood before making a caregiver selection. All caregiver-related transportation requests are the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Allow adequate processing time when submitting requests. Further information is available at your school or the transportation office. Email: transp@holmen.k12.wi.us

Home Address Information

It is very important that you keep your address information current.  If you notify us of changes less than two weeks before school begins you may need to transport your own child until arrangements are completed for school transportation.  Bus route changes usually take up to five days.

Location of Bus Stops

Students will be grouped at bus stops, which are usually at corners, or other identified nearby locations.  It is not possible to locate all bus stops within the sight of homes.  Caregivers are encouraged to bring young children to bus stops.  Students are asked to be at bus stops five minutes before scheduled pick-up time.  Students are to be present at the bus stop before the bus arrives.  Buses cannot wait for students to come from inside houses.  Your elementary child will be given an ID bracelet to wear on the first day of school, which will identify their bus and bus stop location.  Please have your child wear this bracelet for at least the first two weeks of school.

Private School Transportation

Our program serves students who reside in the School District of Holmen boundaries which includes the elementary schools of  St. Patrick's, St. Paul's, Great River Montessori and Luther High School in Onalaska. If your child is going to 1/2 day four-year-old kindergarten we will provide transportation one way either in the a.m. or p.m. but not at noon.  Parents who transport their children at noon are eligible for reimbursement for 1/2 of a parent contract.  Requests for transportation must be sent to us by May of the current year for the next school year's service.