Student Transportation
DoDEA Student Transportation
The mission of the DoDEA Student Transportation Program is to provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for students to and from school and school related activities, and to support instructional programs by delivering students safely, on time, and with a mind set for learning.
School bus transportation is an important facet of the educational experience. The school bus is the first and last thing many of our students experience and it shapes how their day begins and ends. The following information will help your student get the most of out of their school bus experience.
Our agency is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of all students attending DoDEA Schools. The school districts are committed in providing their community schools with safe and efficient transportation for students to and from school and school related activities. Assistance will be given in the areas of driver training, funding, equipment specifications and purchases, interpretation of laws and regulations, and routing.
We are committed to provide professional services to ensure the quality of service expected by the military services. Every effort will be made to keep our services in the forefront of the quality, safety and efficiency expected.
Student Transportation - Pac Guam
The Student Transportation Office (STO) is dedicated to providing the community with safe school bus transportation services that are timely and comfortable. There is at least one STO at every DoDEA Pacific school complex. Each STO is staffed by highly trained and capable transportation specialists to manage the complex’s student transportation operation. We strive for continuous process improvement in all areas of our operation.
A BUS PASS IS REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS UTILIZING DAILY COMMUTE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Registering for School Bus Pass
Andersen ES Andersen MS, McCool ES/MS. Guam HS
After registering at the school, contact the Student Transportation Office by email to complete the school bus registration process. DD Form 4500: Transportation Request Form
Email: Guam Student Transportation Office. No need to come to our office. Be sure to include the following in your email message:
- Sponsor/Parent Info: Name/Title/Rank/Organization/Contact No./Email addresses
- Complete Physical Address/Rotation Date
- Student(s) Name/D.o.B/Grade
- Kindergarten Students - provide 4 Digit Pin # (created by Sponsor/Parent)
- Separately attached digital photo of your Child (No hats/sunglasses)
- School attending
If using iphone - Start with pic to send, select upload (bottom left), then select mail, send to our guam.sto@dodea.edu email, include the child's name in message.
We will reply with maps, photos, pick-up / drop -off times and other pertinent info. The bus pass can be sent out with the bus for immediate use.
Note: Even though Guam is a small island, Bus Service can be challenging in some areas. Please ensure to check with our office prior to accepting/signing for off base quarters. Email the perspective street address, and we can let you know where the bus stop is for that area.
Student Transportation Home - Pac Guam
Buenas Hafa Adai,
The Guam Student Transportation Office (STO) is dedicated to establishing and providing the community with safe school bus transportation services that are timely and comfortable. STOs are located within the Community Superintendent’s Office, Andersen ES and McCool ES/MS. Each STO is staffed by highly trained and capable transportation specialists who manage their assigned local student transportation operation.
We understand you entrust us with safely transporting your student to and from school each day, and this is a responsibility we take seriously. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to serving you and your student.
DoDEA Pacific West\Guam Student Transportation
Our mission is to provide safe, efficient, quality, and cost-effective student transportation services in keeping with the education goals laid out by the Director of DoDEA.
Student transportation services support the instructional program by transporting students safely, on-time and with a mindset for learning. DoDEA’s student transportation program is an important facet of the educational experience.
The school bus is the first and last school experience for many of our students each day. We are committed to providing professional services to ensure the quality of service expected by our stakeholders
Every effort will be made to ensure the quality, safety and efficiency of our services. The information provided on each tab of this page will help your student get the most of out of their student transportation school bus experience.
Student Transportation - Commuting Area Procedure
Sponsors are advised to contact the Student Transportation Office (STO) to ensure the housing they choose to obtain is within the commuting area where bus service is provided PRIOR to signing a lease agreement.
IMPORTANT information regarding the DoDEA Guam Commuting Area Policy for School Bus Transportation:
- IMPORTANT: Some realtors have falsely informed customers if five or more students move into a new housing location outside the commuting area, the STO will run a bus to that area. This is INCORRECT! The commuting area is based on
regular assessments by the Housing Services Office (HSO) of available housing within proximity of DoDEA schools. The STO, in coordination with the HSO, establish the commuting area, with concurrence of the installation commander. - IMPORTANT: If housing is obtained outside the commuting area, the sponsor is responsible for transportation of dependent students between their home and school, or an existing bus stop within the commuting area on a "space-available"
basis. - IMPORTANT: If a locality or section otherwise within the commuting area has difficult or unsafe access (e.g., winding or
narrow roads or frequently inaccessible during the winter), it may be excluded from the bus service / commuting area.
