Posted on 08/01/2019
The FHSD Transportation Department wants to take this opportunity to remind our parents about some of the changes with our new Francis Howell buses. New routing software will assign pick up/drop off locations for students that comply with the state guidelines. This includes ensuring that bus stops are at least 500 ft. apart, the minimum recommended distance to activate warning lights. This year we are creating more neighborhood bus stops instead of specific house stops. This also means FHSD buses may not be traveling up and down every street in every neighborhood, especially for secondary students. In order to make our routes as efficient as possible, we are encouraging parents to inform their school office if they do not need school bus transportation.
Parents and guardians should be sure that they are signed up for the Infinite Campus Parent Portal for bus information. If you are not yet signed up, please contact your school office to get an activation key. The Parent Portal now includes a transportation tab with a student’s assigned bus route number and pickup and drop-off time and location. That section will also be updated automatically with any changes to student bus information. Transportation changes made after Aug. 5 will not go into effect until Aug. 19.
The new FHSD bus fleet will have many new features and safety upgrades, including a new digital radio system (and more dispatchers) to improve communication. Every bus will have a minimum of three cameras for increased safety and security, and 50 buses will be equipped with stop-arm cameras to capture images of any vehicle that passes a stopped bus. The majority of the fleet is fueled by gas instead of diesel, meaning the fleet is quieter, more fuel-efficient, cheaper to operate, and much easier to start in cold weather.
As you can imagine, a change of this magnitude is a huge logistical challenge. Every effort is being made to ensure the transition is as easy and seamless as possible, but know that some issues and problems may occur. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement the new transportation systems and work to provide better bus service for our students!