1. How will STSCGB (Student Transportation Service Consortium of Grey-Bruce) know that a student needs to be set up for busing?
Schools are required to send an email or fax to their route planner to request a change to busing for a student.
2. When should I update the student record in Maplewood?
The student record should be updated immediately in Maplewood. Route planners often refer to Maplewood to confirm that we have the most current information. For data integrity and student safety reasons, it is important that the student data in Maplewood is the data that is used when setting up busing in BusPlanner. Data inconsistencies between Maplewood and BusPlanner may result in inaccurate information being used to set up transportation for the student. Currently (Mar 2014) the STSCGB extracts data from Maplewood on, or near, the 15th of each month. But that schedule could change to be on a daily basis, so it is imperative that student information be kept up to date.
3. Once I advise Transportation of a change, how soon can that student take the bus?
- If you contact the route planner in the AM they can start working on the process in the afternoon.
- If you contact the route planner in the PM they can start working on the process the next morning.
- Once the route planner has processed the request, the student can start riding within 2-3 business days.
- Please keep in mind that during the start of the school year, your transportation route planner will be processing dozens of requests a day and may not get to process all requests within this time frame.
- To find out which bus a student has been assigned to, you can log into BusPlanner Web using your Professional Login (previously known as GeoQuery). Search for the student and click on the student's name to see transportation details. Bus Operators received notification the same way and at the same time as the school.
- Students should not ride the bus until the bus operator has confirmed that arrangements are in place. The bus operator will contact the family to confirm pickup/drop-off times, stop location and a start date. The bus operator will also confirm the start date with the school
4. How will parents know when their child can begin riding the bus?
Once transportation has been set up by STSCGB, the school and bus operators are notified through BPWeb. Then the bus operator will contact the family to confirm pickup/drop-off times, stop location and a start date. The bus operator will also confirm the start date with the school.
5. What is the process for a parent to set their child up for busing if they have moved, are new to the school, or there is a change in child care arrangements?
Parents are encouraged to contact the school first in order for schools to make the appropriate changes to the Maplewood database and contact the route planner.
6. How will a school know when a student has been added to a bus?
- The bus operator will confirm the start date with the school
- Students should not ride the bus until the bus operator has confirmed that arrangements are in place. The bus operator will contact the family to confirm pickup/drop-off times, stop location and a start date.
- To find out which bus a student has been assigned to, you can log into BusPlanner Web using your Professional Login (previously known as GeoQuery). Search for the student and click on the student's name to see transportation details. You can also view the report titled "Route Changes" to view route changes for all students.
7. What is the process for students with Special Needs or Request for Special Approval for Transportation?
Schools are required to submit a form TCF-A006 Individual Student Transportation Plan for students with Special Needs or Special Requests
8. What if a student only needs transportation one way?
- If a student only requires transportation in the mornings or afternoons, schools must email their route planner for clarification purposes. This must be done before making a change to Maplewood. The default will always be for STSCGB to add a student to a bus from their home address for both the morning and afternoon unless otherwise notified.
- For example, if a student has an eligible home address, STSCGB will assign that student to both the morning and afternoon routes. If the parent chooses to have their child ride in the morning only, schools need to notify their route planner of this via e-mail before making the change to Maplewood
9. What if a student needs transportation to or from a daycare provider?
The parent/guardian must complete a form TCF-A007 Transportation to/from Child Care Provider. The form includes an area to provide the Caregiver's information, as well as, an area to indicate where the parent/guardian would like their child picked up in the morning (home or daycare) and dropped off in the afternoon (home or daycare). The parent/guardian is allowed to choose one morning pick-up and one afternoon drop-off.
10. What if a student needs transportation for Joint Custody reasons?
The parent/guardian must complete and sign a form TCF-A008 Transportation for Joint Custody. The form provides areas for both parents/guardians to provide their information and to indicate the type of schedule they are requesting.
11. What if a student's transportation requirements change? For instance: a student no longer needs transportation to/from a childcare provider but now requests transportation to/from home. What is the process to get this changed?
The school should email the route planner with the details.
12. Can a student change buses for a temporary or short period of time while their parent/guardian is on vacation or absent from home?
No, temporary changes for a short period of time are not permitted while a parent or guardian is on vacation or absent from the home.
13. Where can I find information on BPWeb (formerly GeoQuery)?
Click on this link to get notes on BPWeb - link to BPWeb Notes
14. Where do I post bus cancellation messages or school closure messages?
You must log into BPWeb to post these notifications. Click on this link for instructions: link to Delays and Cancellations notes.pdf
15. Where can students, parents, staff or public find bus cancellation notices?
link to Cancellations and Delays website. Notices are also available on local radio web-sites.