Transportation

Contact Transportation Services at 952-848-4979 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Transportation information is posted on the parent portal in August at the same time classroom assignments are posted (usually around the time of Open House and Get Connected events).

Bus stops differ slightly each year. They are determined by route configuration which is designed with efficiency and safety in mind. The number and ages of students who will board that bus at each stop changes from year to year, as families come and go from neighborhoods and as children age. Most bus stops are at corners, which is the safest location for students to cross a street and is a place where impatient motorists would be less likely to pass a bus. Motorists generally expect school buses to stop at corners, also increasing safety.

Buses do not enter cul-de-sacs for a number of reasons:

• Most cul-de-sacs would require the bus to back up to exit, a dangerous maneuver and not recommended by the Minnesota State Highway Patrol.
• Cul-de-sacs are often an extension of the neighborhood’s yards, making it difficult for bus drivers to navigate parked cars, basketball hoops, boat trailers and children’s toys.
• For the above reasons, entering a cul-de-sac adds significant time to a route

Transportation Services has used the Efficiency Reserved Seating (ERS) program since 1996. During the first two to three weeks of school, students may select their own seat on the bus. After that, students will be asked for their preferred reserved seat, the bus driver will create a seating chart, and reserved seating will begin. The driver will make the final determination of seat assignments and may make changes as necessary. ERS allows faster loading and unloading of students and eliminates "seat shopping." In addition, the bus driver can quickly learn students names and the seating chart also assists substitute bus drivers. We encourage students to work together with the bus driver to resolve any issues with their reserved seat assignment. Questions regarding ERS should be referred to Transportation Services.

Due to high ridership on most buses, the Transportation Department does not allow rider transfers (i.e. students who are not assigned to that bus). State law mandates that ridership on a bus not exceed its capacity, therefore students will not be permitted to ride another bus. Transportation arrangements for playdates are the responsibility of parents.

Personal use of a cell phone and other music devices are allowed as long as the user wears headphones/earbuds and keeps the volume at a reasonable level. Loud conversations, music, and other noises (ringtones, etc.) associated with cell phones can be a distraction for the bus driver and therefore a safety issue. Also, students leaving their seats to view posts or videos on another student’s phone creates a hazard for all students. If a student is using their cell phone in a distracting manner, the driver will ask the student to put the cell phone away. If the behavior continues the driver may confiscate the cell phone until the end of the ride. (School District Policy 506, Appendix I, No. 13)

Minnesota state statute requires school districts to provide transportation at no charge for all students who live more than 2 miles from the school they attend. In Edina, we have expanded the eligibility area to include students who live more than .7 miles for elementary students and more than 1 mile for secondary students. (See School Board Policy 713)