2012-13 School Bus Registration Open

Submitted by the Needham Public Schools Transportation Department

Registration is now open for bus transportation to for the 2012-13 school year.

The district offers free transportation to students in kindergarten through sixth grade who live more than two miles from their assigned school. Parents can check their school and street for eligibility online at www.needham.k12.ma.us.

All other students may register for transportation, for a fee, on a space available basis if they are in grades 7-12, or are in grades K-6 and live 2 miles or less from their assigned school.

Each year, students are required to register and agree to the Bus Conduct Rules if they wish to ride the bus.

Registration forms can be found as a PDF at right or online at http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/transportation/.

Bus Fees and Late Fees

The fee for the 2012-13 school year is $390 per student ( from the previous year). The full fee is due by May 1 with registration.

The fee increases to $440 for the first student and $370 for the second if the application and payment are received after May 1. There are no exceptions.

There is a family cap of $790 for families with three or more students requesting transportation. Families that are eligible for the family cap and register after May 1 will pay a cap of $840, which includes a late fee of $50 per family.

Registrations must be received by May 1 to be guaranteed a seat. A wait list will be started once a bus has reached its capacity. Bus routes and stops are assigned only on data received by May 1.

Families must be paid in full before a bus pass will be issued. Once a student has been registered for fee-based transportation, the family has agreed to pay the full cost of the seat for the full year, regardless of how often they use the bus. No refunds will be granted once the application has been processed.

Parents are advised to register early to avoid being placed on a wait list, as many buses reach their full capacity before September.

Waiver Program

The School Committee has established a waiver program for fee-based riders, which offers reduced fees to qualifying families. If you think you may be eligible by income level, or currently are receiving state assistance, submit your registration with a check for $25 per household. The Transportation Office will then send you a waiver application with instructions. The bus pass will not be issued until all forms are completed, reviewed, and approved.

In addition, riders who have qualified for free and reduced lunch are entitled to free transportation provided the parent or guardian has given consent for the child's eligibility information to be shared with the Transportation Office. The waiver fee of $25 is not required if the student currently receives free and reduced lunch.

Bus Passes and Routes

Bus passes will be mailed and bus routes will be published in the local newspaper during the last week in August.

Riders will not receive their bus passes until the registration forms and bus conduct terms are signed and all balances are paid. Each student is required to have a bus pass on his/her person at all times when riding the bus. Failure to do so may result in transportation service being denied for that day by the bus driver. It is suggested that parents/guardians laminate the bus pass and attach it to their child’s backpack.

For more information about bus fees and passes, call the Transportation Department at 781-455-0400 ext. 234.