Transportation

General Information

The majority of bus transportation for students in District 34 is provided by Alltown Bus Service, which is based in Skokie. Additionally, transportation for students with special needs is provided by Safeway. Working with Alltown and Safeway, District 34 provides transportation for more than 4,300 District 34, Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) and St. Catherine’s Laboure students every day to and from school. This is accomplished with over 150 routes running every morning and 150 routes in the afternoon.

Code of Conduct

At registration, families who wish to utilize transportation services must confirm that they have reviewed the following code of conduct with their child:

To help ensure the safety of each student, I agree to abide by the rules of behavior on the bus listed below. It is understood that I must conduct myself as a good citizen at all times on the bus and at the bus stop in order to keep the privilege of riding on the bus. I also consent to the use of audio/video tape devices which may be used from time to time to monitor student activity on the bus. By signing below you are agreeing to the District Policies found in the student handbook regarding Transportation, Bus Conduct and Use of Audio-Video Cameras on School Buses.

Behavior on the Bus

Instructions to School Bus Riders by the State of Illinois

Be on time at the designated school bus stop; help keep the bus on schedule.
Be careful of approaching the place where the bus stops. Do not move toward the bus until it makes a complete stop.
Do not leave your seat while the bus is in motion.
Be alert to instructions from the driver.
Remain in the bus in the event of a road emergency until the driver gives instructions.
Keep your head and hands inside the bus at all times. Do not throw anything out the bus windows.
Remember that loud talking and laughing or unnecessary confusion divert the driver’s attention and could result in a serious accident.
Be absolutely quiet when approaching and crossing railroad crossings.
No eating is allowed on the bus.
Keep books, packages, coats and all other objects out of the aisles and away from the emergency exits. These items should be placed under the school bus seat while in transit.
Be courteous to fellow pupils and the bus driver. To earn respect, you must first show respect.
Do not ask the bus driver to stop at places other than the regular bus stop. He or she is not permitted to do this except by proper authorization from a school official.
Observe safety precautions at exit points. Know and observe the rules. When it is necessary to cross the street, proceed to a point at least 10 feet in front of the bus. Wait for the signal from the school bus driver permitting you to cross.

REMEMBER: Your safety on the school bus depends on how well you conduct yourself as well as how the driver performs his or her responsibilities. There are consequences for breaking bus- riding rules, and you can lose your bus-riding privileges as a result of breaking the rules.

Requesting a Bus Stop Change

You can submit an alternate request for transportation by completing this Google form (in Spanish). Note that it takes approximately two weeks to process a change.

Who to call with questions

Who to Call with Questions

Parents who have a bus problem that needs immediate attention should call Alltown Bus at 847-674-0090. You are also encouraged to call Alltown with questions related to a bus running late, complaints or compliments about a driver, or general bus operations. Other questions, including changing a bus stop, eligibility for transportation services, school boundaries and district policies and procedures related to transportation should be directed to the Transportation Department at 847-998-5064.

Contact Information

Alltown Bus 847-674-0090
Safeway 847-599-1085
District Transportation Manager 847-998-5064 OR 847-514-3517
Maintenance Emergency 847-657-2991 (to be used in case of emergency if neither Alltown nor Transportation are available after school hours)

Audio/Video Recording

Audio-video cameras are installed on school buses in order to monitor conduct and maintain a safe environment for students and All Town Bus Service employees. For more detailed information please see the District Handbook.
Rules for Safety

Please be sure your child is at the stop, waiting for the bus. The bus will not stop at a bus stop if there are no students visible.
Students may ride their assigned bus only.
Be careful in approaching the place where the bus stops. Do not move toward the bus until the bus has been brought to a complete stop.
Students should NEVER run after a bus or try to get a bus to stop for them.
School bus drivers can’t make any route changes. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s bus stop or route please contact the District 34 Transportation.
Rules for student behavior are the same for the bus as they are for school. Be courteous to the driver and riders.

While on the bus:

Take a seat promptly. Do not change seats during the route.
Be alert to any instructions from the driver.
Remain in the bus in the event of a road emergency until instructions are given by the driver.
Emergency doors and windows are for emergencies only.
Keep hands and head inside the bus at all times.
Do not lower the window past the safety mark.
Be quiet - Excessive noise diverts the driver’s attention.
Eating is not allowed on the bus. Please remember that some students have serious allergies to certain foods.

Free & Paid Riders

Free Riders

District 34 provides free bus transportation for students living more than 1.5 miles from their school. Students living in designated hazardous areas, also qualify for free bus service. Designated hazardous areas include:

Paid Rider Applications

Students living less than 1.5 miles from their school, and not in an approved hazard area, may choose to apply for transportation services. Students living 0.5 miles or less from their school are not eligible for busing. To see if you live in an approved hazard area, please see the Free Rider section for your school.

The annual cost for busing is $405.00 ($50.00 discount) for applications received on or before the July 1 deadline. The full fee is $455.00 for applications received after July 1. Late applications will not be reviewed until September 15. If space is available on the requested route students will begin riding the last week of September.

Download an application in English, Spanish, Mongolian, or Korean.

Routes & Stops

Routes and Stops

Students must be at their designated stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time to maintain a safe and timely arrival at school. If the driver does not see students waiting, they will not stop. Parents can request to use another existing bus stop, however, stops will not be customized. Bus stops are assigned at the intersection of two streets, or a building number in the case of a building complex.

Bus Stop Procedures and Routing Criteria (English | Spanish | Mongolian | Korean)

Route Times

Bus Route Freeze on July 1

Alternate Address, Day Care Requests

Your child may be assigned an alternate pick up or drop off route, however this must be consistent and can not be assigned to different buses/bus stops on different days of the week. Request for alternate addresses must be received no later than July 1 for the start of school. Requests received after that date will begin on or after September 15.

The alternate address must be within the school attendance area.

Fill out the Alternate Address Request form here.

Activity Routes

Activity Routes are available for middle school students that are enrolled in early morning activities or stay after school. Activity buses follow a designated route that accommodates various areas within the district. Since all middle school students are assigned an activity route, there are no designated stops. Students participating in AM activities and in need of bus service, please contact D34 Transportation Manager for further assistance. AM activity buses begin at 6:45am and anchor at the school at 7:05am.

Please reference the attached routes to determine the best stop location for your student to us on their assigned PM activity route.

Attea PM Activity Routes

Springman PM Activity Routes