Transportation Frequently Asked Questions
Below you'll find answers to frequently asked questions, transportation resources, and information about requesting transportation changes.
Quick Links
Sapphire Parent Portal - View your student's bus stop, route, and pickup/drop-off information.
Transportation Change Request Form - Request a change to your student's transportation.
Bus Information
Where do I find my child's busing information?
For the most current and up-to-date information, please sign in to the Sapphire Parent Portal. Your student's transportation information will be available prior to the start of the school year. Watch for a notification when that information becomes available.
We have moved. How do I updated my child's transportation information?
Please contact the school your student attends and provide two (2) forms of proof of residency. Acceptable documents include:
• Lease agreement or deed
• Utility bill (electric, gas, or water)
• Insurance statement
Once your address has been updated by the school, the Transportation Department will be notified. You will be contacted by phone or email with your student's updated transportation information and effective date.
My child will be attending a new daycare or babysitter. How do I request transportation?
Please complete the Transportation Change Request Form.
Please note:
• Childcare or babysitter locations must be within South Middleton School District boundaries.
• Transportation schedules must remain consistent Monday through Friday.
• Each student is assigned one (1) morning (AM) bus stop and one (1) afternoon (PM) bus stop.
• Requests for alternating schedules or different transportation arrangements on different days cannot be accommodated.
Please allow up to three (3) school days for processing. You will be contacted once your request has been reviewed.
Bus Stops & Routes
I think my child has too far to walk to the bus stop. Can the stop be moved closer to our house?
Bus stop locations are established based on student safety, route efficiency, and district transportation needs. Pennsylvania law permits school districts to require students, regardless of age, to walk up to 1-1/2 miles to a bus stop.
The average walking distance for South Middleton School District students is between 1/8 mile and 1/2 mile.
There is a bus stop for elementary students near my house. Why doesn’t the middle school/high school bus stop there?
Separate bus schedules are operated for Rice Elementary, Iron Forge Elementary, and Yellow Breeches Middle School/Boiling Springs High School. Bus stops are established based on student ridership, safety, and route efficiency for each schedule.
I think my child’s ride is too long. Can the route be changed?
Routes are designed to safely and efficiently transport nearly 2,300 students throughout the district. As a result, some students may be among the first picked up in the morning and the last dropped off in the afternoon.
Pennsylvania law does not establish a maximum student ride time.
My child walks up a steep hill. Can the bus stop be moved to my home?
Bus stop locations are determined by considering both safety and efficiency. Whenever possible, bus stops are not placed on steep hills where buses may have difficulty stopping or starting safely.
My child is the only student at the stop this year. Why can’t the stop be moved to our house?
Bus stops are reviewed annually. Once established, stops are generally not changed for the convenience of individual families. Maintaining consistent stop locations from year to year improves both safety and route efficiency.
I can’t see my child while walking to the bus stop. Can the stop be moved closer?
Bus stop locations are not changed for this reason. Pennsylvania law permits school districts to require students to walk up to 1-1/2 miles to a designated bus stop.
My child crosses the street to reach the bus stop. Can the stop be moved to our side of the road?
Some students must cross streets or roadways to reach their assigned stop. Students should wait until the school bus has come to a complete stop and its red warning lights are activated before crossing the roadway.
We had a bus stop closer to our home last year. Why was it changed?
Bus stops may change from year to year based on student enrollment, grade levels, ridership, safety considerations, and route efficiency.
Why isn't there a bus stop in our new housing development?
School buses are generally not routed into developments that are still under construction due to safety and efficiency concerns. Construction equipment, unfinished roads, and blocked access can create hazards and delays.
Bus service within new developments is considered after the streets have been accepted and maintained by the municipality.
Our neighborhood has no sidewalks. Can an additional stop be added?
Due to the number of roads and neighborhoods within South Middleton School District, some students are required to walk along streets that do not have sidewalks. Additional stops are not typically added for this reason.
Safety
What if I think that my child’s walk to the bus stop is unsafe?
Safety concerns are reviewed jointly by Rohrer Transportation and South Middleton School District staff. The review may include a site visit.
Transportation Requests
Transportation services are provided in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, and South Middleton School District Board Policy #810.
Parents or guardians requesting a transportation change should complete the Transportation Change Request Form.
Please ensure all requested information is complete and includes sufficient detail. Incomplete requests may delay processing.
You will be notified once your request has been reviewed.
Need Additional Assistance?
If your question is not answered above, please contact the Transportation Department.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (717) 258-6484, ext. 2317
Please allow up to three (3) business days for a response. Depending on the nature of the request, parents or guardians may need to provide transportation until requested changes can be implemented.