Transportation

Dear Bloomfield Hills Schools Families, 

In the summer of 2018 every bus stop was rigorously evaluated to ensure it met the requirements of a legal bus stop, thus ensuring every bus stop met our safety standards. Due to this recent evaluation, many stops have been changed in order to comply with the MI Pupil Transportation Act 187, which has many restrictions regarding visual distances and impairments. 

In transportation, our number one priority is student and driver safety. We recognize the inconvenience these changes may pose you and your child, but the stops are configured first for safety and second for all other factors (including convenience). We have received many bus stop change requests and, while we'd like to help provide the ideal stop for every family, the stop must be assigned based on a number of guidelines. These include:

• Optimal safety, as defined by MI Pupil Transportation Act 187 and district standards
• High School students 1/2 mile (2600 ft) maximum distance to stop (Main street stops only, School Board policy established 2016)
• Middle School students 1/4 mile (1300 ft) maximum distance to stop
• Elementary students 600 ft maximum distance to stop

Due to the above guidelines, we are not able to configure every bus stop to enable an adult to keep visual supervision of a child while they wait for the bus. We also recognize that, in most cases, the route between your home and the bus stop may not have safety paths due to our municipality configurations.  

If transportation services are utilized, getting a child to school safely is a partnership between the family and our transportation team. We greatly appreciate your partnership in getting your child to school safely.

Thank you,

Brian Goby
Director of Physical Plant Services & Transportation

2018-19 Bus Information

Bus Information can be found by visiting the link: www.bloomfield.org/ParentPortal.  Login, find the student you wish to view information for, and click the "Transportation Info" link on the left side.  Due to new students enrolling throughout the year, pickup times are subject to change. Any bus changes throughout the year will be updated on the site.

STUDENTS NEED TO BE AT THEIR STOP AT LEAST 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO PICKUP TIME.  Please have students outside at their stop (not waiting indoors). This will keep our buses running more efficiently and on schedule. Students should be dressed appropriately for the weather.  Please note that our ridership fluctuates daily based on after school sports/clubs and therefore the times listed as drop off are only baseline. For afternoon drop offs, families should expect a 15 minute window prior to and after assigned stop time.  KG and 1st grade students will not be dropped off unless someone is there to meet them at their stop. In the case that there is not an adult around when the bus is at the stop to drop the student, your child will be taken back to the schools latchkey program.

Requesting Bus Stop Changes

Any requests for bus stop changes must be done by completing a Transportation Request Form. This form can be found online at www.bloomfield.org under Departments/Transportation.  The form should be emailed to JMack@bloomfield.org or faxed to 248.3416298. Due to the heavy volume of requests we receive, it may take up to 2 weeks before we can get back with you.  Each request will be evaluated and once a decision has been made we will contact you.

Our bus stops for kindergarten students follow the same guidelines, laws, and Board of Education Policy as all other elementary school grades. For elementary students, the bus stop will be located no more than 600 ft. from the resident address in the student's record.

About Transportation

The mission of the Bloomfield Hills Schools Transportation department is to transport children safely, in mechanically sound vehicles, to and from school and school activities, with compassion, caring, and courtesy in a safe environment.

BHS has 58 buses that are excellently maintained by our mechanics. We have received excellent police inspections for our fleet for the past 25 years!

We strive for everyone who rides the bus to feel safe and secure and enjoy their bus ride. Have a safe and happy school year!

Back to School

As students from all over the state get ready for their first day of school, the Bloomfield Hills Schools bus fleet rolled out on test runs, ensuring the first day goes as smoothly as possible. "I believe we have the best bus drivers and mechanics in the state," says Superintendent, Rob Glass. Bloomfield backs that statement with 25 years of perfect bus inspections.

Jane Mack, Transportation Manager, says the team's commitment to keeping the buses in perfect inspection condition for 25 years running is impressive. Jane is responsible for ensuring each bus is put through a complete inspection over the summer, so school is able to begin with the least amount of technical problems.