Busing 2026-27 FAQs

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

By redesigning routes using real ridership data, the district can:

• Use buses more efficiently
• Reduce unnecessary routes
• Maintain safe, reliable service
• Build a more sustainable system

These changes are expected to reduce transportation costs by more than $660,000 while continuing to prioritize student safety.

Yes. Because all routes have been redesigned using updated data, most families should expect changes to their bus stop location and pick-up and drop-off times.

Final route details will be shared with families in late July

Routes will run at similar times as this year. However, because routes have been redesigned, individual pick-up times may be earlier or later depending on where a student’s stop falls along the route.

District elementary routes will remain separate from middle and high school routes.

Some buses may include students from New Heights or St. Croix Catholic, as they do today. St. Croix Prep students will be grouped with secondary routes in the updated plan.

The transfer model allows buses to pick up students in a neighborhood and bring them to a school site, where some students transfer to another bus.

• Morning: Secondary and some charter/non-public students transfer at the high school
• Afternoon: Transfers take place at the middle schools

Elementary students are transported directly to and from their school and do not transfer.

District elementary students will not transfer buses. They will be delivered directly to their school in the morning and home at the end of the day.

Some middle and high school students, as well as some charter/non-public students, may transfer buses depending on their route.

Not all students will need to transfer. Routes are built based on geography, density and efficiency.

Student safety is a top priority.

Transfers take place at school sites and are closely supervised by staff. Students will get off one bus and go to another bus in the same location.

Buses are clearly labeled, and the process is consistent each day. This model has been used successfully in the past and is designed to be safe and easy for students to follow.

Centralized stops bring students from a neighborhood to one common location.

They allow buses to pick up more students at once, reducing the number of stops and helping keep ride times shorter. These stops are also designed to remain consistent over time, providing more stability for families from year to year.

Many of our buses will be fuller next year as we improve efficiency and maximize available seating. Because of this, space for extra riders and large items will be limited.

Guest riders (friends):

• Elementary: Friends may be permitted to ride home, as space allows.

• Middle and High School (including charter/non-public students): Friend riders are not permitted.

We understand families may want to have friends ride home, but limiting additional riders ensures all eligible students have a seat and helps us run routes safely and efficiently.

Items on the bus:
Students may bring items that fit on their lap, such as a backpack or small instrument. Larger items—such as big instruments, sports equipment, or large class projects—cannot be accommodated on the bus and must be transported by families.

These guidelines help us maintain a safe environment and ensure buses can operate efficiently for all students.

Each student will have one assigned 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.

The district will continue to work with families in joint custody situations when both addresses are within the transportation boundary.

A walk/no bus zone is the area around a school where busing is not provided.

• Elementary walk/no bus zone: ½ mile
  (This is less restrictive than the state’s 1-mile limit.)
• Secondary walk/no bus zone: 2 miles
  (This is set at the state’s maximum)

Distance is measured using the district’s routing software and is calculated from the student’s street address to school property. Walk/no bus zones are used in school districts across the state and are reviewed annually to incorporate safe walking routes, including sidewalks, trails, and walking paths within the designated distance.

In the event district staff identify hazardous roadways within a walk/no bus zone, transportation is provided. Hazard determinations are made by the district based on factors such as traffic volume and speed, road design, and other safety considerations. Not all busy or inconvenient roads meet the district’s hazard criteria.

The district updated walk/no bus zones to better align with transportation guidelines and reflect actual walking routes, including sidewalks and trails.

As a result, some students who previously received busing may now fall within the walk zone and no longer qualify for transportation.

Families impacted by this change were notified earlier this spring.

Families must opt in each year so routes can be built based on who plans to ride.

This allows the district to:

• Design routes more accurately
• Reduce unused seats
• Improve efficiency
• Maintain reliable service

Students who do not opt in will not be routed.

No. Each area of the district is reviewed individually based on geography, student density, and route efficiency.

Some neighborhoods may experience more changes than others.

To maintain safe and efficient routes, buses do not enter most cul-de-sacs, dead-end roads, or very short streets.

Instead, centralized stops are used in locations that allow buses to navigate safely.

Route and bus stop information will be shared with families in late July.

Families are responsible for ensuring their child’s safety to and from the bus stop.

We understand every family’s situation is different. Transportation decisions must follow district guidelines to remain consistent and fair.

If you believe there is an error or a safety concern that meets district criteria, you may submit a request for review. The district will provide a final determination after review.

Please contact the Transportation Department at schoolbus@stillwaterschools.org.

With our resources being limited, the district is prioritizing its legal obligation to provide transportation for students who live within our district boundaries. We will continue to work with open enrolled students attending a district school to find busing from an existing bus stop whenever possible.

Students who live outside the district and attend a charter or non-public school are no longer eligible for district transportation.