Emergency Contact Information
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The normal hours of operation for the Patchogue-Medford Transportation Department are 7:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on school days. You may reach this office by calling (631) 687- 6460.
After hours, you may contact the bus transportation companies directly until 7:00 p.m.:- Large Buses (Montauk Bus) – (631) 874-5300
- Mini Buses (Towne Bus/WE Transport) – (631) 868-3790
Who We Are
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The Patchogue Medford Transportation Department oversees the safe and efficient transportation of over 7,000 students across the district to and from all eleven school buildings. In addition to the non-public schools and the different special education facilities.
Our office is located at Saxton Middle School 121 Saxton St. Patchogue and is staffed by the Transportation Supervisor and team of support staff. Our office hours are 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM on school days.
We can be reached at 631-687-6460. Our fax number is 631-687-6469. You can email us at transportation@pmschools.org
Transportation Questions and Answers
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How big is our fleet?
Posted by:The district owns and operates 9 large buses. We also contract with Montauk Bus (631-874-5300) for most of our large bus routes and WE/Towne Bus (631-868-3790) for our mini bus routes
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What are the district's policies regarding Student Transportation?
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How can I get the bus stop moved closer to my home or just have the bus stop at my home on its way d
Posted by:We transport more than 7000 students every day and it would be very difficult and extremely costly to provide door-to-door transportation for our student riders. Each year, students move in to and out of our neighborhood and change schools within the district. Many bus stop locations have to be changed annually for safely and efficiently accommodate assigned groups of student riders based on these factors. In addition, it is the parent’s responsibility to oversee the safety of their child to and from the bus stop and to be at the stop 10 minutes prior to the posted arrival time.
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What governs student behavior on the school buses?
Posted by:School buses are an extension of the school building when it comes to expectations of good behavior, as such student behavior falls under the scope of the District’s Code of Conduct, which is located on the district website under the Board of Education; Policies tab. Bus drivers are responsible for communicating unsafe and inappropriate behavior to school administration. It is when the responsibility of parents and students to work with school administration in the investigation and prevention of any future bus disruptions or incidents.
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I am new to the community, what else should I know about school transportation?
Posted by:1. Patchogue Medford School District provides transportation for students well in excess of what the New York State law requires:
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- Elementary Students (K-5) living more than one-half mile from the school are eligible for bus transportation;
- Middle School Students (6-8) living more than one mile from school are eligible for bus transportation;
- High School Students (9-12) living more than one and one-half miles from the school are eligible for bus transportation; and
- Non-Public - Private and Parochial Schools (K-12) have been authorized by the district voters residing in the district 15 miles from their home.
2. Bus passes will be mailed out for large bus students regarding bus stops, bus routes and pick-up times will be mailed from the Transportation Department in August each year. Mini-bus students will receive calls from their bus drivers at the end of August.
3. Students should be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes prior to pick up time.
4. Regular bus drills are conducted at least 3 times a year to ensure children are aware of what to do in an emergency on the school bus.
5. Patchogue Medford Schools uses a Connect-Ed notification system for inclement weather notifications including delayed openings and early release dismissals.
6. All Kindergarten students must be met by a parent or an adult, that is on the student’s emergency contact list (ID may be required).
7. The first few rows of the bus are reserved for kindergarten students. If parents choose to have siblings sit with their kindergartner, this is permitted in the front of the bus only.
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Important Transportation Reminders
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Request for Private and Parochial School Transportation
- Please be reminded that these requests must be submitted on our Private & Parochial application every year preceding your child’s school year.
- In accordance with the New York State Education Law, residents’ request for transportation to a private or parochial schools must be submitted in writing by the parent or legal guardian to the transportation office no later than April 1.
- Request submitted after the cut-off day, may be approved providing that no additional expenses, are incurred by the district and providing that there is a seat available. The purpose of the cut-off date is to ensue school districts to implement their contract obligations and make necessary arrangements to provide transportation in a reasonable and economical manner.
- Applications received after the April 1, deadline must be accompanied with a letter as to why the application is late.
- Each year, parents are to bring three (3) proofs of residency to the Central Registration Office (631-687-6340).
- Kindergarten students request must be accompanied with a birth certificate
Request for Child Care Transportation
- Written request for transportation to or from a Day Care Provider / Child Care facility must be submitted in writing on the Day Care Provider Form
- Request must be received by April 1, of the preceding school year
- Approved Day Care transportation does not carry over from year to year. If you would like your child care transportation to approval to be effective in a subsequent school year, you must resubmit a new request to be considered for approval before the April 1, deadline of the upcoming school year.
