Busing For Fall: What’s Changing—and What’s Staying the Same

Stillwater Area Public Schools has updated its transportation plan for the 2026-27 school year following months of planning, family feedback, and analysis of real ridership data.

The transportation team presented the revised plan to the school board on April 21. Families can watch the full presentation on YouTube or visit the transportation website for additional details and FAQs.

Built with Better Data—and Your Feedback

The initial busing concept shared with the community in February was a starting point. Since then, the district has:

• Analyzed real student ridership data
• Rebuilt routes using more accurate and updated information
• Adjusted the model to directly address family concerns

These updates result in a more efficient system that better reflects how students actually use transportation—while maintaining the district’s core commitments to safety, reliability, cost effectiveness.

Highlights of the Updated Plan

There is no change to how district elementary students are transported
Elementary routes will continue to run separate from middle and high school routes. Some buses may include students from New Heights or St. Croix Catholic, as they do today. 

Secondary students will not be picked up earlier
Routes from middle and high school students will run at similar times as this year, but individual pick-up times may shift earlier or later depending on the route. Protecting later start times for older students remains a priority. St. Croix Prep students (K–12) will be picked up along with our secondary students and will transfer on a shuttle bus to their school.

A more efficient system with redesigned routes
All routes have been rebuilt from the ground up using real data. This allows the district to reduce stops, better utilize buses, and improve overall efficiency. Bus stop times and locations may look different for many families.

Centralized neighborhood stops
Many students will be assigned to centralized neighborhood stops, which may mean walking farther than in the past. These stops allow buses to pick up more students at once, reducing the number of stops and helping keep ride times shorter. They are also designed to remain consistent over time, providing more stability for families from year to year.

One consistent stop per student
Each student will be assigned one morning stop and one afternoon stop. Families will no longer be able to use different bus stops on different days of the week. This change helps ensure accurate ridership counts, keeps buses fuller, and allows routes to run more efficiently and reliably. 

Secondary students may transfer buses
Some middle and high school students may switch buses at a school location as part of their route. Transfers will be supervised at school sites, with student safety as a top priority.

Fuller buses
With more riders on buses, there will be less space for large instruments, sports equipment or guest riders. Students should only bring what will fit on their lap. Friends may be able to ride on elementary routes, but will not be allowed on middle or high school routes. We’re working on a more specific list of items that will fit on a bus to share with families soon.

Walk/No Bus Zones
The district has updated walk/no bus zones to better align with transportation guidelines. Because of this, some students who previously received busing may now fall within the walk zone and will no longer qualify for transportation. Families impacted by this change were notified in March.

Why These Changes Matter

Transportation is one of the district’s largest operational costs. In recent years, inefficiencies such as underutilized routes and duplicate stops have increased costs.

This updated model allows the district to:

• Use buses more efficiently
• Reduce unnecessary routes
• Maintain safe, reliable service
• Build a more sustainable system for the future
• Reduce transportation costs by more than $660,000

What Families Can Expect Next

• Transportation Opt-In: Families who need transportation must complete the Transportation Verification Form in PowerSchool. Students who do not opt in will not be routed. Bus service at the start of the school year cannot be guaranteed unless the form is completed ASAP.
• Route Development: Routes will be finalized over the spring and summer.
• Route Information: Bus stop locations and times will be shared with families in late-July.