The priority of the Castle Rock School District Transportation Department is to carry the district’s students between home and school and to and from school -related events safely, timely and dependably.

The district may provide transportation to and from school for students:

• who reside beyond the one mile radius from the school to which they are assigned;
• whose walking route to school is hazardous;
• with a disability that prevent them from walking or providing for their own welfare while walking; or
• who have other compelling and legally sufficient reasons to receive transportation services.

District-provided transportation services may include approved bus routes, approved field trips, school activities and/or extracurricular activities. The school board may authorize the use of a district-owned passenger car in lieu of a bus for transporting students to and from school.

The district has developed emergency bus routes and schedules for use when weather conditions make the usual routes impassable or, in the superintendent’s judgment, too hazardous. At the beginning of the school year, copies of emergency routes and schedules are distributed to parents with instructions on how to obtain emergency information. If roads are closed to buses but not to private vehicles, the district may continue to operate the schools without providing bus transportation until the roads are again open to buses.

School Closures

Snow routes

Because safe operation of the bus or other district transportation vehicle is paramount, special rules apply to students riding in a school bus or other district vehicle. Students are expected to:

• at all times obey the driver, any aide assigned to the bus, and any teacher or coach responsible for the behavior of the students on the bus;
• get on and off the bus in an orderly manner and obey the instructions of the driver and school safety patrolmen on duty;
• ride on only their assigned bus unless providing written permission from a parent or guardian to do otherwise;
• not leave the bus except at their regular stop unless providing written permission from a parent or guardian to do otherwise;
• go directly to their homes after leaving the bus;
• keep the noise level down to avoid distracting the driver;
• follow emergency exit drill procedures as instructed by the driver;
• refrain from using obscene language or gestures;
• not smoke or ignite lighters or matches on the bus;
• not eat on the bus except when specifically authorized and supervised by a teacher, coach or other staff member;
• remain seated at all times unless the driver instructs otherwise, not open bus windows without the driver’s permission, and not extend any part of their body outside the bus windows at any time;
• observe pedestrian safety rules while walking to and from the bus stop and while waiting for the bus at the stop;
• not carry or have in possession items that can cause injury to passengers on the bus; keep school books and personal belongings out of aisles.