Transportation Home Page

BUS DRIVERS

Transportation Team

The Mother Lode Transportation Department is dedicated to providing safe, efficient, and reliable busing for our students. All students receive training on emergency procedures and are given a clearly defined list of bus rules to assure safe and continuous riding privileges. 

District Bus Operators are provided with approved Department of Education driver training in excess of the annual requirements of the California Highway Patrol. In addition, instructions in other pertinent pupil management subjects are provided making our drivers extremely well trained and who perform in a most professional manner.  Our bus fleet consists of modern, well-maintained buses equipped with two-way radios for better communication, digital video surveillance to assist the driver with pupil management, and GPS so we know where the buses are at all times.

2045-2025 Bus Route Changes

Due to a nationwide bus driver shortage, we have had to make significant changes to our routes for the upcoming school year. We will only have three routes, having condensed four routes into three. In addition, we have also had to remove some stops to streamline student routes. Because of this, we are at risk of overloading buses in the 2024-2025 school year and therefore bus passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. It is crucial that applications for bus passes are submitted and approved by our transportation department so that we have accurate ridership data.  Last year, over 75% of students rode our buses at some point during the year.  Last year’s Red and Blue Routes have been combined and will now be referred to as the Green Route.

Due to time constraints and having only three routes, we have temporarily removed the following bus stops:

Bus Stops Temp Deletions

Crystal Blvd Stops:
All stops for HG on Crystal Blvd are moved to Country Market at Hwy 49 and Crystal Blvd.
Stops affected: Quartz, 6600 Crystal Blvd, Oak Ridge North and South, Obrizo, Calcite, Barite.
Approximately 8 students.

Crystal Blvd. will be serviced to the corner of Crystal and Mica for IC Students.

Rest assured we will continue to search for another bus driver and are exploring avenues to expand our search.  We will have full routes, so we ask for your cooperation and understanding.  If you have any questions, please contact transportation at (530) 622-6464 ext. 410.

Should a bus arrive at an assigned bus stop for a two week period and no students board the bus, the bus stop will be deactivated.  Should parents wish to reactive the bus stop, please contact the Transportation Office. 

Parents or guardians are responsible for the safety, conduct, and timely arrival of their children to, from, and at the designated school bus stop before the arrival of the school bus for pick-up and transport to school and the timely departure of the child after the school bus leaves the designated school bus stop after transporting the children from school.  

SCHOOL BUS

Snow Days or Other Emergency Closure Days

The winter season brings the possibility of snow and slippery roads. District policy regarding snow days is based purely on road conditions and if buses can operate safely. On questionable mornings, a decision will be made and publicized by 6:00 A.M. if school will open at the regular time or will be postponed two hours. Should school opening be postponed due to road conditions and those conditions remain unsafe, school will then be cancelled for the day. In cases of school postponement, all morning bus routes times will reflect the same two hour delay with dismissal at the regular time.  If a delayed start is on a Wednesday, there will be no collaboration schedule that day and dismissal will be the "regular day" dismissal time.

Rainy Day Reminder

As we approach the rainy season, we recognize parents sometimes keep their children in the car while waiting for the bus.  Unfortunately, when this happens the bus driver may not know that there is anyone at the stop and may pass the stop or not notice the student is getting out of a car and move on. Please be sure students are waiting at the stop visible for the bus driver to see. This is also true at pick up time.  If a parent is required at the bus stop but is waiting in his/her car, the bus driver may not see there is a parent there, keep the student on the bus, and move on.  Please wait outside your car for the driver to see you. 

Other Useful Reminders

We ask you not pull into the bus circle at any time.  We have buses coming into the bus circle at times other than morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.  Oftentimes there will be a bus needing to use the bus circle before school for reading club, during school for field trips, or after school due to athletic programs.  For student safety the bus circle should only be used by buses.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Be sure your student always has his/her bus pass.