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We are Hiring Substitute Bus Drivers!
Do you  like kids? Are you a  safe driver? Why not become a school bus driver?

South Kitsap School District is currently hiring substitute school bus drivers. We offer a comprehensive paid training program that is held year round. With the completion of our training, you will become a CDL licensed driver and a valuable member of our driving team. This is a very rewarding occupation and an excellent source of supplemental income.

View all current Employment Opportunities

Getting Ready for School

• Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won´t drop things along the way.
• Have them wear bright, contrasting colors so they will be more easily seen by drivers.
• Make sure they leave home on time so they can walk to the bus stop and arrive five (5) minutes before the bus is due.  Running can be dangerous.

Walking to the Bus Stop

• Walk your young child to the bus stop and have older children walk in groups.  There is safety in numbers; groups are easier for drivers to see.
• Practice good pedestrian behavior: walk on the sidewalk, if there is no sidewalk, stay out of the street.
• If you must walk to your bus stop, walk single file, face traffic if possible and stay as far from the edge of the road as you can. n Do not cross the street to get to your bus stop unless there is a crosswalk or the bus has arrived and driver has safely crossed you across the street.  When the driver gives you the signal it is safe to cross.  Make sure you look left, right and then left again when crossing the street.  Do the same thing at driveways and alleys.
• Exaggerate your head turns and narrate your actions so your child knows you are looking left, right and left.

Waiting for the Bus

• Don´t let your child play running games or push and shove at the bus stop. It is dangerous near traffic.
• Make sure your child stands away from the road while waiting for the bus.  The child will then be out of the way of traffic.
• Have your child respect private and public property where they wait for the bus.

Getting on and Off the Bus

• Warn children that, if they drop something, they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver instructions.  If they bend over to pick up a dropped object,  they might not be seen by the driver. 
• Teach your children to secure loose drawstrings and other objects that may get caught in the handrail or door of the bus as they are exiting.
• Give your child a note or follow your school´s procedures if you would like for the child to  get off at a stop other than the one they are  assigned. The driver isn´t allowed to let a child off at another stop without written permission.
• If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can be so excited at seeing you after school that they dash across the street and forget the safety rules.

Riding the Bus

• Children should talk quietly, be courteous to all and follow the driver´s instructions.
• Children should stay seated during the entire bus ride and keep the aisles clear.

South Kistap School District Transportation Services

SKSD anticipates significant bus driver shortages again this year which impacts the ability to provide transportation services outside of our obligated home to school service.  

Public School Districts are not required to provide transportation for services outside of home-school service, nor do they receive funding from the state. For these reasons, South Kitsap School District will not provide school bus transportation from childcare facilities for this school year. We regret any inconvenience or hardship this may cause for South Kitsap families.

To cancel your special education child's transportation call: 360-874-7090.

Student Assistance
The parent/guardian is responsible for assisting his/her child to and from the school bus.  Children who require assistance boarding the bus will be assisted by the parent/guardian and placed in the seat that the driver has assigned for that child.  Drivers are not required to carry students on or off the school bus or lift them in or out of car seats, except in emergencies.

Bus Stop Location
 As a rule, students are picked up and dropped off at the same location each day.  Please notify the Transportation Department of any change in pick up and/or drop off location for your child. Only one location for pickup and only one location for drop-off will be scheduled. The bus stop location is routed by the transportation office as close as safely possible to the student’s residence.  The house address must be visible in both directions from the roadway in accordance with Kitsap County code 16.66.060 display of designations. If door-to-door service is provided for your child, roadways/driveways must be free of debris and/or low hanging branches so that the bus may safely pass on the road.  Transportation may be suspended if the roadway is unsafe for the school bus.

Student Pickup
It is required that students be prepared to board the school bus five (5) minutes prior to their scheduled pickup time.   The time a school bus arrives at a bus stop may vary five (5) minutes before or after the scheduled arrival time. The school bus will wait two (2) minutes or as traffic allows at a bus stop before continuing the route.  School bus drivers are not allowed to honk the bus horn at the school bus stop.

Reporting Student Absences
It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to inform the Transportation Department when bus service will not be used. Please call 360.874.7090 to report any absences.   You may report an absence starting at 5:00 AM by calling the Transportation Office.  The team will notify the bus driver about the change.  When reporting an absence, please provide the following information:  the child’s full name, school bus route number, and school of attendance. Please remember that the parent/guardian must still inform the student’s school of the absence. 

If a child is absent without notice for three (3) consecutive days, transportation services may be suspended. Transportation services will resume the following day upon notification by the parent/guardian.