Student Transportation Eligibility - Pac Guam
Dependent students enrolled in DoDEA Guam schools in grades K-12 residing within the Commuting Area and outside of walking distance are eligible for DoDEA school bus transportation service.
Commuting Areas
The Commuting Zone is defined as specific geographic area used to determine eligibility for student transportation services of dependent students attending DoDEA schools. Likewise, the School's Feeder Plan is used to determine and balance student enrollment within the Primary and Middle school setting. Rezoning Letter to Parents
A map of the commuting area is located within each STO, school and housing referral office. This service is authorized for space-required students residing within the commuting zone and outside of the walking distance of the enrolled school. School Bus Transportation Zones Map
Off-Base Transportation
Transportation is available for many housing areas on the island. Sponsors who plan to reside off-base are encouraged to confirm the availability of school busing services at the potential housing address. The STO is a viable resource and their feedback can assist in making an informed decision
Walking Distances
The walking distance for elementary school students will not normally exceed 1-mile from their primary residence to the school or designated bus stop. Middle and high school students may walk up to 1.5 miles from their primary residence to the school or designated bus stop. These distances may be slightly expanded or contracted to conform to natural boundaries such as housing areas or neighborhoods
Daily Commute Transportation
This is defined as the transportation of students from their assigned bus stop to school at the beginning of their school day, mid-day, and the return to their assigned bus stop at the end of the normal scheduled school day.
- Only one trip to/from school per day is authorized for each student.
- Students must only ride their specifically assigned bus route.
Only students attending DoDEA Guam schools, DoDEA staff, STO personnel, bus drivers, safety aides and security personnel assigned by the installation commander are authorized to board and ride a DoDEA school bus performing daily commuting services
Special Needs Transportation
This is defined as special transportation services that are prescribed in a student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) to meet the transportation needs of students with disabilities. Examples of special services that may be required include, but are not limited to, curb-to-curb transportation between the student's residence and the school, establishment of a special bus stop within a designated distance of the student's residence, use of a special safety harness, transportation of a seeing eye or hearing dog, or assignment of a one-on-one attendant, or aide, for physically disabled or physically aggressive students.
Curb-to-curb service is usually not provided to students who live within the walking area of the school and who have a disability that does not prohibit them from walking, or being escorted by the sponsor or guardian, to and from school safely.
Other Student Transportation Authorizations
Daily commute transportation services may be provided to students residing outside of the commuting area but are transported at their own expense to an existing school bus stop within the commuting area.
Non-federally connected, space-available, tuition-paying students may be permitted to utilize school bus commuting services on a space-available basis. Even though space-available service may be initially provided, it may be withdrawn at any time to accommodate space required students.
The School Bus Danger Zone
Few aspects of school bus loading and unloading are more dangerous than the appropriately named Danger Zone. The Danger Zone includes areas near the school bus where a student cannot be directly seen by the school bus driver, and where incidents involving other vehicles are most likely to occur.
The Danger Zone can be considered to be a rectangle stretching 10 feet from the school bus in any direction, with the most dangerous areas being the immediate front of the school bus as well as, within arm's reach of the back half of the school bus.
Danger Zone awareness is crucial to school bus safety. Both the school bus driver and the students always need to be aware of the danger zone. Here are some tips for reinforcing this vital piece of safety information.
Danger Zone Awareness:
- Students should always be aware of their surroundings. Unfortunately, motorists ignoring the deployment of the stop-arm signal continues to be a problem and there is an ever-present risk that a motorist will drive past the school bus.
- Students should always look to the right before exiting the school bus, then look both ways and wait for the school bus driver to signal to them that it is safe to cross the street.
- One of the most dangerous things a student can do is drop an item within the danger zone, then bend over to pick up the dropped item. At this point, they will be completely invisible to the school bus driver and most at risk.
- Students should always seek out an adult to alert the school bus driver prior to the adult retrieving the item for the student.
How to Register for School Bus Services
Initial Registration:
During your initial registration at the school, you may register for student transportation services by turning in the competed School Bus Registration Form to one of the three STOs located within the Community Superintendent’s Office, Andersen ES or McCool ES/MS. Please be aware the registration process may take up to 30 minutes. When you visit the STO please ensure you bring the following:
- DD Form 4500: Transportation Request Form (Signed by School Registrar).
