FAQs

Who is Eligible for Bus Transportation?

Students in Grades K-6 do not pay a fee for busing. All K-6 students are automatically placed on a school bus unless you inform the Transportation Office that they will not be riding the bus.

Students in grades 7-12 wishing to ride the school bus must pay the bus fee according to the fee schedule, payable in advance, for the entire year.

Who do I contact if I have lost an item on the school bus?

Please email Transportation: transportation@hopkinton.k12.ma.us. Please provide the number of the bus. All items left on a bus are kept on the bus with the driver until claimed. The buses are cleaned of all remaining items at the end of the school year

Will I receive a Bus Pass?

An ID is issued to all new students.  If you are an existing student, you will not receive a new ID every year.  Existing passes will be activated after the bus fee has been received.

Does my child need a Student ID to board the school bus?

Yes. All students are issued a smart Student ID card.  The Student ID will be programmed as eligible to ride the bus or not.  Students must scan the ID getting on and off the bus each day.

What can I do if my student has lost his/her Student ID?

You can obtain a replacement Student ID for a $10.00 replacement fee through MySchoolBucks or pay by cash or check through the office at your student's school or at the Transportation Office in the Administration Building, 89 Hayden Rowe Street (across the street from the tennis courts).  Please make checks payable to: Hopkinton Public Schools.  There is also a secure drop-box at the Administration Building on the left side of the main door for payments left after hours.

How will my student receive the new Student ID?

If you are using either MySchoolBucks, the drop-box or your child's school office, we will forward the new ID to either the school or the bus for distribution. (By bus driver for grades 6 -12 or through their school for grades K-5.)

 

How Do I Apply For Fee-Based Busing?

Starting in March, students in grades 7-12 can apply & pay for busing either online with MySchoolBucks or with a paper application. Both are available on the website at the Transportation homepage. Deadline for registration is May 1.

New students may pay by mail with a check or money order, made payable to “Hopkinton Public Schools-Bus Fee”. Please do not send cash. Payments must be accompanied by a completed School Bus Transportation Application and should be sent to: Hopkinton Public Schools, Transportation, 89 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748.  If you would like to pay online, please submit a request to transportation@hopkinton.k12.ma.us and a MySchoolBucks invoice will be created.

 

How much does the bus cost?

The cost to ride the bus is $200 per student with a family cap of $400.  After the application due date, May 1st, there is an $80 late fee per student ($280 per student with a family cap of $560).   

Students new to the school district will not be charged a late fee. 

All new applications are subject to reduced bus fee based on the following schedule:

PURCHASE / REFUND SCHEDULE:

 

When are busing applications and fees due?

May 1st for the upcoming school year.  Any application submitted and paid after May 1st is subject to the late fee of $80 per student. 

 

I missed the busing application due date of May 1st, what should I do?

There is a grace period for all payments received (or postmarked) between May 2 and June 30.  While still subject to late fees, all applicants will be guaranteed assignment to a bus.

After June 30th you may be placed on a waiting list.  If space is not available on a bus that service your residential area, your student will be offered an alternate bus at the next closest bus stop.

 

Can I pay the bus fee later in the year?

Yes. Existing students may opt to pay the bus fee later in the school year provided there is room on the school bus. A late fee will be assessed; no exceptions.

 

What is the refund policy?

A refund may be requested at any time by contacting the Transportation department at transportation@hopkinton.k12.ma.us. The refund schedule is below.

PURCHASE / REFUND SCHEDULE:

The late fee assessed after May 1, is not refundable.

 

Is there financial help if I cannot afford to pay for busing for my student?

The School Committee continues to offer a Financial Assistance Program which provides full and partial waivers of most school fees including the bus fee. Details of this program can be found on the HPS website. This confidential financial assistance fee waiver form is easy to complete and should be sent along with your  School Bus Transportation Application. If you have difficulty locating the application on the website please call (508-417-9381) or email us. (transporatation@hopkinton.k12.ma.us) and a paper copy will be mailed to you. Free and Reduced Lunch applications are not used to determine free bus pass eligibility. It is important to note that you must apply every year.

 

If I paid for the bus, but decided to get a Junior or Senior parking pass, can I get a refund?

Bus payments may be swapped permanently for a Senior or Junior parking spot during the school year, at the High School, by filling out a HS parking spot application, attaching the valid bus payment proof instead of a check.  With the transfer of the bus payment for a parking spot, the student is no longer eligible to ride school buses.

 

I don’t plan to ride the bus everyday.  Can the fee be prorated?

No, the bus fee will not be prorated for one-way trips or occasional use.

 

Can my child ride home on another bus?

Bus switching is not allowed on a day-to-day basis.

 

Can my child be dropped off at a different bus stop along my child's route?

