Bus service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure a bus pass will be processed and distributed prior to the start of school, please complete the registration form promptly.

NOTE: Bus stop locations may change at the District’s discretion based on bus registration and resident neighborhood needs. The same bus stop is not guaranteed from year to year.

Bus Stop is MORE THAN two miles from the school

Minnesota state statute requires that school districts provide transportation—at no charge—for all resident students whose bus stop is more than two miles from the school they attend.

Bus Stop is LESS THAN two miles from the school

The District assesses a bus transportation fee for students whose bus stop is less than two miles from the school they attend.

The annual transportation fee is $100 with a maximum cost per family of $250 per year. The fee for the family will be assessed in October through Skyward according to the family's youngest student riding the bus.

Open-enrolled students

The District does not provide additional buses for open-enrolled students; however, parents may sign up for an existing resident bus that their child can meet and ride. 

If the selected bus stop is less than two miles from the school, open-enrolled families will be assessed the bus transportation fee (see above).

Elementary, middle and high school bus assignments

• Bus passes/assignments will be mailed in late August.

• Transportation Address Change Form : If you have a change of address, please complete this form with the most accurate information. Please allow 2-4 business days when submitting for any transportation changes to take effect, potentially longer when submitting requests in August and/or September.  
• Student Transportation Request Form : Please complete the following form if your student needs transportation.  Complete 1 form for each student.  Make sure you select the applicable school year. Also, select whether you live In-District or Out-of-District. 
• Alternate Bus Stop Request Form : Only complete this form if you would like your child to be dropped off at a designated bus stop other than the stop closest to their home address. We can only bus students within our district boundary and within the school boundary they attend.It may take 3-5 business days for the change to take effect. We will let you know when the changes are in effect. During the months of July - October, the time could be longer.
• Parent Request for Out-of-District Student Transportation Reimbursement Form: If your child is transported to and from a non-public school at your expense and is eligible for reimbursement, you may, through your school of attendance, request reimbursement for transportation. Minnesota State Law specifies that students attending out of district non-public schools are eligible for transportation services or reimbursement for transportation to the district boundary.
  • Parent Instructions & Eligibility
  • Form #1000 - Parent Request for Transportation Reimbursement
• Out-of-District Non-Public Transportation Reimbursement: Below are the necessary forms required for your school to claim transportation reimbursement and to comply with Minnesota Compulsory Instruction Reporting laws.
  • Procedure for Requesting Student Transportation Reimbursement and Compulsory Student Reporting
  • Form #1001 - Non-public School Application & Certification
  • Form #1002 - Student Compulsory Attendance Roster and Transportation Indication Report
• For all internal/staff forms, visitthe Transportation Folder in MySSO.

Busing information, including bus numbers, bus stop location, pick-up times and return times, is mailed to each student's home in late August.

Buses will run on the initially established routes for at least the first full week of school. Changes in a few routes are possible after the second week to accommodate new families in the District and to correct any problems.

Parents will always be notified via email of any changes in their bus routes or pick-up times.This often means a delay of a few days before a requested change can take effect.

How to Obtain a Guest Bus Pass for Your Student(s):

1. Contact the school: Contact the main office at your student’s school for a guest bus pass.
2. Request a blue pass: Ask the main office if your student can receive a blue pass to ride another student’s bus.
3. Get the blue pass: The main office or teacher will issue your student a blue bus pass to give to the bus driver.

Note: This process ensures student safety.

My Stop is a web-based application available for all Minnetonka parents whose students ride the bus to access through a smartphone, tablet or computer to view the current location of the bus and the estimated time of arrival. It allows you to see what time the bus will be at your student's stop. It is powered by GPS transmission from the bus every one to two minutes. This means your screen will update every one to two minutes.

My Stop will not be active until the first day of school.

Versatrans My Stop log-in instructions

1. Login using your MyMinnetonka SSO username and password.
   
2. Select the My Stop icon from your available applications.
   
3. Log in to Versatrans My Stop using your Family ID as your username and last name in all capital letters as your password. Please omit any apostrophes in your password.
   
4. You can find your Family ID by signing into Skyward Family Access and selecting the "Student Info" tab.
   
5. Once logged into Skyward, navigate to Student Info on the left column and then select to view "Student Name" family link.
   
6. On the family page you will find your Family ID on the right side.
7. Once logged in to My Stop you will see a map. If a route is active you will notice a yellow triangle on the map that indicates the location of the bus.
   
8. If you have multiple students, you can change the bus route by selecting your student from the drop-down menu in the upper left corner.
9. At the bottom of the page you will notice the bus number and the estimated time of arrival.
10. Do not log in to My Stop earlier than 10 minutes before your student’s schedule pick-up or drop off time. The data provided through My Stop is constantly changing. Estimated times of arrival are based on standard GPS route calculations, and not the actual length of time remaining to get to your student’s bus stop. You will access the most accurate data if you check the system within 10 minutes of your student’s schedule pick-up or drop-off time.
11. If you have activated My Stop and have questions, please look at the "troubleshooting" guide.

