Transportation

Phone: (804) 556-5361 Fax: (804) 784-5146. Hours of Operation:  Monday-Friday 6:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Please leave a voicemail after hours.

Our Transportation Department is an integral part of the Goochland County Public Schools mission to maximize the potential of every learner. In many cases, our drivers are the first point of school contact for students as they begin their school day. While our immediate charge is to transport students safely and efficiently, at the heart of our mission is a desire to establish lasting, positive relationships with and among our student riders.

In the interest of the safety and welfare of our school passengers, GCPS maintains strict transportation discipline and safety regulations. The bus driver is responsible for the safety of your child(ren), but they can only fulfill this with your help. Please remember to take time to review our posted bus rules, bus safety procedures, and guidelines to ensure that we work together to make this mission possible.

School Bus Request

Use this Google Form to request a bus for any new students or changes. Bus requests take 5-10 days to complete. Bus schedules for 24/25 are posted click on PowerSchool, select forms and then select bus information. If you do not see your stop, or your student does not have a bus number please fill out our bus request form.

Bus Stop Procedure

It is the parents responsibility to ensure students get to and from the bus stop safely. Specifically, PK through 3rd students require an approved individual physically present to receive the student in the afternoon. Students should arrive at the bus stop at least 10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Students who do not ride after 6 days will be removed from the schedule. This procedure allows us to increase efficiency while allowing new students to have a seat. We will not remove students who participate in after school activities. Students may not be left on the schedule for emergency purposes only as this causes scheduling conflicts, driver confusion, and inefficiencies. Parents should have a plan in place for emergencies. Parents who would like their stop to be reactivated must submit a new request using the school bus form. A request is not an automatic approval.

Bus Safety

Bus safety is critical to ensure a safe bus ride. Please remember these important safety guidelines:

  1. Arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

  2. Wait quietly and as far away from the road as possible.

  3. Do not approach the bus until it comes to a complete stop. If you must cross look both ways and wait for the driver’s signal to board the bus.

  4. Students should use the handrail when entering and exiting the bus.

  5. Students should move directly to a seat, sit facing the front, and hold belongings in their lap. Students will remain seated when the bus is in motion.

  6. Students should keep the aisle clear. No student shall at any time extend his/her head, hands, arms, or throw any objects out of the windows of the bus.

  7. Students will speak quietly and talk to the driver only in emergencies.

  8. Use emergency doors and windows only in emergencies or during official practices.

  9. If you drop anything outside the bus, leave it. Get permission from your driver before picking it up.

  10. The danger zone is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of not being seen by the driver (ten feet in front of the bus where the driver may be too high to see a child, ten feet on either side of the bus, where a child may be in the driver’s blind spot, and the area behind the school bus).

  11. An adult must be physically present at the bus stop in order for children in grades PK through 3rd to be discharged from the bus or the child will be returned to school for safety purposes. PK-3rd grade children require an adult when crossing at all times.

Conduct on Buses

Code of Virginia 22.1-176  states “ School boards may provide for the transportation of pupils, but nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring such transportation except as provided in §22.1-221”. Failure to comply with school bus rules and or compromise the safety of passengers may result in suspension of bus privileges. Parents will be required to transport to and from school if bus privileges are suspended.

The school principal may suspend or revoke the riding privileges of students and/or take other disciplinary actions for students who are violating the Student Code of Conduct Handbook . If a student’s riding privileges are suspended or revoked, the student’s parent(s) or approved individual is responsible for ensuring the student gets to and from school.

Revised 8.16.24

Stop, It's the Law.