Contact Information:

Transportation Director:

John Clawson, Assistant Superintendent

Office: 512-752-3384

jclawson@lometaisd.org

Bus Drivers:

Rebecca Griffith - West of tracks in town, 183 South, ACE Monday/Wednesday. Monitor:

Gabe Henry - East of school

Tim Williams - 190 West, 183 North

Substitute Drivers Include:

Rob Moore, Superintendent

Sam Pauly

Frank Reyes, Jr.

Edna Torres

D.T. Torres

Beginning of the Year Procedure

For students who have completed the registration process in the Parent Portal, their driver has or will be contacting them by phone. Times for the first 10 days of school may fluctuate and we are grateful for your patience. Please email jclawson@lometaisd.org should you have any questions or if we fail to contact you. Thank you!

Pick-up and Drop-off locations:

• Eligible students are allowed one pickup and one drop-off location.

• Students will not be allowed to ride home with friends for sleepovers, etc

• Students will be required to exit the bus at their assigned stop.

Eligibility for Non-IEP Ed Bus Service

Transportation is available for students who live west of the railroad tracks in town or two miles or more from the school in any direction. The distance a student lives from the school is measured using the shortest route that may be traveled on publicly maintained roads between the campus and the driveway of the student’s legal residence. Students residing within two miles of their assigned school may have transportation available if their neighborhood qualifies as hazardous under the district's hazardous transportation rating system.

Loading the Bus

Transportation attempts to arrive at every bus stop on time. Due to reasonable variances, students are asked to arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pickup time and wait 5 minutes after the scheduled pickup time prior to contacting the school to determine the location of the bus. Please do not contact the driver during a route.

Drivers will make the stop, load students, and depart the stop in a safe and orderly manner. Drivers are required to slow and flash their amber lights when approaching a stop. For safety and scheduling, the driver is directed to proceed immediately if no students are present at the stop. Students are expected to proceed immediately to the buses after the last bell to go home after school. Campus administrators release the buses from the campus. For student safety, the driver is directed not to open the door for late-arriving students once they close the door.

Parents are not allowed to board the bus

Route Design

Bus routes are created to enhance student safety while maximizing route efficiency. Route efficiency is the effort to minimize the length of time all of our students are on a "Home to School" bus. Lometa ISD has a goal to not pick up any students prior to 6:30 a.m. Group stops may be required at the driver’s discretion to assist in helping us reach this goal.

A student with a bus stop on a public road or highway is expected to stand outside of the roadway right-of-way. It is the parent’s responsibility to supervise their children until they are safely on the bus and to supervise them when they depart the bus in the afternoon. The driver and/or bus monitor cannot supervise the student when the student is outside of the bus at a regular stop.

All Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students MUST have an authorized adult present at the bus stop to receive the student. If an authorized adult is not present at the drop-off location, the student will be returned to the campus at the conclusion of the route.

Student Seating

In most cases, Lometa buses have plenty of room. In rare instances, buses may be loaded to capacity.

At the discretion of the driver, all Elementary age students up through the 5th grade may be required to sit three (3) students per seat beginning in the front and proceeding toward the back of the bus. Middle School students may sit two (2) students per seat, but in some cases will be asked to sit three (3) students per seat. High School students may sit two (2) students per seat, but in rare cases may be asked to sit three (3) students per seat.

Boys and Girls are not allowed to sit together. This includes male and female siblings.

Bus Drivers are required to have assigned seating for each student. Students should sit youngest to oldest from the front of the bus to the back. However, this can be adjusted based on student management needs, and at the discretion of each driver or the administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Any suggestions or concerns should be directed to Mr. Clawson using the contact information above.

How do I sign my child up for Bus Service?

Please email the transportation director at jclawson@lometaisd.org

Can my younger student walk home with their older sibling from the bus stop?

Transportation must have written documentation from a parent or legal guardian stating that a younger child will be released to an older sibling. Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade MUST have an approved adult or approved sibling at the stop. All approvals must be in writing and will not be accepted via phone calls. The sibling release form may be found on this web page, or at the Lometa ISD Transportation Department.