Safety at bus stops and on the school bus depends on the cooperation and responsible behavior of every student. Please discuss the following safety rules as a family.

During the first week of school, bus drivers will emphasize these points with their riders:

• Be on time to help keep the bus on schedule.
• Arrive at the bus stop five minutes ahead of the scheduled bus arrival time.
• Stand back from the edge of the roadway or on the sidewalk while waiting for the bus.
• Stay out of the street so you do not become a traffic hazard to people driving past the stop. The bus stop area is not a playground.
• Don't litter. You are a guest at the bus stop area, and it is a privilege for you to use the area.
• Line up three to five feet away from the edge of the road, single file. Do not approach the bus until it has stopped moving and the door is open. Wait for the bus driver to signal you to board the bus.
• If the bus stop is on the opposite side of the street, wait until the bus has stopped and the red light warning system has been activated. The bus driver will signal you to cross the street. Look both ways before crossing.
• Board the bus signal file. Use the handrails. Go directly to your seat.
• Follow the bus driver's instructions.
• Remain seated.
• Do not endanger yourself or others.
• The following items are never allowed on the bus:  Food, beverages, gum, candy (except when enclosed in a backpack), guns (including toy guns), knives or other sharp objects, gasoline engines or cans, animals, insects, fish, matches, lighters, glass items, aerosol products, laser pens, skis, ski poles, hockey sticks, skateboards, scooters, golf clubs, lacrosse sticks, baseball bats, balloons or any items of dangerous or objectionable nature.
• Speak and act courteously.
• Help to keep your bus clean and safe.
• Wait for the bus to stop before standing. Use the handrail, take one step at a time, do not push or shove, and go directly to the school or home.
• Students who must cross the road should leave at least 10 feet in front of the bus, look up at the bus driver, and wait for his / her hand signal to cross the street. When crossing the street, look both ways. Remember to move away from the bus after exiting.

Students in Kindergarten through 10th grade must be certified for riding the school bus. During the first six weeks of school, students will receive the safety training required for certification. To highlight these activities, the State of Minnesota has designated the first week of every school year as School Bus Safety Week.

Our District's policies on student transportation are found in Policy 707 (Transportation of Public School Students) and Policy 709 (Student Transportation Safety Policy), viewable on the District Policies webpage .

Policy 709 reinforces the idea that where safety is concerned, it is a privilege and not a right for a student to ride the school bus.To ensure that safety is a primary factor in school transportation, this policy defines the responsibilities of parents/guardians, school principals and bus drivers.

Parents/GuardiansThe adults who are legal parents or guardians of students are, under Minnesota state law, responsible for transporting their children to and from school and school-related activities in the event that those children are unable or unwilling to demonstrate the required competencies for riding school vehicles. Parents/guardians also are responsible for the safety of their children at the neighborhood bus stop, and for getting their children to and from the nearest bus stop in the event that a school vehicle cannot be scheduled to travel any closer to their home.

School PrincipalsPrincipals and designated building staff are responsible for the training and certification of students for competencies in riding school vehicles, bicycling and pedestrian traffic activities. The principal will suspend the privilege of riding school vehicles for students who have not received certification and for students who persist in misbehaving during the course of the school year.

School Bus DriversSchool bus drivers are responsible for demonstrating the skills and knowledge prescribed in Minnesota statute and District contract specifications.

Student RidersStudents who have demonstrated that they possess the required knowledge and skills for riding a school vehicle, and who continue to demonstrate the same, will be granted the privilege of riding on those vehicles. Students who have not initially demonstrated, or who at any time discontinue to demonstrate these competencies, shall have their school vehicle riding privileges revoked in accordance with District procedures.

Minnetonka Public Schools' buses have audio/video recordings on board. There is signage on the buses letting students and staff they are being recorded.

If you need video of an incident that occurs on the bus, please reach out to your students Principal or Assistant Principal, and they will request to view the video. The transportation office only assists with reviewing of the videos when requested to do so. If you have any questions reference audio/video, you can always reach out to your school’s administrator’s or us at the transportation office.

When disruptions occur on the school bus, they are often related to student behavior. Issues may arise as a result of the actions of a single student, the interaction among several students or the interaction between students and their driver. Our approach is to address behavioral issues in a timely manner.

As a rule, school bus drivers correct or report behavior as soon as possible after it is observed. However, there may be times when behavior-related problems occur that are unpleasant for a student, but not readily evident to a driver. Please do not hesitate to report (and encourage your child to report) incidents of harassment that may not have come to the driver's attention.

As a part of your school transportation team, we are committed to the goal of providing a safe and pleasant ride for all students on a daily basis. Your cooperation is always appreciated in helping to achieve this goal.

Please contact First Student at 952-470-5366 for lost and found or missing items.  Found items may be picked up at 5531 County Road 19 Excelsior MN 55331.

The District's emergency closing procedures are used when schools are experiencing significant inclement weather or other situations that require an interruption to the normal school day. 

Visit the District's Emergency Closing Procedures webpage to learn more.