Home > Departments > Transportation

Transportation

children boarding a yellow school bus

The South Colonie Central School district runs an average of 80 buses each day – each traveling about 15,000 miles a year. Approximately 4,800 public school students and a variety of private and parochial students ride South Colonie buses daily. Students will receive in the mail, each August, a post card from the South Colonie Transportation Department listing their bus route, driver’s name and pickup location.

Quick Links

What if my students stays after school? Is there transportation home?

Late bus run maps are posted in the respective schools showing late bus coverage areas. Late bus routes cover the entire attendance zone with far fewer buses than the regular arrival/dismissal. Student drop off locations may be much further from home than their regular bus stop. STUDENT MAY NOT RIDE LATE BUSES WITHOUT A WRITTEN BUS PASS.

School Closings

Please make sure you are signed up for the district’s Emergency Phone Notification System so you will get automatic alerts in the event of school closings and early dismissals. Also, check local radio/TV stations/newspapers, South Colonie SNN and Facebook, and this website for closing information.

Bus Policies

Large items on school buses

For the safety of all occupants being transported on district school buses, it is necessary to have guidelines and restrictions on the sizes of items that students may bring on school buses. The following information is intended to provide guidance for planning the transportation of these items on school buses.

Athletic equipment, musical instruments and other objects larger than 36 inches (length) by 12 inches (width) by eight inches (depth) will not be transported on school buses. This includes skis, ski poles, sleds, skate boards, bicycles, fishing poles or large school projects.

Hockey sticks and lacrosse sticks must be placed behind the driver’s seat while being transported. Baseball bats must be stored in a suitable bag no larger than the size listed above, and must be in the student’s lap or on the floor between their legs.

Using electronics equipment on the bus

Many students use electronic devices as part of their daily lives. iPods, tablets, handheld games, portable radios etc., are fun to use and often can make the ride to and from school more enjoyable. Unfortunately, misuse of these items can be detrimental to the safety and well-being of other students and bus drivers. Therefore, the Transportation Department will enforce the following bus rules pertaining to electronic devices on buses:

    • The school district will not be held responsible for the loss/theft of portable electronic devices that are lost on school buses.
    • iPods, tablets, MP3 Players etc. may be used on school buses only if equipped with headphones, and if the volume is maintained at a level that does not disrupt other students or the driver.
    • Cell phones and cameras are not allowed to be used on school buses unless in an emergency when immediate communication is necessary and with permission of the bus driver. Cell phones must be turned off and kept in backpacks while traveling on district vehicles.
    • Laser pointers are not allowed to be used on school buses at any time.
    • Any electronic devices that are misused may be confiscated by the drivers and returned to the students when they depart the bus. If a student continues to violate these rules, the device may be confiscated and returned only to a parent/guardian.

Transportation Requests

Non-Public School Busing Requests

The deadline for requests for bus service to non-public schools and other special requests is Friday, April 1.

Before and After School Daycare Pickup/Dropoff Request Forms

This online form must be completed each school year for each child in a family, and again during the school year if the situation changes. Annual deadline for submissions for a new school year is July 31.

Before/After School Daycare Pickup/Dropoff Online Request Form

School Bus Stop Transportation Requests

Parents/guardians may make new bus stop requests to the Transportation Department by completing the form below:

School Bus Stop Review Transportation Request Form

School Bus Stop Decision Appeal Requests

Parents/guardians may appeal their denial of a bus stop change  location by completing the form below:

School Bus Stop Decision Appeal Form

Special Transportation

Special transportation may be arranged for a student with an extended illness or injury. You can pick up an application form in the principal’s office at Colonie Central High School or in the nurse’s office at the elementary and middle schools.

Employment with South Colonie Transportation Department

Why Become a Bus Driver?

    • Do you like to drive?
    • Do you relate well to children?
    • Are you’re looking for a part-time position that coordinates with your child’s school day?
    • Do you want to earn a competitive wage for part-time work?
    • Do you have a clean driving record?
    • Have you recently retired?

If any or all of the above apply…then becoming a bus driver may be the career for you. We will train you to get a commercial driver’s license. Great potential to move into a permanent part-time position with benefits. 

For more information on becoming a bus driver, please contact the South Colonie Transportation Department at (518) 869-8527, or visit the Bus Garage at 2 Winston Place, Albany, NY 12205.

It Pays to Be Safe