Receiving Adults
Students who require an adult to present at the drop-off location (receiving adult) will not be allowed to leave the school bus until the receiving adult is present.  Receiving adults must be visible to the school bus driver, waiting outside their vehicle and within sight distance of no more than twenty feet.  Receiving adults must be present each school day. Call your school if you need to add receiving adults to your child’s Transportation Request Form (T-19).  All receiving adults must be included on the emergency contact list at your student’s school. Emergency contacts or other persons picking up your child will be required to show ID to the Driver. All students must have a receiving adult when delivered home at mid-day.  If there is not a receiving adult present, the student will be kept on the school bus.  If time and the route allow, a second attempt may be made before returning your child to school. 

Change of Address / Emergency Contacts
The parent/guardian is responsible for notifying their child’s school of any changes to transportation services for their child.  The school will send a revised Transportation Request Form (T-19) to the Transportation Department for review.  Please allow three to five full work days for implementation of any changes.  For the safety of all students riding a school bus, drivers are not permitted to make route changes before the change has been added to the bus route sheet. 

Change in the Route and Pick-up / Drop-off Times
Due to individual needs of students, bus routes may change throughout the school year.  This may affect the direction of the route, pick-up and drop-off times, assigned school bus number and/or assigned school bus driver.  The Transportation Department will inform parents/guardians in advance of any changes to a bus route that may impact their child.

Other Considerations:

• Damage to a District Vehicle 

If a student causes damage to a District vehicle, the District will conduct a meeting that may include the District’s Hearing Officer, Transportation Department staff, the student, and the parent/guardian.  During that meeting, next steps will be determined.

• Head Lice

When a student has been diagnosed with head lice, the child will be transported home that day.  Prior to special needs school bus service resuming, the school will notify transportation.

• Illness

When a student becomes ill at school, the parent/guardian is responsible for transporting the student home from school.

• Immunization

If a student's immunizations are not current, the school will suspend transportation.  The school will then notify Transportation Services when to resume transportation.

• Medication

Drivers will not accept medication for transport to school or home.

• Seatbelts

Seatbelts are required to be used by all passengers on special needs school buses.  Prior to moving the bus, the driver must ensure that each student is safely secured in the bus seat.

• Soiled Clothing

Health issues restrict the transportation of students on school buses with soiled clothing or diapers.

Inclement Weather / Road Conditions
Due to road conditions, the school bus may run a few minutes late.  If your school bus is more than ten (10) minutes late, please call the Transportation Department’s Dispatch team at 360.874.7090, for an estimated status update. The best means for finding out changes in the school schedule due to inclement weather are through television, radio, or web sites like School Report or the district web site.  You can register with School Report for automatic email messages that are sent out as soon as the district posts its decision to the Public Emergency Communications System. 

Student Behavior on the School Bus
School buses are considered an extension of the classroom.  Students are expected to behave on the school bus as they would in the classroom. Disruptive behavior on the school bus will be reported to the school and the student’s IEP team for further consideration.  

Child Safety Restraint System (CSRS)
The student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) team will determine the appropriate Child Safety Restraint System (CSRS) required for each individual student.  Examples include five-point safety seats, safety vests, or buckle guards.  Changes to this information must be made through the student’s IEP team and/or through the District’s Office of Special Services. If the student’s driver reports an emergency or immediate safety issue, Transportation Services may decide to use a CSRS for the safety of the student or others while awaiting revision to the Transportation Request Form (T-19).  The parent/guardian will be contacted by the school if this occurs.

CSRS and Wheelchair Equipment

Five Point Safety Seat
Used for special needs students requiring extra physical support and students with difficulty remaining in a seat belt.

Safety Vest
Used for students with difficulty remaining in a seatbelt or a five point safety seat.  The vest is provided to the parent by the school district.  Student wears the vest onto the bus in the morning. It is taken into the classroom with the student so it can be put back on for the bus ride home. 

Buckle Guard
Used in combination with seat belt or safety vest for students with additional difficulty remaining seated. 

Wheelchairs Buckle Guard
All wheelchairs must be equipped with a lap belt, brakes and fully inflated tires.  The student cannot be transported safely if these items are missing or not operating properly.  The school bus driver is the only person authorized to operate the wheelchair lift and doors, except in approved circumstances.

The Transportation Services Department provides and coordinates transportation for in-district activities and out-of-district events. 

Field Trip Request Procedures and Guidelines

Online Access
Staff can request field trips directly through the TripFinder system.

Rates

The Field Trip rates for the 2025/26 school year have been updated and reflect the current rates for a Field Trip. Please call Transportation at x7095 if you have any questions

Field Trip Estimator

Are the school buses safe?
School buses are thoroughly inspected by the Washington State Patrol (WSP) twice a year. In addition, the buses are inspected by District personnel on a scheduled basis and serviced routinely. The school bus is the safest form of ground transportation in the world.

