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.

Student Drop-off without a Responsible Person Present: 

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 students at the bus stop. An older sibling may be allowed to meet the student if coordinated with the driver or transportation in advance.  The following steps shall be taken to insure 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 pickup 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.

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.

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 further than a distance of one and one half (1.5) miles, and for the Elementary students living further than one (1) mile.  Students living within one (1) or one half  (1.5) mile area of their school are consider in the school districts “walk zone”.

The Transportation Manager shall make determination of exceptions.

Exception; Accelerated students, or special programs.

Any student wishing to attend a school outside their home school will be responsible to provide their own transportation.

Students Special Permission To Ride Another Bus:

A student desiring to ride a bus other than their regularly assigned bus is to 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:

• An 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

Administration may choose to permit the parents of children involved in a school bus incident to view a video.  However, if a parent requests to view the video they may only inquire of the portion that involves their child in a specific incident.  Discussion of other students on the bus is prohibited.

School Times

High Schools

Columbus East High School                                                   7:45 A.M. – 3:15 P.M.

Columbus North High School                                                  7:45 A.M. – 3:15 P.M.   

Columbus Signature Academy New Tech                                 7:45 A.M. – 3:05 P.M.

McDowell                                                                             7:50 A.M. – 3:10 P.M.

Middle Schools  

Northside Middle School                                                          7:45 A.M. – 3:05 P.M.

Central Middle School                                                               7:50 A.M. – 3:05 P.M.

Elementary Schools

Clifty Creek Elementary                                                    8:10 A.M. – 2:40 P.M.

CSA Fodrea                                                                      8:10 A.M. – 2:55 P.M.

CSA Lincoln                                                                      7:45 A.M. – 2:45 P.M.

Mt. Healthy Elementary                                                     8:10 A.M. – 2:45 P.M.

Parkside Elementary                                                          8:10 A.M. – 2:37 P.M.

Richards Elementary                                                          8:10 A.M. – 2:40 P.M.

Rockcreek Elementary                                                        8:15 A.M. -  2:45 P.M.

Schmitt Elementary                                                            8:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.

Southside Elementary                                                         8:15 A.M. – 2:40 P.M.

Smith Elementary                                                               8:15 A.M. – 2:35 P.M.

Taylorsville Elementary                                                        8:15 A.M. – 2:35 P.M.

Parochial Schools

East Columbus Christian School                                         8:15 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

St. Bartholomew School                                                    7:45 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

St. Peters Lutheran School                                                7:50 A.M. – 2:55 P.M.

Whitecreek School                                                            7:45 A.M. – 2:55 P.M.

Go to https://findmyschool.us/ to find your child's designated school.

Clifty Creek Elementary School*

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

Columbus Signature Academy - Fodrea Campus*

Columbus Signature Academy - Lincoln Campus* 

376-4447; 750 Sycamore St Columbus, IN 47201

Rockcreek Elementary School

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

Southside Elementary School 

Southside Shadow Creek Farms boundary map

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

Northside Middle School 

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