Why are the buses late the first few weeks of school?

Loading at the campuses takes additional time for teachers, school staff, and bus drivers to get familiar with the students. During this time, there is increased traffic around all campuses and our first priority is to get your students home safe.

Can my student ride the bus to his or her workplace?

We do not transport students to their workplaces. They are only allowed to be transported to their designated stop.

Can another student’s parent board my student’s bus?

For student safety and the safety of everyone involved, the driver is directed to disallow any person to board a bus that is not assigned to the bus by Lometa ISD.

Texas Educ. Code § 37.126 - Disruption Of Transportation(a) Except as provided by Section 37.125, a person other than a primary or secondary grade student commits an offense if the person intentionally disrupts, prevents, or interferes with the lawful transportation of children:(1) to or from school on a vehicle owned or operated by a county or independent school district; or(2) to or from an activity sponsored by a school on a vehicle owned or operated by a county or independent school district. (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Who do I contact in the event of an emergency when I need my student dropped off at a different location?

The campus where your student attends. Once the bus has left the campus, the student can only be dropped off at their designated stop or returned to the campus.

Can the bus stop and allow my student to use the restroom while en route?

Buses are not equipped with restroom facilities. Buses are not allowed to stop while en route to allow students to use the restroom. All students are encouraged to use the restroom prior to loading the bus.

Why does my student get off the bus hot when the bus has air conditioning?

The air conditioner in a school bus does not cool like the air conditioner in your home or vehicle. We work hard to maintain the air conditioners, when available, and to keep students as comfortable as possible.

Can my student eat or drink on the bus?

Students may bring a bottle of water that has a lid on the bus. Students may not eat on the bus due to an increased choking hazard, as well as the possibility that any food may be shared with a student that has an allergy to the food.

What time does my student need to be at the bus stop?

Students should be at the bus stop five (5) minutes prior to the stop time.

If I am not at home, will my student be dropped off?

Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students MUST have an authorized adult present at the bus stop in order to be released. If an authorized adult is not present, the student will be returned to the campus at the conclusion of the route. Students that are 2nd grade and above may be dropped off without an adult present.

If I cannot meet my child, can I send someone else to meet the bus?

The only people that a Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade student will be released to are people that are authorized to take the student home. This authorization comes from paperwork filled out with the campus.

Can my student have a blanket and pillow on the bus?

To ensure the safety of all students on board, blankets and pillows are not allowed on General Ed buses with the exception of special events at school. These will be communicated by the principal.

Do I have to stop when a bus is loading or unloading students on a 4 lane highway?

Yes. If there is no solid concrete or landscaped divider, you are required by law to stop.

Do I have to stop when a bus is stopped at a Railroad Crossing?

The law only requires school buses, charter buses, and vehicles transporting hazardous materials to stop at Railroad Crossings. However, all vehicles should proceed across Railroad Crossings using caution.

How do I apply for a bus driver position?

Driver applicants may complete the application available at https://www.lometaisd.org/district-management/employment

Who Can Drive A School Bus In Texas?

The State of Texas holds school bus drivers to a higher standard of conduct than average citizens, and specific laws govern the conduct of school bus drivers. For their own protection and the protection of their passengers, the driver must know these laws and obey them.

To be hired as a school bus driver and begin to drive a school bus, one must:

• be at least 18 years old;

• hold a Class B CDL with a passenger (P) and school bus (S) endorsements; obtain through DPS office

• pass an annual mental and physical exam required by Texas DPS; obtain through an employer or DOT-certified doctor

• maintain an acceptable driving record in accordance with the Texas school bus driving record evaluation;

• be certified in school bus safety education (completed a 20-hour School Bus Safety Certification Course - ESC Region 11) or be registered in a school bus safety education class and possess an Enrollment Certificate from ESC Region 11/DPS; and

• be free of a felony or misdemeanor conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude (conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty, or good morals).