About Transportation Services
School bus service is provided for students attending their zoned schools. Unfortunately, it's not available for children attending schools outside of their designated zone. If your home is within 1.5 miles of your child's school, transportation isn't guaranteed. However, your child might still get a ride if there's space on the bus and it doesn't require the bus to change its usual route. To see if your child can get transportation within this 1.5-mile zone, the parent or guardian must contact the Director of Transportation for approval.
Bus routes are planned to be as efficient and economical as possible for the entire school system. We also strive to ensure no child has a bus ride longer than 60 minutes in either the morning or afternoon. For efficiency, bus stops won't be at every residence, and buses won't enter driveways or streets with cul-de-sacs. We do our best to place bus stops within a reasonable walking distance from each child's home. It's important that parents supervise their children at the bus stop every morning and afternoon.
Transportation services are provided to and from the nearest bus stop to your child's home address. This service isn't available from work addresses, relatives' homes, or babysitters' locations. The address used for transportation is the one listed on your child's school registration card.
Basic Guidelines & Rules for Bus Riders
Riding the bus in the Alcoa City School system is a privilege, not a right. To ensure a safe and pleasant journey for everyone, students must demonstrate good conduct, courtesy, cooperation, and respect for the bus driver's authority. Copies of the rules are posted on each bus as a daily reminder.
- Always follow the bus driver's directions the first time they are given.
- The bus driver may assign seats if a student misbehaves.
- Keep all parts of your body inside the bus, and keep your hands, feet, and any objects to yourself.
- Students must remain seated unless they are boarding or exiting the bus.
- Drivers have the right to prohibit any actions or noise that could distract them or threaten the safety of the bus.
- Any student who willfully damages the bus will lose their riding privilege until they have made arrangements to compensate the bus owner for the damage.
Student Conduct on the Bus
To ensure a safe and orderly environment, only students assigned to a specific bus and individuals with legitimate, approved business are permitted to board. A school bus operates as an extension of the school; therefore, students are expected to behave in a manner consistent with established standards for safety and classroom conduct while on board.
- Students are under the direct supervision and control of the bus driver and any assistants, and it is mandatory to follow all reasonable directions they give.
- Bus drivers or assistants will report any discipline problems to the student's principal, who may be called upon to assist if necessary.
- A student may lose the privilege of riding the bus if the principal determines their behavior disrupts the bus environment or if they disobey state or local rules and regulations concerning student transportation.
- According to state law (TCA 46-6-21), no student is permitted to ride home with another student without written parental permission, which must also be approved by the school principal. If approved, the bus driver will be provided with a copy of this request form.
- All carry-on items, including backpacks, musical instruments, and school projects, must be small enough to fit comfortably in the child's lap. Parents or guardians are responsible for transporting any items that do not meet these criteria.
Bus Safety & Video Use
For the purpose of maintaining order, safety, and security for students, staff, and property, video cameras are utilized to monitor student behavior on all school buses, whether during regular routes or extracurricular transportation.
School buses are statistically the safest way for children to travel to and from school, being nearly eight times safer than passenger vehicles. However, the greatest risk to students occurs when they are boarding or leaving the bus. While an average of 7 school-age passengers are killed in bus crashes each year, a tragic 19 are killed annually while getting on or off the bus. Most of these fatalities involve children aged five to seven, who are often hit in the "Danger Zone" around the bus by either a passing vehicle or the bus itself.
Understanding the Danger Zone:
- The Danger Zone refers to the area on all sides of the school bus where children are at the highest risk of being struck. To remain safe, children should always stay at least ten feet away from the bus, or as far away as possible, and never walk behind it. When crossing in front of the bus, they must take five "giant steps" forward from the bus's front bumper to ensure the driver can see them.
Why Young Children Are Most Vulnerable:
- Hurry to get on or off the bus without looking.
- Act impulsively and lack experience with traffic.
- Assume drivers will see them and wait.
- Do not always remain within the bus driver's line of sight.
- May drop items and run into the bus's path to retrieve them.
Teaching Safe Boarding and Unloading Practices:
- Getting On: Stay clear of the Danger Zone and wait for the bus driver's signal before boarding one at a time.
- Getting Off: Before stepping off, look to ensure no cars are passing on the shoulder. Once off, move immediately away from the bus.
