Peoria Public Schools Transportation Department

08/05/2026

As we begin a new school year, the Transportation Department would like to wish all of our students and families a wonderful year filled with learning, growth, and success!
From our drivers, monitors, mechanics, and office staff, thank you for trusting us to be part of your students' daily journey. We are committed to providing safe, reliable, and friendly transportation every day.
We look forward to seeing familiar faces, welcoming new students, and helping everyone start and end each school day on a positive note.
Have a fantastic school year, and remember to stay safe at bus stops and around school buses!
Best wishes for a successful year ahead,
Your Transportation Team
Drivers • Monitors • Mechanics • Office Staff 🚍🍎📚

08/03/2026

Transportation was multiple places at once today.
While some staff were shuttling school staff to the convocation. Transportation had other staff at Woodruff for our department Welcome back.

We had some staff wide training that included tablet training with Pathwise, de-escalation training, seizure training, training with our tech crew, and training regarding McKinney’s Vento and Hr and payroll.

We held peer voted rewards for staff department wide. As well as recognizing staff that have been with us for 5, 10, 15, and 25 years.

This crew works nearly 24/7 to make sure our students have access to school, field and athletic trips, vocational shuttles, midday transportation between schools, and much more.

Be sure to say “Thank you” to your 26-27 Transportation Crew!

We loved seeing our Peoria Public Schools Transportation Department at Convocation as we prepare to set sail into a new school year. Thank you for helping our students stay on course by getting them to and from school safely each day.

08/01/2026

💙 Make a Difference Every Day 💙
A job in school transportation is more than a paycheck. It's helping students reach the opportunities that lead to success.
From internships and job fairs to competitions and extracurricular activities, our Transportation Team helps students get where they need to be to achieve their goals.
🚌 We're Hiring! Join us and become an Opportunity Maker. https://tinyurl.com/DrivePeoria

07/28/2026

While bus drivers and monitors are the familiar faces students see each day, safe and reliable transportation takes an entire team working behind the scenes:
🚌 Drivers safely transport students and build positive relationships with those they serve.
👥 Monitors help support student safety and provide additional assistance during transportation.
📞 Dispatchers coordinate daily operations, communicate with drivers, and respond to changing conditions throughout the day.
🔧 Mechanics perform inspections, maintenance, and repairs to keep our fleet safe and road-ready. (remove snow, and plow the lot for our Transportation staff) Our Mechanics also sometimes help drive routes
📍 Routing Staff carefully design routes, assign bus stops, process transportation requests, and make adjustments as students enroll and addresses change.
From the first bus leaving the lot in the morning to the last student arriving home in the afternoon, every member of our Transportation Team plays a critical role in student safety and success.
❤️ Thank you to our dedicated transportation professionals for their hard work, commitment, and care for our students each and every day.
It takes an entire team working behind the scenes to safely transport students every day.
🚌📚❤️

07/28/2026

📚 As students set sail on a new school year, our community is answering the call to Stand Up. Show Up. Be There.

Together, we can help every student navigate a successful year! ⚓

07/25/2026

📱🚌 **Stay Connected with the BusQuest Parent App**

The **BusQuest Parent App**, powered by our **Pathwise Routing Software**, is designed to give families convenient access to their student's transportation information anytime, anywhere.

With the BusQuest Parent App, families can:

✅ View bus route information and assigned bus numbers
✅ Access pickup and drop-off locations and times
✅ Receive important transportation notifications and service updates
✅ Stay informed of route changes throughout the school year
✅ Access student busing information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
✅ Reduce the need for phone calls by having transportation information readily available at your fingertips

The BusQuest Parent App is a valuable tool that helps keep families informed and connected to their student's transportation services. As routes are adjusted throughout the year due to enrollment changes, address updates, weather conditions, or construction, the app provides timely information to help families stay up to date.

📢 **Important Reminder:** Transportation notifications are sent through our Pathwise Routing Software to the **primary guardian listed in Skyward**. To ensure you receive bus service updates and alerts, please verify that your contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, is current in Skyward.

By using the BusQuest Parent App and keeping your Skyward information updated, you can help make your student's transportation experience smoother, safer, and more efficient throughout the school year.

