12/02/2025
Hello SDOJ Parents,
We hope you’re enjoying the beginning of the Holiday Season and enjoying the snow as well! The snow is beautiful and while it’s great for snowmobiling and snowman making it can cause some extra factors for bus safety. I would like to share some reminders for winter bussing to ensure we are all on the same page for safety.
When the roads are snowy, icy, or not plowed, routes will often run late.
Please ensure your students are ready for the bus’ arrival. Students should be ready 3-5 minutes before their bus arrives. When it is snowing heavily or the temperature has dropped significantly, we don’t expect the students to stand outside waiting for extended periods of time, but we do ask that they watch for the bus and let us know they are on the way out with a hand wave. If we get to your home and do not see any movement, we may beep the horn, if we still do not see any movement the driver will proceed.
If the bus is arriving late to the schools we will notify administration.
If you are driving your student(s) to their bus stop please do not drop them off behind the bus. It is very dangerous to have students walking directly next to or in back of the bus.
Student Pick Up and Drop Off
The bus will turn its yellow lights on as it slows down. When it comes to a complete stop the red lights will go on, the stop arm will come out, and the stop sign will open on the left side of the bus warning traffic to come to a stop.
If students are on the same side of the street as the bus, they should be standing at least five feet from the road and they may board when the driver opens the door. Students waiting on the opposite side of the street must wait for the driver to signal to them that it is safe to cross.
Students should never run up to the bus no matter what the weather is like but especially not when the roads and sidewalks may be snowy and icy. By law drivers are required to stop when that stop sign comes out. However, it is best practice to remind your students to continue to look both ways even after they receive the driver’s signal and begin walking toward the bus.
When students are leaving the bus the same steps will be taken. If a student must cross in front of the bus they need to wait for the driver signal to cross. The driver will remind the students of these steps throughout the year.
Have a safe and happy December!
Caroline Courtney
Dousman Transport Jefferson
[email protected]
920-674-5008
