Transportation

General Information

Danville Area School District strives to provide safe transportation for all students. All students will be assigned one AM pickup and one PM drop off location.

Bus Discipline

Students are the first and primary responsibility of the drivers. The school bus driver shall be responsible for the discipline of students while they are being transported. All cases of misconduct will be reported by the driver to the building principal where disciplinary action will be determined. Parents are encouraged to review with their children the attached document titled “Don’t Lose Your Riding Privilege!”

Request for an Emergency Bus/Stop Change

To request an emergency bus/stop change, the attached “Temporary Request for Bus Change” form must be completed and submitted to the building principal. Your request will be considered and you will be notified as to whether or not your request was approved or denied. Please keep in mind that there is no entitlement to have any request granted.

*Only requests to change a student’s bus stop to an already existing bus stop will be considered. No new bus stops will be created due to a special request.

Non-public transportation request form

Temporary Request for Bus Change

Permanent Request for Bus Change

Don't Lose Your Riding Privilege!

We need everyone's cooperation in recognizing and abiding by the traffic patterns and rules to keep our students safe.

Please note the following pick-up and drop-off points for each school. Dropping off and picking up students anywhere else is unsafe for them and other students.

A reminder that cars are not allowed in the bus lane 30 minutes prior to dismissal times.
Primary School: Front of the school forming two lines / pickup by parking at the designated spots in the High School lot and walking to the back of the school
Liberty Valley: Front parking lot
Danville Middle School: Rear of school
Danville High School: Entrance by the football stadium

TRANSPORTATION FAQ’S

How many schools does Danville Area School District serve?

The Danville Area School District encompasses 120 square miles. In addition to our 4 district schools, we service 17 other schools located within 10 miles of the district boundaries. We also provide transportation for students requiring special education services.

How many students does DASD Transportation Department serve?

We provide transportation services for over 2,700 students annually (public and non-public students).  When you call the transportation department with a question or requesting service, please understand that we have a constant, heavy workload. We will address your issue or return your phone call as quickly as possible.

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 the 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 could 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) minutes before the scheduled pickup time. If 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 school district 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 on after school.

Requests for a permanent change must be submitted via the ‘Permanent Request for Bus Change’ one (1) week prior to a 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 split custody agreement for my student. Can they be assigned to two different buses?

Yes, as long as both parents live in the Danville Area School District.

Please note: Parents and students are responsible for keeping track of their custody schedule and what bus they should be riding each day. For elementary students, it is recommended a custody schedule be given to the student’s teacher.

Why were bus stops eliminated/changed?

Bus routing and stops are reviewed annually for safety and efficiency and can change from year to year. Stops can be added/deleted based on the number of students at a specific stop, walking distance to stops, or any number of reasons.

 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. Making eye contact with the driver is strongly recommended before children cross the road.  Please review the proper crossing procedures with your child and remind them to watch traffic while they are crossing.

Can my child ride home on another bus?

No. Additional students riding buses other that 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 ‘Temporary Request for Bus Change’ form. This form 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 the 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 to school that do not fit on his/her lap.