Yes, a child may get off the bus at a different stop along the route. To do this, parents/guardians are to use the online Dismissal Change form for their specific school found at the Parent Resource site. Please note the following:

• For Marathon & Elmwood Schools: The Dismissal Change must be in place before 2:00PM (11:30AM on Early Release Days)
• The Dismissal Change form is to be used for the current day only and cannot be submitted in advance.
• Bus stop switching is only allowed on the bus route the student would ordinarily be taking. 
• Bus drivers are not responsible for monitoring if students get off at the switched bus stop. Students must be made aware of the stop where they are getting off by their parent/guardian. If a student does not get off the bus at the switched bus stop and remains on the bus, they will be returned to their school for parent pick-up. If a student gets off at an incorrect stop the parent is responsible for picking up the child.
• The information provided on the Dismissal Change form identifying the name of the adult meeting the bus, and address where the child is going, is for school information only. Bus drivers are not responsible for where the children are going when they get off the bus and with whom.
• As with all Kindergarten drop-offs, an adult must be present to meet the Kindergartener and other children getting off with the Kindergartener. If an adult is not present the student(s) will be returned to the school for parent pick-up.

If I believe there is a problem with student behavior on a school bus or the operation of the school bus, to whom should I report this?

The Transportation Office welcomes all inquiries and concerns. Feel free to contact us and we will address your issues. Please email: transportation@hopkinton.k12.ma.us  If the issue is specific to another child on the bus you may also contact your child’s school administrators. 

 

How does my student sit properly on the bus?

Proper Seating: School buses are designed for the safety of students. When students are injured on a school bus, it is generally because they were not sitting correctly in their seat. A major design factor is the compartmentalization formed by each seat, which protects the students. Therefore, each student should face forward at all times. The student’s back should be flat against the back of the seat, and the student’s bottom should be flat on the seat. Legs should be kept in front of their body, with feet on the floor and out of the aisle.

 

Can my child bring his/her large instrument or project on the bus?

Due to the width of the school bus footwell and between seats  (12" at the knees and 15" at the waist/chest) and the height of the seat backs (44" from the floor to the top of the seat back), no large instruments, large projects or large objects may be brought on the bus. In addition, a child must be able to carry and contain any and all items under their seat, between his/her legs or on his/her lap. Items cannot be placed on an empty seat as they are unsecured projectiles when a bus stops quickly or is in an accident. Please refer to Items Allowed on the Bus on the Transportation homepage.

 

Can my child eat or drink his/her snack on the school bus?

No.  The safety of students, particularly those who suffer from life threatening allergies, is a major concern. It is because of this that food (including any type of candy or gum) and drinks are strictly prohibited from consumption on the school bus. All food, drink, and candy must remain in a sealed container while on the school bus.

 

What precautions are taken to address safety and discipline issues on the bus?

The School District has installed audio and video recording devices in all school buses, as required by our contract with Connolly Bus and in direct response to parent concerns about safety and behavior on school buses. 

 

How is unacceptable student bus behavior addressed?

Unacceptable student bus behaviors are referred to the Assistant Principal of the School the student attends for review.

 

How can I request a stop be changed?

Please email your request to the Transportation department at transportation@hopkinton.k12.ma.us.  Drivers are NOT permitted to change a stop location without approval. 

Include your child’s name, student number, and the reason(s) you are requesting the change.  Please keep in mind that visibility from the home to the bus stop, the route already passing the student’s home, or convenience for the current riders are not criteria that will be used to determine a bus stop change. 

Requests may be reviewed by the director of finance, school resource officer, bus dispatcher, and transportation coordinator before a decision is made on if a change to the bus stop is warranted.

Managing bus routes and stops is a complicated process.  Consistency and efficiency are a priority. Your understanding is appreciated.  

 

What time should my student be at the bus stop?

After the first weeks of school, routes generally settle into a predictable routine and you will be able to count on your bus to arrive within a reasonable window. Students should be at the stop 5-10 minutes before the published stop time and also be prepared to wait up to 10 minutes after the published stop time.  As a reminder, it is the parent’s responsibility to get the student to and from the bus stop.

 

How Do I Find Where My Bus Stop Is?

On the front page of the Transportation website is a Find My Bus Stop Link.  This will take you to Infofinder, our new "Find Your Bus Stop" feature, where you enter your home address.  Infofinder will display your Bus Stop.  Or you can log into PowerSchool: In the Parent Portal click on Infofinder Busing.  This will also connect you to Infofinder. 

 

Where can I find Bus Routes & when are they published?

Bus routes are published on the Transportation homepage of the website during the week before school starts.

 

How are bus routes designed?

Bus routes are created each school year based on the student population, using the software 

 

My 6th grader was automatically assigned a bus schedule but doesn’t plan on riding the bus?

It is appreciated if you email the Transportation Coordinator at transportation@hopkinton.k12.ma.us if your student will NOT be riding the bus for the school year.  This will help ensure more efficiency of our bus capacity planning, routes, and stops.