Some important information:

• The Route numbers are posted in the bus window (these are not the bus numbers).
• To find your child’s bus stop, look at the Elementary School or Jr/Sr High Schedule. Then look for the route with stops in the area in which your residence is located. Please be advised that no student is guaranteed door to door transportation.
• Students should be at the stop, in plain view, when the bus arrives. Students who have stops in front of their residence must also be waiting outside for the bus prior to their stop time. Due to safety reasons, buses are not permitted to stay stopped in the road and wait for a student to exit their residence. For the first two weeks, the student should be at their stop a minimum of 10 minutes before the time listed. After the first two weeks of school, the route will be firmly established and students should be at the stop at least five minutes prior to pick-up.
• Morning Bus Routes for Southold Jr/Sr High School will start approximately 7am.
• Morning Bus Routes for Southold Elementary School will start approximately 8am.
• Kindergarten through 2nd grade students will only be dismissed from the bus when a parent or guardian is present at the bus stop. If there is not anyone at the stop, the student will be brought back to the school and the parent/guardian will be contracted to pick the child up.
• If your child should miss the school bus at his or her regular stop, please do not try to chase the bus down. This is a very dangerous practice and could cause injury to your child or to someone else. Please transport your child to school yourself should he or she miss the bus.
• Afternoon Bus Routes for the Southold Jr/Sr High School are scheduled to depart at 2:35pm.
• Afternoon Bus Routes for the Southold Elementary School are scheduled to depart at 3:10pm.
• Afternoon buses will do their routes in the same order as listed in the morning. To estimate the drop-off time, add the number of minutes for the bus to arrive at your stop (the difference from the first stop) to the time the buses depart from the school.
• Transportation Request will require a minimum of three (3) school days to put in place.
• “Play-date” transportation is not permitted.

Child Care Arrangements*

All child care arrangements must be made at least one week in advance through the Transportation Department either in writing or by calling 631-765-5400 ext. 1310. The child care provider must be located within the Southold School District. Same day requests for transportation changes will not be accepted. If there is a same day emergency, you need to contact the school and arrange for the child or make arrangements to have someone meet the child at their designated stop.

*Childcare arrangements will not carry over from year to year. A new childcare form needs to be completed at the beginning of every school year.

Transportation Eligibility Requirements

Transportation eligibility is based on the distance from the student’s home to the school the student
attends. The eligibility are as follows:

• All Kindergarten students ride
• Grades 1-12 must reside at lease one-half of a mile (0.5 mile) from the school of attendance.
• No student is guaranteed door-to-door transportation.

Copies of the Southold UFSD Transportation policies are available below.

Rules for School Bus Riders

1. Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the regular pickup time.
2. Students are expected to behave and respect the property of others while waiting for the bus.
3. Follow the driver’s directions.
4. No pushing while boarding/leaving the bus.
5. When being seated, move toward the window and keep the aisle clear.
6. Make room for other students.
7. Remain seated while the bus is moving and keep aisles clear.
8. Keep your hands, feet, body and objects to yourself.
9. No swearing, rude gestures or bullying.
10. No eating, drinking or smoking on the bus.
11. Talk in a classroom voice.
12. Stay away from the bus when exiting and wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing.

Bus Drills

Regular drills are conducted to ensure children are aware of what to do in case of emergency on the
school bus. There are three drills conducted during the school year.
Bus Stop Safety

If you must cross the street, make eye contact with the driver and wait for them to give you the
universal crossing signal and then cross at least fifteen (15) feet from the front of the bus so that the
driver can see you.

***It is against the law to pass through the red flashing lights of a stopped school but on roadways,
school property or private thoroughfares. A first conviction could result in a fine of $250 to $400 and/or
a possible 30 day jail sentence, with the possibility of a fine and jail sentence.