Transportation
At St. Cloud Area School District, our transportation system is designed with three core principles in mind:
Safety
Predictability
Consistency
To ensure the safety of all students and the efficiency of our routes, we adhere to the following protocols regarding bus stops and schedules.
Consistent Transportation Protocol
1. One Pickup, One Drop-off
Each student is assigned one designated pickup location and one designated drop-off location.
2. Morning & Afternoon Locations
Morning pickup (a.m.) and afternoon drop-off (p.m.) locations can be different.
3. Locations Must Stay the Same
Once set, both locations must remain the same every day, Monday through Friday.
4. Within School Boundaries
All locations, including home or daycare, must be within your child’s school attendance area.
Example of Approved Schedule
Morning Pickup (a.m.)
At Home (Monday-Friday)
Afternoon Drop-Off (p.m.)
At daycare (Monday-Friday)
Example of Unapproved Schedule
Afternoon Drop-Off (p.m.)
At daycare Tuesdays & Thursdays
At home Mondays, Wednesdays & Friday
* This is not permitted under the standard policy.
Split Custody Transportation Waiver
We understand that families with court-ordered split custodial arrangements have unique needs. Families may apply for a waiver to allow for two different stop locations; however, submission of a waiver does not guarantee approval.
Waivers are granted only when the request fits within the district's current transportation network without alteration.
Note: If an existing route does not serve the second address, the waiver cannot be approved, regardless of the custodial arrangement.
Conditions for Approval
To be approved for a split custody waiver, the request must meet all of the following criteria:
- Court Documentation: A copy of the court-ordered parenting plan or custody agreement must be provided to the district.
- Both Homes in Attendance Area: Both parent/guardian home addresses must be within your student’s school attendance boundary.
- Bus Route Must Already Exist: The bus must already travel past the requested second location or have an existing stop nearby. Routes will NOT be rerouted to accommodate a second stop.
- Consistent Schedule: The rotation between the two households must be on a consistent, predictable schedule (e.g., alternating weeks or set days). Day-to-day or last-minute changes cannot be accommodated.
Change Requests & Deadlines
For the safety of all students, changes to transportation cannot be made on a daily basis.
Permanent Changes
Please contact the Welcome Center if you move or change daycare providers. A ‘proof of address’ will be required to update addresses and modify transportation.
Emergency Changes
Temporary changes for playdates, appointments, or non-emergency reasons are not permitted on school buses.