TRANSPORTATION

Placement of bus stops will be assigned by the Transportation Department. Careful consideration will be given for their placement with safety being the highest priority.

Depending on the age and circumstances of a child, it may not be appropriate to drop off a student at a bus stop without a responsible person present. With written notification to the Transportation department, school, and bus driver, consideration may be given.

An adult must meet all special needs, early childhood, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten students at the bus stop. An older sibling may be allowed to meet the student if coordinated with the driver or Transportation department in advance.

The following steps shall be taken to ensure proper supervision of the student:

1. The school and/or transportation office will be contacted to locate a responsible person.
2. If the route has not been completed, the driver will keep the student on the bus and continue on the route.
3. If a responsible person has been contacted, the student will be returned home upon completion of the route or instructions as to where the responsible person can pick up the student will be given.
4. If a responsible person cannot be contacted, the student will be returned to school.

Students are generally to be dropped off at their designated stop, unless written permission from the parent/guardian has been given. Occassional variations may occur due to roadway irregularities such as construction, weather conditions, traffic or other emergency situations. The driver will assess the situation to determine if a student can safely walk to their home from the bus location. If there is any doubt, the driver will return the student to the school or have the parent called and alternate arrangements made.

Allowed Ridership

As specified by state statute, school children who are attending a parochial school and reside on a regular route may be provided transportation. This transportation may be from their home on the regular route nearest or most easily accessible to their home, and to and from the parochial school. (IC 20-9-1-7-1)

As specified by state statute, to be eligible to ride a bus, all children must be enrolled in a school program sanctioned by Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation. (IC 20-27-9-1-b) and (IC 20-27-2-11)

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation School Board has established walk zones around all BCSC schools.

Ridership Boundaries

Transportation will be provided for those High Schools students living farther than a distance of one and one half (1.5) miles, and for Elementary students living farther than one (1) mile. Students living within one (1) or one half (0.5) mile area of their school are considered in the school district's “walk zone”. The Transportation Manager shall make determination of exceptions.

Any student wishing to attend a school outside their home school will be responsible to provide their own transportation, unless the student is part of programming not offered at their home school, such as Legado, Global Studies, or CSA. Students attending BCSC as an out-of-district transfer student are not eligible to ride BCSC school buses to or from school, including to an in-distirct address after school.

Special Permission To Ride Another Bus

A student desiring to ride a bus other than their regularly assigned bus must have permission from their parent/guardian and stamped by their school. Students that cannot provide stamped documentation from their school will not be allowed to ride another bus. Notes given to the driver unstamped will not be accepted. Drivers may not make informal agreements with students.

Band Instruments

As long as there is room, we will allow students to have their instruments. The following rules apply:

1. The instrument may not take away the seat of another student, so as to deny them a ride.
2. To allow room for other students, the instrument must be carried on the students lap or stored on the floor between their legs.
3. The instrument may not block any emergency doors or windows.
4. For liablity purposes the cargo bay cannot be used for storage of items during regular routes.
5. Large instruments will not be allowed.

Electronics

The use of electronic devices, to include but not limited to, phones, iPads, media devices, and electronic books, are allowed on the bus and may be used at the discretion of the driver. Bartholomew Consolidated School Transportation is not responsible for loss, damage or theft of any of these devices.

Any camera device used in an improper manner on the bus will be confiscated and disciplinary consequences will be administered.

Bullying Definition

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power, such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Additional information for parents may be found at stopbullying.gov and within the Parents Hub under the "Bullying & Harrassment" tab.

High School/Middle School/Special Program Transfers

Your student will be picked up by their home bus in the mornings and may require a transfer bus to get to their appropriate school location. This may apply to high/middle school students as well as elementary students who attend special programs such as Columbus Signature Academy (Lincoln and Fodrea), Legado Spanish Immersion (Clifty Creek), or Accelerated Curriculum (Southside/Parkside).

This sequence would be just the opposite in the afternoons.

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To Find Your Child's Designated School

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Boundary Maps

Clifty Creek Elementary School*

812-376-4342
4625 E 50 N
Columbus, IN 47203

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Columbus Signature Academy—Fodrea Campus*

812-376-4321
2775 Illinois Ave
Columbus, IN 47201

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Columbus Signature Academy—Lincoln Campus*

812-376-4447
750 Sycamore St
Columbus, IN 47201

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Mt. Healthy Elementary School

Mt. Healthy Shadow Creek Farms boundary (please call to confirm)

812-342-2463
12150 E ST RD 58
Columbus, IN 47201

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Parkside Elementary School

812-376-4314
1400 Parkside Dr
Columbus, IN 47203

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Richards Elementary School

812-376-4311
3311 Fairlawn Dr
Columbus, IN 47203

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Rockcreek Elementary School

812-579-5221
1300 E 200 S
Columbus, IN 47201

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Schmitt Elementary School

812-376-4308
2675 California St
Columbus, IN 47201

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Smith Elementary School

812-376-4317
4505 Waycross Dr
Columbus, IN 47201

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Southside Elementary School

Southside Shadow Creek Farms boundary map

812-346-4423
1320 W 200 S
Columbus, IN 47201

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Taylorsville Elementary School

812-526-5448
PO Box 277
Taylorsville, IN 47280

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*denotes a magnet school—students from anywhere in BCSC may attend as part of programming

Central Middle School

812-376-4286
725 7th St
Columbus, IN 47201

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Northside Middle School

812-376-4403
1400 27th St
Columbus, IN 47201

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CSA Central Middle School*

812-376-4286
725 7th St
Columbus, IN 47201

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*denotes a magnet school—students from anywhere in BCSC may attend as part of programming

Columbus East High School

812-376-4368
230 S Marr Rd
Columbus, IN 47201

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Columbus North High School

812-376-4431
1400 25th St
Columbus, IN 47201

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Columbus Signature Academy—New Tech*

812-376-4595
2205 25th St
Columbus, IN 47201

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*denotes a magnet school—any student in BCSC may attend as part of programming