**Download the BusQuest Parent App today and stay connected to your student's ride to and from school!** 🚌📲

07/24/2026

As the first day of school for our K-12 students arrives, our community will once again see the familiar sight of school buses traveling our roads and neighborhoods, carrying our most precious passengers.
Student safety is a shared responsibility, and we ask everyone to partner with our Transportation Department to help ensure a safe start to the school year. Our bus drivers, monitors, mechanics, and transportation staff work diligently each day to transport students safely to and from school. They play a critical role in creating a secure environment for every child.
We encourage all motorists to do their part by slowing down in school zones, staying alert near bus stops, and stopping when school bus stop arms are extended and red lights are flashing. Children, especially our youngest students, may be excited, distracted, or unfamiliar with traffic patterns as they begin a new school year.
A few extra moments of patience can prevent a tragedy. By remaining vigilant and following traffic laws, we can work together to protect students as they travel to and from school each day.
Thank you for supporting our transportation staff and helping make student safety a community priority. Together, we can ensure every student has a safe and successful start to the school year.
🚌❤️📚 Safety is everyone's responsibility. Let's work together to keep our students safe.

07/23/2026

📢 Back-to-School Transportation Reminder 🚌
As we begin the new school year, we'd like to share a few important reminders with families:

✅ Address Changes
Any address changes must first be updated with your student's home school before Transportation can make routing changes. It is important to keep your address current in Skyward to ensure accurate transportation information and timely service. Changes made directly with Transportation cannot be processed until the school has updated the student's record.

✅ Keep Contact Information Updated
To receive important bus service updates, notifications, and alerts, parents and guardians must ensure their phone numbers and email addresses are current in Skyward. Transportation messages and notifications are sent through our routing software to the primary guardian listed in Skyward, so it is essential that all contact information remains accurate and up to date.

✅ Download the BusQuest App
The BusQuest App provides bus notifications and 24/7 access to your student's transportation information, including route details, pickup and drop-off times, and service updates. We encourage all families to take advantage of this valuable tool.

✅ Expect Some Route Adjustments
During the first few weeks of school, route times may vary as we work through the annual back-to-school transition and around construction near the bus depot. Schools continue enrolling new students, families are updating addresses, and Transportation is making necessary routing adjustments to safely and efficiently serve all students.

We appreciate your patience as routes settle into their new normal. Our transportation team is committed to providing safe, reliable service for every student.
Thank you for your partnership and support. We look forward to a safe and successful school year!

🚌🍎📚 Keeping student addresses and contact information up to date in Skyward helps us provide the safest and most efficient transportation service possible.

07/22/2026

🎒🚌 Pre-K Transportation FAQ

Q: When should my child be ready for the bus?
✅ Please have your student at the bus stop 10 minutes before their scheduled pick-up time. If the bus is missed, it will not return for a second pick-up.

Q: How long will the bus wait at my stop?
✅ Buses will wait approximately 30 seconds at each stop. If no student or parent is visible, the driver will continue on the route to help keep all routes running safely and efficiently for all students. Once the bus has arrived at the stop and waited the allotted 30 seconds, it will not be sent back for a second pick-up. Please have your student ready and waiting at the stop 10 minutes before their scheduled pick-up time.

Q: What happens if no parent or guardian is at the stop to meet my child?
✅ For the safety of our Pre-K students, a parent or authorized guardian must be present at the bus stop for drop-off. If no parent or guardian is present, the student will be returned to the Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center main campus.

Q: Can I track my child's bus?
✅ Yes! Download the free Bus Quest app to your smartphone and receive updates on when your student's bus is approaching your stop.

Q: What if my child won't ride the bus on a particular day?
✅ Please notify us as soon as possible. This helps us inform the driver and keeps routes running efficiently while reducing ride times for other students.

Q: What if I don't want my child to ride the bus right now?
✅ Families may choose to opt out of transportation services at any time. If you decide to resume busing later in the school year, we'll be happy to welcome your student back on the bus.

Q: Who can I contact with questions?
✅ We're here to help! Please contact the Transportation Department with any questions.

💙 We look forward to providing safe, reliable transportation for your Pre-K student this school year and appreciate your partnership in helping our routes stay on schedule! 🚌✨