What kind of screening process do drivers go through to make certain they are qualified to be around children?
The school district requires employees to be fingerprinted and have a criminal background check. In addition a school bus driver is subject to driving record review, drug/alcohol tests (including pre-employment and random testing), and Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals.

How is a school bus stop established?
School bus stops are established using several factors including age of students, walking conditions, walking distance to the stop and road accessibility.

The school bus drives right past my house, why can’t the school bus stop to pick up my child/children?
In areas where walking conditions are acceptable, students are required to be picked up at centralized stops. The centralized stop allows more students to be picked up at one time thereby being more efficient and less costly.

What can I do if I don’t like the location of a bus stop?
You can submit a bus stop request online. There are numerous factors to be considered in relocating a school bus stop, and we may not be able to meet all your request.

Can my child catch a school bus from day care?
To qualify for bus transportation, the day care provider’s address must be within the boundary area and outside of the walking area for that school. Please coordinate with your day care provider to ensure that your child gets to or from the school bus stop.

Can you transport my child to a school outside our school boundary area?
Our District has been divided into school boundary areas for each school. Although you may choose to open enroll your child in another school, transportation outside of the school boundary area in which you live is a parent responsibility.

My child’s bus is overcrowded. Can some children be placed on another bus?
A bus that has three elementary students to a seat or two middle or high school students to a seat may seem crowded. However, it will not be over capacity. Our goal is to fully utilize the seating capacity on all buses in our fleet.

Why are the buses not always full?
At some point in a school bus route, the school bus will be partially loaded or empty. The school bus must travel to the first stop empty, and from the last stop empty.

What do I do if my child does not arrive home on schedule?
Scheduled pick-up and drop-off times may vary by five or more minutes. If a delay exceeds this window, contact your school office for assistance. Bus delays can be attributable to mechanical problems, traffic, discipline problems and other unforeseen events. If the delay is caused by something other than bus problems, the school office will initiate appropriate action. In any case, the school office will work with Transportation Services to determine the location of your child’s bus and/or your child, and will inform you about the reasons for the delay. If your child arrives home after you have alerted the office that he or she is late, please inform the transportation office so that our staff can discontinue follow-up efforts.

Who is responsible for my child while he or she is waiting at the bus stop?
Parents are responsible for the safety and behavior of their children at and to/from the bus stop.

Can my children sit together on the school bus?
This can be problematic due to how students are seated on the bus, i.e. kindergarteners’ in the front seats, first through third grades in the front of the bus and fourth through fifth grades toward the back of the bus. If siblings are required to sit together the older sibling will need to sit with the younger sibling in the front seats.

My student needs to ride home on a different bus or be dropped off at a school bus stop other than their regular school bus stop. What do I need to do?
If your student, on occasion, will be riding home on a bus other than the one to which he/she is assigned (e.g., riding home with a friend or to an alternate stop), before the end of the school day the student must give the office a signed note from the parent(s)/guardian(s). The school will then issue a bus pass to the student which the student will give to the school bus driver.

Why did the school bus not stop when my student was running late or not wait for my student to get to the bus stop?
We make a concerted effort to be consistent on the time we start the route. After the first stop, many things can affect the arrival time at subsequent stops, so even the most conscientious driver will vary by a few minutes. If there is a substitute driver, the times may not be consistent with the regular time period. To allow for those variances, students are told to be at the bus stop five minutes prior to normal arrival and to be waiting where they are visible to the driver as the bus approaches the stop. Drivers are required by law to activate their yellow lights a minimum of 100 feet prior to stopping and turning on their red lights. Usually, drivers will not leave students if they are close to the stop and making an effort to get there as quickly as they can. The loading and unloading process is the most dangerous part of the bus trip, and students are safest when they are at the stop before the bus arrives rather than running for it after it shows up.

My student is having a problem with the school bus driver. Should I go to the bus stop to talk with the driver?
No, instead we ask that you contact the administrator of your child’s school. After gathering the necessary information, he or she will pursue the matter with Transportation Services, and we will work with you to resolve it.

What do I do if my child loses an item on the bus?
Lost articles are kept in the bus for a day or two and then returned to the school office. There is not a lost and found at transportation.

Can I ride my child’s bus?
Parents and other adults are not generally allowed to ride school buses with the exception of field trips. The school buses are provided for the children to ride to and from school and not as a form of transportation for parents or the general public.

How can I have my child met by a receiving adult at their bus stop?
We offer an opt-in program for kindergarten and first grade students for receiving adults. The procedure for this is to contact the office coordinator of your child’s school and they will get the paperwork filled out and forward it on to transportation and it will start as soon as it is processed.

How do I become a school bus driver?
Our department offers training opportunities several times per school year and in the summer. If interested, please contact Transportation Services at 360.874.7090.

How do I contact Transportation Services with questions or concerns?
Email us at Transportationinfo@skschools.org or contact us at 360.874.7090.