Frequently Asked Questions

TRANSPORTATION FAQ'S

How many schools does Cumberland Valley School District serve?

In addition to our 12 district schools, we service more than 20 other schools located within 10 miles of the district boundaries. We also provide transportation for students requiring special education services.

How many students does the CVSD Transportation Department serve?

We provide transportation services for over 10,000 students annually (public and non-public students).  When you call the transportation department with a question or requesting service, please know that we will address your issue or return your phone call as quickly as possible.

How do I know what bus/van number my student rides on?

Student bus assignments can be found in the student information system, Parent Portal of Skyward. The bus route numbers will be posted on the buses front windows of both sides of the bus. Van numbers will be posted in the windows on both sides of the van.

The bus drives right past my house. Can it stop at my house?

We regularly receive requests for house stops.  ‘Community stops’ are used to help streamline bus routes, reduce the amount of time a student rides a bus/van, and reduce the amount of times a bus stops thereby reducing potential accidents/red light runners.  We do stop at certain homes within the district, but only due to safety or other extenuating circumstances that cannot be supported by a community stop.  

I can’t watch my child (or see my student walking) get on the bus from my home. Can the stop be at my home?

Community stops are created for safety, and efficient routing and timing.  While we understand that some parents want to observe their child getting on/off the bus, community stops may not afford that opportunity.  Parents can walk with their student(s) to the bus stop or coordinate with neighbors and/or neighborhood watches to observe students at bus stops and getting on the bus.  

We live on a cul-de-sac. Will the bus come down our street?

Typically, buses are not routed into a cul-de-sac as these stops are considered unsafe for many reasons, primarily safety. Cul-de-sacs create blind spots for drivers where students can't be seen at the stop or while a bus is attempting turns/backing operations; parked cars and other obstacles may prevent a bus from executing a safe turn-around; and potential property damage may occur due to a bus swinging around inside the cul-de-sac.

How far may a student be asked to walk to a school bus stop?

Pennsylvania law allows the school district to ask a student, regardless of age, to walk up to a mile and a half to a bus stop. The mile and a half is measured by public roads and does not include any private lane or walkway of the student's residence. Whenever possible, walking distances of all grade levels will be kept to a reasonable distance based on a variety of parameters (safety of roads, safety of stops, age of student, etc.). Weather conditions, heavy backpacks, instruments, etc., are not factors applied when making bus stop location decisions.

For additional safety precautions, the district does consult with the bus contractors and local police to determine if a bus stop location is unsafe.  

What time should I have my child at the bus stop and how long should we wait at the stop after a scheduled pickup time?

We ask that students be out at their stop at least five (5) before the scheduled pickup time. When students are not at the stop on time, it delays the entire bus route. Students need to wait at the stop at least ten (10) minutes after a scheduled pickup time as a bus may be running late for many reasons (traffic, rerouting, students at earlier stops not at the stop on time, etc.). Please do not call the transportation office within the 10-minute period informing us of a late bus.

  • Students need to be waiting at their bus stop location and not inside their homes/garages/cars.  
  • Buses/vans may not wait for students to come out of their garages/houses/cars. Again, this delays the bus route, impacts students waiting at other stops, and potentially makes students late for school.

Why are there only a few students on some buses while my child’s bus is crowded?

Decisions regarding each bus route are made based on information from school registration, previous similar routes, and Department of Transportation data. Most routes are set in late summer and changes can be expected during the first few weeks of school. Sometimes it is just not possible to have the same number of students on every run. 

My child goes to a daycare provider before and/or after school. Will he/she be provided transportation?

Transportation will be provided if the daycare provider is located within the child’s school attendance area. Only one (1) pickup and one (1) drop-off location is permitted for each student. For Example: A student may be picked up at the home in the morning and dropped off at a daycare in the afternoon, provided the daycare is on a regular bus route. This may involve a student riding two (2) different buses; one to school and a different one after school.

  • Requests for a permanent change must be submitted via the ‘Child Care Notification’ online form, at least two (2) weeks prior to requested start date and must have district approval before transportation changes can begin.
  • All childcare requests must be consistent five (5) days a week, Monday through Friday.

There is a Shared Custody agreement for my student. Can they be assigned to two different buses?

Yes, if both parents live in the Cumberland Valley School District and reside in the same school attendance boundaries. 

