Transportation FAQs
The bus did not show up on time for my child. How long should he/she wait at the stop?
Your child should arrive at their designated bus stop at least five minutes (preferably ten minutes) before the regular arrival time of the bus. If the bus is late, ask your child to remain at the bus stop. Buses break down, roads are blocked, drivers become ill or have emergencies, but there will always be a bus at every stop. If the wait becomes extreme (approximately 10 minutes after scheduled arrival), contact the Piedmont Schools Transportation Department at 405-373-2311.
How do I register to ride the bus?
Piedmont Early Childhood Center students are required to register before the school year begins. An email will be sent to Piedmont ECC families in May for students to register to ride the bus. If your family is joining us after the start of the year, please let the ECC know that you would like your student to ride the bus so we can make arrangements for you.
If your student attends Stone Ridge Elementary, Northwood Elementary, Piedmont Elementary, Piedmont Intermediate, Middle School of Piedmont, or Piedmont High School, you can locate your bus stop on Infofinder i. If a bus stop is not populating for your address or your students' pick up/drop off times, please contact the Piedmont Schools Transportation Department at 405-373-2311, or contact the school your child attends for assistance.
My child left an item on the bus. How can I retrieve it?
Drivers check their buses after every run. Items left by students are held by the driver for several days and can be claimed on the bus by the child. If an item is discovered to be missing and needs to be retrieved immediately, contact the Piedmont Schools Transportation Department at 405-373-2311. Please know the number of your child’s bus when inquiring about lost articles.
Fragile items are often taken out of the buses in the evening for their protection but will be available the next morning. After several days, unclaimed and unlabeled items are donated. Labeling all of your child’s school belongings will help us identify owners in a timely manner.
I can’t see my child’s bus stop from my house. How can I get the bus stop moved closer?
Bus stops are placed at centralized locations in or near neighborhoods that can be safely accessed by a significant number of students. This centralization allows us to minimize the time length and mileage of the run.
If you have concerns about your child’s safety, you are encouraged to accompany your child to the bus stop or arrange a neighborhood buddy to walk with your child. Bus stops are typically designed to be within three-tenths of a mile from the residence, but elementary students may be required to walk up to a half of a mile to a bus stop. Secondary students may be required to walk up to one mile to a bus stop.
My child’s bus is overcrowded. Can some children be placed on another bus?
Passenger capacity for elementary/intermediate school buses is three students per seat. Middle school students are assumed to ride two or three per seat. High school students are assumed to ride two per seat. Although the bus may seem crowded, we monitor capacity limits closely. If there is a safety issue, it will be addressed promptly. It is our goal to utilize all the space on each bus in our fleet.
Why are buses sometimes late?
School bus drivers can have the same reasons as motorists for being late. Traffic delays, weather conditions, accidents, or driver’s illness are just a few reasons a bus may be late. School buses also have mechanical breakdowns, repairs required for student safety, or “no starts” that cause delays in picking students up on time.
In cases where the regularly assigned bus driver is unable to pick up students, a separate bus and driver are dispatched to pick up the students. Generally, when a bus starts out late on its first run, it continues to be late for its second run.