Sweet Home School District Transportation Department provides a full range of services. Its fleet travels an average of 425,000 miles a year. The District has a fleet of thirty one school buses of various sizes to meet the needs of student transportation. In addition, Sweet Home School District has a number of activity vehicles available for certified staff to transport small groups to sports and educational activities.

The transportation department maintains a full service shop to support these activities. We have two ASE certified mechanics on staff that also repair and maintain a variety of maintenance equipment in addition to the transportation fleet.

The Sweet Home School District transportation training department provides all District staff with the latest 1st aid training. It holds classes to certify school staff to transport small groups in school activity vehicles. It also supports the Oregon Department of Education requirements for school bus driver training. This covers: Basic Core regulations, Defensive Driving, 1st Aid, Reference Point, and Student Management.

Two staff members maintain DMV certifications for administering Commercial Drivers License testing for school bus drivers.

The transportation dispatch radio and phone center is open from 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on school days. They monitor the activities of 21 regular and 6 special needs routes.

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Contact

Darel Bidwell
Director of Transportation

Tyanne Pickle
Dispatcher

873 18th Avenue, Sweet Home, OR 97386
Phone: 541-367-7116
Fax: 541-367-0540


Transportation Guidelines

Following is some general information we would like to share with parents and students regarding school bus transportation.

Boundaries
Parents of high school and junior high students are reminded that the boundary for transportation is 1.5 miles. The boundary for elementary schools is 1 mile. Service to some walk areas has been deleted in order to consolidate bus routes and make routes more cost efficient. Students may walk to the nearest stop if that route services their school and there is space and time available. Boundaries are established according to Oregon State Department of Education regulations. Questions concerning routes may be directed to the transportation office or the student’s school office.

Rules
Parents and students should be familiar with the rules and regulations pertaining to proper behavior while being transported. School bus rules and regulations can be found in the Parent/Student Handbooks, are posted in the buses or can be obtained by calling the Transportation Department at 367-7116. Student behavior and driver’s management of that behavior are two key elements to a safe and enjoyable bus ride. A black box containing a video/audio camera has been installed at the front of the bus. The District staff assigned to monitoring this project may review the recorded tape. Any information that may be helpful in improving student management will be passed along to the appropriate school staff, drivers and/or parents.

For those parents who have kindergarten students riding buses, we will require, as we have in the past, that someone be there to meet the child unless the parent has signed a Release to Walk Form, which can be obtained in the forms section of our website, from your child’s school office or by calling the Transportation Department at 541-367-7116.

District Property
Vandalism and malicious damage to School District property will not be tolerated. Parents and students will be held accountable for full restitution. Your help in controlling and reporting acts of vandalism will make a difference.

School Bus Safety
Not only do we want students to arrive at school on time, we want them to arrive safely. This is the primary goal of your Transportation Department. Safety will not be sacrificed, our cargo is too valuable.

Transportation Staff Handbook

Note: All routes are identified by route signs located to the left of the bus entry door. This route number may differ from the vehicle number on the bus.