Transportation News

  • WELCOME TO SOLON SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION! 

    School Bus Close Up

    If you have questions, you can reach us at (440) 349-6250 or LisaShirkey@solonboe.org. 

    Lisa Shirkey, Transportation Supervisor

    Sheri Machado, Routing & Dispatch

    Sarah Hughes, Transportation Secretary

    Student safety is our number one concern. During bus route travel, our transportation team monitors the routes.

    If you have a non-emergency question or concern, we recommend calling or emailing us before or after peak bus travel times. 

     

    Navy blue circle with the word new

    TRANSPORTATION NEWS! 

    Most recent updates from the Solon Transportation Department...

    October 24, 2022

    FALL BUS SAFETY REMINDERS

     

    As we transition to colder weather and darker mornings, the Solon Schools Transportation Department is reminding families and drivers in the community of several important safety protocols. Additionally, we want to reinforce the changes that were necessary this school year due to staffing challenges. Some bus stops this year are in different locations than families were used to seeing and students may have slightly longer walks to the stop this year. However, the choice was between lengthening the distance from home to the stops as well as reducing the total number of stops or cutting transportation for some students entirely. The district chose to continue providing bus transportation to as many students as possible. Current bus stop locations will remain in place for the rest of the school year.  

     

    The safety of students on our school buses is our top priority. State law requires very specific safety precautions by bus drivers, students, family members and motorists to ensure student safety.

      

    All students are assigned and required to use a specific school bus stop with a designated place of safety. When possible, students should wear light-colored clothing or jackets on dark mornings (or place something reflective on coats or backpacks). Families should also: 

    • Check new cold-weather clothing for safety. Draw strings and key chains can catch on objects on the bus and create potential safety hazards.
    • Help students to be ready at their place of safety at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is due to arrive, even in inclement weather. If necessary, family members should take turns with friends and neighbors to be sure students are supervised at bus stops.
    • Never drive to catch up to a bus. Having students run alongside a bus to catch a missed bus at a subsequent stop is dangerous as students could be in a driver’s blind spot. Also, never chase after a bus that may miss a stop on the ride home from school. Drivers follow very specific protocols for missed stops, which includes radioing to the Transportation Department and continuing along the route to a safe location to turn around and bring the student back to the stop. 
    • Remind students to alert the driver if they ever drop something near the bus. Students or parents should not reach to pick up items that fall near the bus or roll near the wheels until given the go-ahead that it is safe to do so by the driver.
    • Ensure students are not using technology such as phones or earbuds. Playing on a phone or listening to music impedes students’ ability to watch and listen for potential dangers around them as well as hear or see safety instructions from their bus driver.

    For parents and other motorists driving during school transportation times, please remember that: 

    • Alternating flashing amber (yellow) lights are on to warn motorists that the bus is preparing to stop to let students on or off the bus.
    • Alternating flashing red lights are on to warn motorists that the bus is stopped on the roadway to let students on or off the bus.
    • The STOP sign arm is engaged at the same time as the red flashing lights are turned on. A white flashing strobe light may also be used during unfavorable conditions or times of day that limit visibility, such as darkness, rain, fog and snow.
    • Four-way hazard lights are activated at all railroad crossings and turn-arounds. The bus will stop prior to crossing the railroad tracks.
    • The school bus will have its four-way hazard lights and backup light on when preparing to back onto a side street to turn around.
    • Motorists must use caution when they approach a bus in the process of completing a turn-around.
    • Do not pass a school bus that has red alternating flashing lights. This is the signal that the bus is stopped to load or unload students. Traffic should not move until the bus resumes motion or the driver signals traffic to proceed.
    • Be careful and alert on dark streets in the mornings as students and families are waiting at bus stops. Please observe posted speed limits on roadways.
    • Remind teen drivers about these important rules of the road.

    Thank you for your continued support and commitment to students’ safety as they travel to and from school each day. 

     

    August 12, 2022

    2022-23 BUS ROUTES ARE EMAILED TO FAMILIES WHO OPTED IN FOR BUS TRANSPORTATION. LOOK FOR A TEXT MESSAGE INDICATING THAT YOUR CHILD'S BUS INFORMATION HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU.

    BUS OPT-IN FORMS FOR 2022-23 ARE DUE JUNE 17 

    DAY CARE/SHARED PARENTING TRANSPORTATION REQUEST FORMS ARE DUE JULY 8 

    May 19, 2022

    Dear Solon Schools Families, 

    With the end of the 2021-22 school year less than three weeks away, our Transportation team is already working on its plans for next year. For increased routing efficiency, families who want their children to ride a Solon school bus next year must OPT-IN for transportation. 

    The deadline to opt-in for bus transportation for the 2022-23 school year is June 17. 

    2022-23 SOLON SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION OPT-IN FORM

    All Solon students in grades K-8 and those high school students who live more than 1 mile from school are eligible to ride the bus. 

