Transportation

BCPS contracts bus services with Dean Transportation, which provides school bus service for all schools in the district. In-district students who live farther than 1-1.5 miles from school are entitled to bus service. Schools of Choice families are responsible for securing transportation for their students. For assistance, please contact the office of Student Services.If you have any questions, please call our Transportation Department information line at (269) 965-9435.

• School Bus Law
• Transportation Careers

BCPS will serve every stop, every morning. When the bus is late due to weather, a mechanical problem, etc, our Transportation Department will still get there. Children should not leave a stop and begin walking.

In the Battle Creek Public Schools District, elementary students (kindergarten through fifth grade) may walk up to one mile to board a bus or walk to school when appropriate walkways and traffic controls are available. Middle and high school students may walk up to one and one-half miles to school or one mile to board a bus.

During the first three weeks of school, please plan to have your student at the stop 15 minutes before the scheduled time. Our Transportation Department will be working hard to provide the proper service. Please be patient in the early weeks while transportation addresses are being confirmed.

Transportation information is included in your school handbook, which is available at your student's school and will require student and parent signatures.

1. Students must be at the bus stop ten minutes before the published pick up time. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early during the first three weeks of school. Normal arrival time will be 10 minutes early after the third week.
2. Please do not ask drivers to change pick up or drop off times or locations. If you have questions or concerns, contact your child's school. This will assist in processing your request, school's safety and security measures.
3. Take time periodically to go over bus conduct rules for safe ridership.
4. When you see a school bus turn on overhead red flashing lights and the bus is stopped, remember that you must stop your vehicle. When the overhead amber lights or hazard lights are flashing, you may proceed very cautiously, if safe to do so.
5. Battle Creek Public Schools Board of Education policy states that kindergarten and elementary students may walk up to one mile to board a bus or walk to school. Middle school and high school students may walk up to one and one-half miles to school.

1. Be at the bus stop ten minutes before the designated pickup time.
2. Stay off the road (10 to 20 feet) at your assigned bus stop location while waiting for the bus. Please stand still and in a line as the bus approaches.
3. You may approach the bus only after the driver has opened the door.
4. Show respect for property and other people at the bus stop.
5. When required to cross, always cross in front of the bus, and only at the driver's signal.

1. Follow a bus driver's instructions and respect driver.
2. Bus driver may assign seats.
3. Observe classroom behavior and rules. Stay seated, talk quietly.
4. Eating and drinking are prohibited.
5. Unsafe items are prohibited. All allowable items must be in a backpack or similar container and are to be held on the lap.
6. Report any problems to the bus driver, preferably when the bus is loading/unloading at the school so the driver is not distracted during the route.

1. Teach your child that the driver is the person in authority on the bus. Teach your child to follow all bus rules and special instructions.
2. Make sure your child arrives at the bus stop ten minutes before the designated time.
3. Provide supervision of your child going to and from the bus stop and at the stop, as necessary.
4. Appear in person with your child if we request a conference.
5. Accept responsibility for the proper conduct of your child.

My child is starting kindergarten. Will the bus pick my child up in front of the house?

There are no special laws or regulations for transporting regular education students enrolled in kindergarten. If your district provides transportation, it will be provided in accordance with the requirements of MCL 380.1321, Section 55 of the Pupil Transportation Act and local district policy with regard to the placement of the bus stop.

Is there a law about how far my child has to walk to the bus stop?

No law specifies the maximum distance a student may walk to the bus stop.

Is there a specified distance that must exist between school bus stops?

The lights on a school bus, which are used to notify other traffic of an upcoming stop, must by law be activated 200 feet from the stop. Thus, bus stops must be at least 200 feet apart.

What about the safety of my child getting to and from the bus stop?

There are no sidewalks where we live and it is not very safe walking on the busy road we live on. It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to see that a child gets safely to and from the bus stop. The school district provides transportation as a non-mandated service and establishes placement of the bus stops in accordance with the requirements of the law.