Transportation

 

 

 

Use StopFinder App to be Notified of School Bus Cancellations and Changes

In July, Pittsford Schools shared information about StopFinder, a new app the Transportation Department is using to communicate bus information. Parents/guardians should have received multiple emails to subscribe to StopFinder by using a link provided in that email which is specific to their child(ren).

For the app to work, parents/guardians must first subscribe to StopFinder and then download the free and secure app available at Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. If you have not received the emailed invitation to subscribe, please contact the Transportation department at (585) 267-1480.

Please note that if you download the app before subscribing, the app won’t work.

StopFinder provides bus pass information as well as real-time notifications to parents when a bus run is cancelled or changed. The primary method of notifying parents about bus cancellations will be through alerts sent via email (from “Transfinderdonotreply”) and the StopFinder app, so it is important to ensure app notifications are activated to appear on your cell phone screen. 

There will be times when the District learns of driver absences or transportation issues the morning of your child’s pickup, so please check your email and phone and look for StopFinder notifications each morning prior to scheduled pickup times.

To activate StopFinder notifications, please follow the below setup instructions:

1.      Click on the link provided in the above-mentioned email that is specific to your child to subscribe to StopFinder

2.      Then download and activate the free and secure StopFinder app via the Apple Store or Google Play Store

3.      Go to your phone’s settings (the gear icon)

4.      Select “Apps”

5.      Select the StopFinder app from the list of apps on your phone

a.      Then select app “permissions”

b.     Then select “show notifications”

c.      Then slide the on/off toggle to the on position (no longer grayed out when on) for the following alerts to show up on your phone:

                                                                 i.      Pop on screen – when device is unlocked, the notifications will appear as a banner on your screen

                                                               ii.      Sound

                                                             iii.      Lock screen, then select “show all notification content”

                                                             iv.      Show notification dot

How Bus Stops and Routes are Determined

We understand that transportation is an important part of your child’s school day and want to take a moment to explain how bus routes and stops are determined to ensure everyone's safety and efficiency.

As guided by the Commissioner of Education, our school district is responsible for creating bus routes and selecting how students will get to school. These decisions are carefully made to balance safety, travel time, and efficiency. Once bus routes are designated by PCSD, they remain unless it is shown that a change is needed for safety reasons.

Our transportation team takes great care when choosing bus stops, looking at factors such as student safety, convenience, and the efficiency of the route. In Pittsford, bus stops are placed with the goal of having safe, centralized group stops that minimize how long students are on the bus while making the overall route smoother for everyone.

When planning, we use the District's walk to bus stop guidelines:

• 528 ft. for grades K-5
• 792 ft. for grades 6-8
• 1,096 ft. for grades 9-12

We do not offer door-to-door service.

Requesting Bus Stop Changes

We know that each family has unique circumstances, and every year we receive requests to change bus stops. However, please note that during the first 2-3 weeks of the school year, we won’t be able to consider any changes unless there’s an urgent safety concern. This is because drivers are learning their routes and we want to ensure they’re able to do their jobs safely.

After that initial period, parents and guardians can submit written requests for changes. If you’d like to do so, please go to the following link (BusStopReviewRequestForm.pdf) complete the form and return it via email to Irene_francione@pittsford.monroe.edu for review.

1. Parent Responsibility for Safety: It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to ensure their child gets to and from the bus stop safely, even if the stop is a short walk from home.
   • If you have a newborn or young children at home, or can’t see the stop from your house, this doesn’t change your responsibility.
   • Common road conditions, such as heavy traffic, no sidewalks, unlit streets, or winter snowbanks, do not automatically mean the bus stop is unsafe.
2. Bus Stop Locations Can Change: Bus stops may be different each year, and a stop in a specific location this year doesn’t guarantee it will be the same next year.
3. Cul-de-Sacs: We try to avoid sending buses into cul-de-sacs whenever possible. Students may need to walk to a safe location at the entrance. If a stop is in a cul-de-sac, we’ll designate a central location for all students to meet.
4. Disrupting Designated Stops: Requests that disrupt existing bus stops within walking distance can only be considered if all impacted parents/guardians agree.

We recognize that there are unique situations that may not fit neatly into these categories. Our transportation department strives to provide excellent service, though we know there may be times when not everyone agrees with our decisions. Rest assured, our bus dispatchers are experienced and work hard to ensure safe, efficient bus routes.

We truly appreciate your understanding, patience, and support as we work to give your child the safest experience on our buses.