    Bus stops: Students who are riding the bus will be assigned a bus stop within the distances from home noted below provided that their families opt them in for bus transportation. Due to continuing staffing challenges, these distances have been increased by up to .075 miles for students in grades K-8 to enable the district to continue providing the same level of service for all families.  

    Bus stop distance from home:

    • Grades K-4 = up to .175 mile
    • Grades 5-8 = up to .275 mile
    • Grades 9-12 = up to .3 mile

    Pick-up and drop-off locations: Students may have only 1 stop in addition to their home in the morning and afternoon. This includes day care locations.    

    Kindergarten: Parents, guardians or designated caregivers of kindergarten students must be present at the bus stop to receive their students after school (unless the student is being transported to a day care location).

    Day care and/or shared parenting:  If you also need day care or shared parenting transportation, you must also complete the 2022-23 Day Care/Shared Parenting Transportation Request Form. A new shared parenting form must be completed each school year. The deadline to request day care transportation is July 8. Remember, you must register for before or after school care with the provider directly.

    Thank you for completing the 2022-23 Solon Schools Transportation Opt-In Form by June 17. You must submit this OPT-IN form if you want your Solon student to have a seat on the bus next year. 

     

    WINTER BUS SAFETY 

    Cold, blustery and icy winter weather can create slick road conditions, so it is more important than ever that students follow all bus safety protocols. 

    If your child misses the bus, please call the Transportation Department. Students should never chase after a bus and parents should not drive to catch up to a bus. Having students run alongside a bus to catch a missed bus at a subsequent stop is dangerous as students could be in a driver’s blind spot. Our drivers follow very specific protocols.

    Please consider adding reflective address numbers to your mailbox so that our drivers can more easily identify stop locations. This is particularly helpful when we have substitute drivers or regular drivers covering a different route. Students should also wear light-colored clothing or jackets on dark mornings (or add something reflective on coats or backpacks).

    As a reminder, students must wait for the bus at their designated place of safety even in inclement weather. 

    Additionally, students should alert the driver if they ever drop something near the bus. Students or parents should not reach to pick up items that fall near the bus or roll near the wheels until given the go-ahead that it is safe to do so by the driver.

    Students should also not use technology such as phones or earbuds while waiting for a bus. Playing on a phone or listening to music impedes students’ ability to watch and listen for potential dangers around them as well as hear or see safety instructions from their bus driver.  

    Thank you for your continued support and commitment to student safety as they travel to and from school each day.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

      

    SAFETY REMINDERS

     

    The safety of students on our school buses is our top priority. State law requires very specific safety precautions by bus drivers, students, family members and motorists to ensure student safety.

    All students are assigned and required to use a specific school bus stop with a designated place of safety. When possible, students should wear light-colored clothing or jackets on dark mornings (or place something reflective on coats or backpacks). Families should also:

    • Check new cold-weather clothing for safety. Draw strings and key chains can catch on objects on the bus and create potential safety hazards. 
    • Help students to be ready at their place of safety at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is due to arrive even in inclement weather. If necessary, family members should take turns with friends and neighbors to be sure students are supervised at bus stops.
    • Never drive to catch up to a bus. Having students run alongside a bus to catch a missed bus at a subsequent stop is dangerous as students could be in a driver’s blind spot. Also never chase after a bus that may miss a stop on the ride home from school. Drivers follow very specific protocols for missed stops, which includes radioing into the Transportation Department and continuing along the route to a safe location to turn around and bring the student back to the stop.
    • Remind students to alert the driver if they ever drop something near the bus. Students or parents should not reach to pick up items that fall near the bus or roll near the wheels until given the go-ahead that it is safe to do so by the driver.
    • Ensure students are not using technology such as phones or earbuds. Playing on a phone or listening to music impedes students’ ability to watch and listen for potential dangers around them as well as hear or see safety instructions from their bus driver.

    For parents and other motorists driving during school transportation times, please remember that:

    • Alternating flashing amber (yellow) lights are on to warn motorists that the bus is preparing to stop to let students on or off the bus.
    • Alternating flashing red lights are on to warn motorists that the bus is stopped on the roadway to let students on or off the bus.
    • The STOP sign arm is engaged at the same time as the red flashing lights are turned on. A white flashing strobe light may also be used during unfavorable conditions or times of day that limit visibility, such as darkness, rain, fog and snow.
    • Four-way hazard lights are activated at all railroad crossings and turn-arounds. The bus will stop prior to crossing railroad tracks.
    • The school bus will have its four-way hazard lights and backup light on when preparing to back onto a side street to turn around.
    • Motorists must use caution when they approach a bus in the process of completing a turn-around.
    • Do not pass a school bus that has red alternating flashing lights. This is the signal that the bus is stopped to load or unload students. Traffic should not move until the bus resumes motion or the driver signals traffic to proceed.
    • Be careful and alert on dark streets in the mornings as students and families are waiting at bus stops. Please observe posted speed limits on a roadways.
    • Remind teen drivers about these important rules of the road.

    Thank you for your continued support and commitment to student safety as they travel to and from school each day.