Bus FAQs
We created this Bus FAQ page to answer some of the most common questions we receive regarding busing. If you still have a question not answered here, please contact your school office for assistance.
You may access general education bus routes at www.dg58.org/family-resources/bus-routes or on your child’s PowerSchool account if your child rides a First Student general education bus route. Families who participate in specialized transportation provided by AuroraNaper, Sunrise or Kids Kab receive communications directly from the company or can confirm the route with their school office.
- Log on to the PowerSchool Parent Portal. (Need to create an account? Click here.)
- Click on “Forms” in the left navigation column.
- Click on “Bus Route Information” and view your child’s bus route information.
All students who live beyond 1.5 miles from their school, or in an area that has been designated a serious safety hazard by the Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Transportation, are eligible for bus transportation to their school, for a small fee ($46 in 2022-23). Any child not eligible for bus transportation as authorized above may ride the school bus on a space available basis if the parents agree to pay the actual costs for transportation ($614 in 2022-23) and the student can safely access an established bus stop.
If you are uncertain if you live more than 1.5 miles from school, contact your school office. Please view the serious safety hazards to see if you qualify for busing despite living closer than 1.5 miles away.
Please sign up for bus service during registration. If you qualify for busing and need to add bus service during the school year, please contact your school office. We will do our best to add your child to a route.
We rely on the bus companies and their routing software to establish the bus routes. Schools continue to receive new student registrations through the first day of school, and many registrants require bus transportation. It is not possible to post routes earlier in the summer, since the routes would frequently change as new students register.
District 58 and the bus company aims to establish efficiency in its bus routes while ensuring student safety. Due to the nationwide bus driver shortage, we are running fewer routes and requiring more efficient service. This has resulted in some bus stops being changed.
The nationwide shortage of bus drivers has prevented us from adding more buses. Student ridership is high, and so the buses are running longer routes to accommodate all students. This has caused longer route times.
We hope to avoid that scenario, but in case of shortages where the bus company cannot find qualified drivers, we might have to reduce service.
The transportation program is set up to pick the closest stop to your house and to average out the ridership across school routes as well as the entire District. All students are expected to walk to a local stop, so long as a safe walking route exists. We cannot honor requests to move stops closer to a student’s home.
No, you must be registered to ride the bus, and you may only ride your designated bus. If you qualify for busing, please contact your school to register for this service.
The maximum seating capacity is 71 seats (3 to a seat) for elementary students and 48 seats (2 to a seat) for middle school students on a District 58 bus. Standing while riding is not allowed.
Students should be at their stop 10 minutes prior to their scheduled pick up time; buses may be early or late due to traffic, weather conditions, or the number of students riding on any given day. Drivers cannot wait for students to arrive at the stop.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly manner while traveling as passengers in school district transportation vehicles, in accordance with Board Policy 7:220 Bus Conduct.
All students should review and understand the following school bus safety rules, even students who do not participate in daily bus transportation, as they may from time-to-time be transported to school activities by school bus.
1. Be aware of moving traffic and pay attention to your surroundings.
2. Dress properly for the weather. Make sure all drawstrings, ties, straps, etc. on all clothing, backpacks and other items, are shortened or removed to lessen the likelihood of them getting caught in bus doors, railings or aisles.
3. Arrive on time at the bus stop, and stay away from the street while waiting for the bus.
4. Stay away from the bus until it stops completely and the driver signals you to board. Enter in single file without pushing. Always use the handrail.
5. Take a seat right away and remain seated facing forward. Keep your hands, arms, and head inside the bus.
6. Talk quietly on the bus. No shouting or creating loud noises that may distract the driver. Tablets, iPods®, smart phones, and other electronic devices must be silenced on the bus unless a student uses headphones.
7. Help keep the bus neat and clean. Keep belongings out of the aisle and away from emergency exits. Eating and drinking are not allowed on the bus.
8. Always listen to the driver’s instructions. Be courteous to the driver and other students. Sit with your hands to yourself and avoid making noises that would distract the driver or bother other passengers.
9. Wait until the bus pulls to a complete stop before standing up. Use the handrail when exiting the bus.
10. Stay out of the danger zone next to the bus where the driver may have difficulty seeing you. Take at least five giant steps (10 feet) away from the bus and out of the danger zone, until you can see the driver and the driver sees you. Never crawl under a bus.
11. If you must cross the street after you get off the bus, wait for the driver’s signal and then cross in front of the bus. Cross the street only after checking both ways for traffic, even after the driver’s signal.
12. Never run back to the bus, even if you dropped or forgot something.
Please reach out to your school office. They will either provide assistance or work with the District 58 manager of business services and/or the bus company to address your question.