- Kindergarten Pin Number (Sponsor/Parent Created Number for Hand-to-Hand Student Release).
- Your Dependent(s) (A Photo will be taken for the Bus Pass).
Students are assigned to a specific school bus route and bus stop based on their physical housing address. The STO will issue each student a school bus pass to gain access onto the school bus route. An exception may be authorized to/from a childcare provider. The childcare provider’s address must be within the Commuting Area and outside of the walking distance to the enrolled school.
Re-Registration:
School bus re-registration is a “mandatory” requirement for sponsors, parents and/or guardians with returning students requiring student transportation services for an upcoming new school year. Your participation in this process enhances the STO’s ability when developing and accessing student transportation service requirements.
De-Registration:
When the sponsor, parent and/or guardian determines that school bus transportation services are no longer required, he/she will visit the STO to return the school bus pass and de-registered their student(s).
Assigned School Bus
Students are assigned to a specific school bus and bus stop. Changes in either the bus route or stop is not permitted without District Transportation Supervisor’s approval. Knowingly riding an unassigned school bus route may result in disciplinary action.
Lost Items
All school buses are checked for items left behind by students at the completion of each run. If your dependent leaves something on the school bus, please contact your local STO during normal business hours. High valued items such as, cell phones, ear buds, etc. will be secured and maintained at the STO. Other items such as umbrellas, clothing, shoes, etc. not claimed in a reasonable amount of time will be appropriately disposed
School Bus Behavior Expectations- Pac Guam
Standards of Conduct for DoDEA Buses
Safe transportation of DoDEA students is the concern of DoDEA, sponsors/parents/guardians, and students. DoDEA contracts school bus transportation from responsible firms with mechanically sound vehicles and properly qualified drivers. However, the safe operation of school buses also depends on student riders understanding and adhering to proper conduct.
Sponsors/parents/guardians share with their student(s) the responsibility for proper student behavior in DoDEA’s schools and on DoDEA school buses.
Sponsors/parents/guardians must ensure their student(s) understand and follow these rules. In addition, student school bus riders must understand bus drivers are not to be distracted from safe driving by student misbehavior. Students must show respect for the bus drivers and follow the bus drivers’ instructions.
Student transportation is a privilege that may be suspended or revoked if a student does not behave in a safe and proper manner in accordance with DoDEA behavior expectations. DoDEA will strictly enforce school bus rules. Students failing to comply with school bus rules may find their bus riding privileges suspended or revoked for the rest of the year. When this happens, sponsors/parents/guardians assume all responsibility for transporting student(s) to/from school. Let us work together to make this school year safe.
Behavior Standards for School Bus Students
On & Around the School Bus Students - Will:
- Comply with all school rules listed in "Behavior Standards for School Bus Students.”
- Board and exit the bus in an orderly, safe manner.
- Present bus pass when boarding the bus and upon demand.
- Remain seated while on the bus.
- Talk with other passengers in a normal voice.
- Keep all parts of the body inside the bus windows.
- Keep aisles, steps, and empty seats free from obstruction.
- Remain fully and properly clothed.
- Treat the driver and fellow students with respect.
- Promptly comply with the bus driver's or monitor's instructions.
- Treat the bus and other private property with care.
Will Not:
- Fight, push, shove, or trip other passengers.
- Use or possess unacceptable items identified in the school "Code of Conduct."
- Push while boarding, on, or exiting the bus.
- Get on or off the bus while the bus is in motion.
- Make excessive noise or have any electronic devices as these devices interfere with radio communications the bus drivers use.
- Put objects out of bus windows or hang out of windows.
- Engage in horseplay.
- Obstruct aisles, steps, or seats.
- Engage in public displays of affection.
- Eat, drink, or litter on the bus.
- Use profane or abusive language or make obscene gestures.
- Spit or bite.
- Harass, bully, or interfere with other students.
- Disrespect, distract or interfere with bus driver.
- Damage private property.
- Sit in the bus driver's seat, or touch bus operating devises or equipment.
- Open or try to open bus door.
- Throw or shoot objects inside or out of bus.
- Tamper with bus controls or emergency equipment.
- Violate any other school rule, law or military installation regulation.
Student Transportation - Guam,
Walk-in customer service hours are available Mon-Fri, 07:30-11:30, (Lunch 1130-1230) in Bldg 100 / Rm 100
Transportation
DSN: 344-9577
