Postcards mailed August 15 for the 2023-24 school year
Postcards will be mailed in August to families of students eligible to receive transportation to and from school during the 2023-24 school year.
The postcard includes information on bus stop locations and pick-up/drop-off times. Parents and guardians who do not receive a postcard and believe their child is eligible to receive transportation can call the Transportation Department at 651-423-7685. The district also offers optional transportation service for a fee for students who do not qualify based on the current service distances; for more information, visit the Transportation Department page.
Bus stop information is also available through the Infinite Campus Parent portal. Click on “More,” then “Transportation.” This information is updated nightly to reflect any changes to bus routes and stops.
Optional transportation service for a fee is available to families whose children are not eligible for free transportation based on current service distances.
Optional bus service is $300 for the entire school year
The annual cost is $300 per student, with a $600 family maximum. Families whose children qualify to receive free or reduced-price school meals receive the service for a discounted rate. State law requires districts to provide transportation for students living two miles or more from their school and for students who receive special education services and require transportation as part of their individual education program. Districts are allowed to charge a fee for transportation provided within the two-mile minimum radius, except transportation for individuals with special needs.
District 196 offers better service than required by state law. The starting point for elementary service is one mile from school and for middle school and high school service it is one and one-half miles. Students living within these distances from their school are not eligible for free transportation, except those who would, if they were to walk to school, need to cross a railway or roadway defined by district regulation as hazardous. Families whose children are not eligible for free transportation service based on distance or hazardous crossings have the option to purchase it.
For more information, visit the Transportation Department page or call 651-423-7685.