Bus Rules
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Students are required to conduct themselves in the bus in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior. Excessive noises, pushing, shoving and fighting will not be tolerated.
- Arrive 10 minutes early to the bus stop
- Wear bright clothes so you can be seen
- Wait for the bus in an orderly manner, being respectful of private property
- Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before boarding the bus
- Board the bus in an orderly fashion. Do not push or shove
- Go to your assigned seat, stay seated for the entire ride, changing seats is not permitted and talk softly
- Keep your hands and head inside the bus at all times. Do not throw objects around on the bus or out the window
- Take your seat quickly and orderly
- Keep aisle clear
- Cell phone use is not permitted on the bus
- Eating and drinking is not permitted on the bus
- All baggage/band instruments must be able to sit in the students lap, students must be able to hold the baggage at all times. NO band instruments larger than a trombone will be allowed on the bus route. (French horns and larger instruments can become flying projectiles)
- Keep the bus clean
- Skateboards and balloons are not permitted on the bus
- Foul language is not permitted on the bus
- Parents are not permitted on the school bus at any time, other than for field trips chaperones starting at the school
- Bullying and fighting is not allowed on the bus
- Homework in not to be done on the school bus. Keep all pens and pencils away
- Always keep your hands to yourself, do not touch other passengers
- Listen to your bus driver and follow instructions
- Keep aisle clear of instruments, book bags and lunch boxes
- Remain quiet at railroad crossings and intersections
- Double check before getting off the bus that you have all your belongings (lunch box, books, etc.)
- Get off the bus only at your designated bus stop
- Get out of the road quickly
- Cross the road only when necessary, to cross the road walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus, make eye contact with the driver, and wait for the driver to give you the signal to cross
- Look both ways yourself crossing, walk quickly to the other side of the road
- Do not walk back to the bus unless signaled by the driver
- Go straight home by a pre-determined route (Discuss with your parent or guardian)
- Do not mark, cut or scratch any part of the bus. The person(s) responsible will pay the cost of vandalism or any damage to the bus
- Students should only use emergency exits during a supervised drill or an actual emergency
- Students will never attempt to sit in the driver’s seat or operate the door or other driver controls except in case of extreme emergencies
- Students shall face forward for the duration of the trip, and shall keep their feet on the floor in front of them and out of the bus aisle
- Accidents or Emergencies:
- Follow the driver's instructions
- If you must leave the bus, stay in a group
- The students nearest the door will open the door and hold it open
- Leave the bus in a single file line as quietly as possible. Evacuation will start with the seat closest to the door
- Once outside the bus, follow the driver's instructions completely.
Extracurricular Trips
- Bus rider rules apply to all school-sponsored events
- Discipline will be the responsibility of the building principal and the trip sponsor
- The bus shall return clean when returning from the trip
Discipline
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The School Bus is an Extension of the Classroom, and the principal will administer discipline. ALL school board policies that apply to student conduct and other student-related activities apply to the School Bus. The following is an outline of the Bus Discipline Procedure:
Category I
- First Offense - The driver will inform the student of the discipline program. The student will be given a verbal warning for misconduct. Every effort will be made to solve the problem prior to reporting the student to the principal.
- Second Offense - The student will be given another verbal warning for misconduct.
- Third Offense - The driver will assign a seat.
- Fourth Offense - The student's parents/guardians will be contacted and a driver's discipline report will be sent home for the parent to sign and return.
First disciplinary referral - Bus privileges suspended for 3 days.
Second disciplinary referral- Bus privileges suspended for 5 days.
Third disciplinary referral- Bus privileges suspended for 10 days.
Fourth disciplinary referral- Bus privileges suspended for the remainder of the semester.
The building administrator has the authority to skip steps for serious violations, or to repeat them if the misconduct is not a serious safety violation.
Category I Minor Infractions Include, but are not limited to the following:- Using profanity or making offensive remarks or gestures. (Automatic discipline referral)
- Talking loudly or yelling
- Throwing objects (items that distract-non harmful)
- Bothering (poking, pushing, etc.) other bus riders
- Not following the bus driver's directions
- Failure to sit in assigned seat will result in parent contact
Category II
Major Infractions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Accumulating (3) three minor infractions
- Being defiant or disrespectful to the bus driver
- Deliberately disregarding the safety of passengers or others
- Vandalizing the bus
- Throwing harmful objects (paper, rocks, books, etc.)
- Fighting (contact with others)
- Using profanity or making offensive remarks or gestures
- Making threatening remarks
- Refusal to sit in assigned seat