  • A Shared Custody Transportation form must be completed and submitted at least two (2) weeks prior to the requested start date and must have district approval before transportation can begin. 
  • Please NOTE: Parents and students are responsible for keeping track of their custody schedule and what bus they should be riding each day.


Why does my child have to cross the road to board the bus?

We are not able to route all buses so that all children board the bus on the door side. We suggest that children wait on the side of the street where they reside. The bus will stop traffic in all directions to accommodate students who need to cross the road. Once the safety lights are flashing and the stop sign arm is extended, it is safe for the children to cross the road.

Please review the proper crossing procedures with your child and remind them to watch the traffic while they are crossing. Crossing Procedures can be found here.

Can my student take a pet/animal on their bus/van?

No (with an exception).  Due to health and safety concerns, animals of any kind are not allowed on buses/vans.  The exception is if the animal is a service-related animal that is documented and serves primarily as a service animal.  If there is a requirement to bring a non-service animal to school, other transportation requirements will need to be made by parents/guardians. A driver will not allow a student to enter a bus/van if there's an animal present (other than service related).

I have a concern about the safety of a bus stop location. What should I do?

If you have a safety concern regarding the bus stop that your student is assigned to, please notify the transportation department with details for immediate review. Emails should be sent to [email protected]. In most cases, a representative will come out to the stop to assess the safety concerns and make a decision.

What should I do if I move during the school year?

The address change information located on your Skyward Parent Portal must be completed before transportation can be updated. You will be required to provide proof of residency (sales or lease agreement, mortgage papers, etc.) to the school secretary. Once your address is updated in Skyward, your student’s transportation information will be updated in Skyward the next business day.

Can my child ride home on another bus?

We discourage this from happening. Additional students riding buses other than their assigned buses can cause disturbances in seat assignments and may create crowding issues.  

If your student must ride another bus, in the event of an emergency, please print out and complete the ‘District Wide Bus Pass’ found in the left hand menu on the Transportation main page or by clicking the following link, District Wide Bus Pass. This pass should be approved by the school Principal or Assistant Principal before the student can ride the requested bus.

My child carries a large musical instrument. Can it be carried on the bus?

Many buses carry full loads of students and do not have room to accommodate large instruments or athletic gear. We ask that you provide transportation for your child on days that he/she needs to bring large items that do not fit on his/her lap to school.

What are the activity runs?

Activity runs are a courtesy service the school district offers to middle and high school students staying after school for approved activities (i.e. athletics, extra-curricular activities.) Buses leave from Cumberland Valley High School at 4:30 each day. Please see the activity runs here for specific information.

We have students in private schools who are now required to ride with public school students. Why?

By using shared transportation, we are eliminating duplication of bus service and increasing overall efficiency while saving tax dollars.  State law allows for public and non-public students to ride on the same bus provided by a school district.  

How should I find out about school closings and delays?

Cumberland Valley School District uses text messaging as a mode of communication during inclement weather, emergencies, bus delays, and more. If you are new to the District or if you have not previously signed up to receive text alerts, please sign into your Skyward Family Access account and complete the “Text (SMS) Notifications” form. To receive texts, you will need to:

  • enter the cellular number for a text-enabled phone in either the phone type 1 or 2 field in the form for each parent/guardian in which you want to receive the text messages.
           
  • reply “Y” or “YES” to the auto-generated text message from SchoolMessenger (CV’s automated telephone system) to confirm the opt-in process (please note: This text will come from a shortcode). You should receive this auto-generated message approximately 24-48 hours after submitting the “Text (SMS) Notifications” form in Skyward Family Access.

NOTE: If you previously opted into and received text alerts from the District, you should not receive the opt-in message again.

Please contact our Technology HelpDesk at the Incident IQ Guest Portal or (717) 506-3393 should you have any issues with form completion or should you not receive the auto-generated opt-in message within 72 hours of submitting the form.

Whom should I contact if my child left an item on the bus?

In the event that you cannot reach the Transportation Department, you may contact the appropriate bus contractor for instructions on how to reclaim the item.

Contractor

Contact

Bus Series #

Kauffman Bus

717-737-3396

Bus #’s 100-199

Miller Bus

717-258-3371

Bus #’s 200-299

Rohrer Bus

717-766-9205

Bus #’s 300-399

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