- Crossing the Street: Take five "giant steps" out from the front of the bus (or until you can see the driver's face) and wait for the driver to signal that it's safe to cross. Always look left-right-left at the edge of the bus to confirm traffic has stopped, and continue watching for traffic while crossing.
Safety Steps for Parents and Guardians:
- Supervise children to ensure they arrive at the stop on time, wait far from the road, and avoid rough play.
- Instruct your child to always ask the driver for help if they drop something near the bus. Bending down makes them invisible to the driver and puts them at risk.
- Ensure clothing and backpacks do not have loose drawstrings or long straps that could get caught in the handrail or bus door.
- Actively encourage and reinforce safe school bus loading and unloading habits.
- If you believe a bus stop location is unsafe, contact your school office or transportation director to discuss potential changes.
Understanding and Following School Bus Laws:
Laws are in place to protect children and prevent tragedies. Always check with your local school or police department for specific state laws, but general rules include:
- Vehicles must stop when a school bus displays flashing red warning lights and extends its stop signal arm.
- Do not pass until the flashing red lights and signals are turned off.
- Vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus are always required to stop. In some states, vehicles moving in the opposite direction on a divided roadway may also be required to stop – verify your state's specific regulations.
- Never pass on the right side of the bus, as this is where children enter and exit, making it extremely dangerous and illegal.
- Violating these laws can result in citations and fines. In many areas, school bus drivers are authorized to report vehicles that illegally pass a stopped bus.
Bus Routes
All routes are listed on the website, along with the general area each bus serves. There will be two routes in the morning and two in the afternoon. The first route will serve elementary and intermediate students ONLY, while the second route will serve middle and high school students. All bus routes will begin at 6:30. We ask that everyone be ready and wait patiently, as we will do our best to keep times as accurate as possible.
BUS #2
West Lincoln, Calderwood, Telford Street, Lindsay, Rankin Road, Sanderson Street, Gill Street, Hannum Street, Bessie, Harvey, Andy Carr, Burns Avenue, Badgett Street, Steele Street, Harrison Street, Garfield Street, Harding Street, Hayes Street, Grant Street, Hemlock, Juniper, Rose Avenue, Redwood, Laurel Street, Eem Street, Ash Street, (Rock Garden Area) East Lincoln
BUS #3
Alcoa Highway (Stop at Laundromat at Green Acres) Green Acres Area, Airway Ridge Apartments, Country Way Apartments, Wheeler Road, Island Home, Singleton Station Road, Cusick Road, North Wright Road, Alcoa Inn
BUS #4
East Hunt Road, West Hunt Road, Northfield Subdivision, St. Ives Subdivision, St. Thomas, Victoria Gardens, Cunnigham West, Cunningham, Dogwood, Curie Street, Ambrose, Benford, Holiday, Louisville Road (All roads and apartments off of Louisville Road excluding Andover and Crosswinds Subdivision), Beverly Drive, Vera Drive, Marti, Mildred Drive, North and South Linden, Hunters Meadow, Leconte Subdivision
BUS #5
McArthur Road, Meadowood Apartments, Wright Road, Maple Street, Poplar Street, Oersted Road, Birch Street, Oakland, North Wright Road, Cedar Street, Ford Street, Cherry Street, Burroughs Kettering, Long Road, Dalton Street, Brewster Road, Alcoa Road, Ramsey Street, Hoopes Street, Maury Street, Lodge Street, Faraday Street, Darwin Street, Remsen Street, Gilbert Street, Boyle Street
BUS #6
Alcoa Highway, TN Title Loan, Royal Inn, Mimosa Heights, Topside Road, Dresden Way Apartments, Avalon Apartments, Old Topside Road, Little River Community, Wrights Road, Airbase Road, Rocky Waters Subdivision, Elevate @ Topside Apartments, Topside 333 Apartments
BUS #7
Grayson Apartments, Wrights Road, Dutch Mill Road, Cloud Properties Apartments, Upton Street, Center Street
BUS #8
East Edison, Ohm Street, East Bell Street, Kelvin Road, Howe Street, Fulton Street, West Fulton Street, Davies Street, Watt Street, Newcomen Street, Stephenson Street, Bessemer Road
BUS #12
Vital Apartments, Middlesettlements Road, Laurel Branch Apartments, Hamilton Ridge Apartments, Water Lily Lane, Jasmine Lane
For further information or questions regarding transportation services, please contact the Alcoa City Schools Transportation Department.
Phone: (865) 984-0531, 1117
