Head Start

Do you provide transportation for my child?

Head Start families are provided the privilege of transportation from home to center and back home.  We transport within the center’s school district with one or two buses.   

I want to volunteer in the center and do not have transportation. Can a Head Start parent/guardian ride the bus?

Yes, with preplanning to make sure there is a seat available on the run a parent can ride the bus to the center and home. 

Does the bus arrive at my home at the same time daily?

Most likely no. Head Start drivers and monitors work hard to stay on schedule however parents/children being ready and looking for the bus with a span of 15 min. before and after an approximate time is for changes in arrival beyond the driver or monitors control. These include but are not limited to; child attendance on the bus, weather/road conditions, construction, traffic lights, and trains. 

Is my child buckled on a Head Start bus?

Head Start children are restrained in age, height, and weight appropriate child restraints that meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Head Start buses by law cannot move after loading until all children are safely buckled by our bus monitors. 

Is a bus monitor always on a Head Start bus?

Head Start program standards require a bus monitor to be on the bus before any children are transported.

How do I know my child will be safely dropped at my home?

As the registering parent in our program you provide a list of (3) emergency contacts with access to transportation and also a list of removal consent individuals you are authorizing to receive your child.  Our bus monitors check your list of names against picture identification for verification before releasing your child.  Should verification not be obtained at drop off we return your child to our center for pick up at the center.

What training do (a) both drivers and monitors, (b) bus drivers and (c) bus monitors receive?

Before hire bus Drivers and Monitors must complete back ground checks including fingerprinting and a driving abstract.

Drivers and Monitors receive; training in confidentiality, TB screening before working with children. First Aid and CPR Training and required re-certifications. Shaking baby, mandated reporting training requiring all our staff to perform as mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect.  Bus Drivers and Monitors are trained in safely loading, unloading of children, bus danger zones to not only keep our Head Start children transported safely and also empowering staff to meet Head Starts school readiness standards of teaching our children and parents bus safety rules for life.  This training also includes emergency procedures that are practiced with emergency drills at minimum (3) times a school year.  Drivers and monitors are continually observed performing their duties by their supervisor. 

Head start bus drivers are at least 21 yrs. of age and are required to follow NYS 19A regulations. This includes a CDL C driver’s license with a Passenger and School bus endorsement at minimum for our small buses. Bus drivers must pass a DOT/19A medical physical annually or biannually by a DMV registered physician.  Bus drivers receive annual defensive driving observations by a 19A examiner.  Bus drivers also must pass a written and practical behind the wheel road test biannually given by a 19A examiner.

Head Start bus monitors are at least 19 yrs. of age and receive MAT training to ensure children’s individual medical needs are met. Bus monitors pass a medical physical to ensure they are capable of all aspects of bus monitor responsibilities.

Do Head Start buses have cameras?

Yes, our buses have outside and inside cameras with audio installed for the safety of our Head Start children, families, and staff.  

How are Head Start buses maintained?

Bus drivers are required to perform daily Pre and Post Trip inspections of their buses to ensure the bus is safe to drive.  Buses are also inspected and serviced by trained mechanics on a 45day schedule. DOT inspections are performed every (6) months by a NYS DOT inspector.  Head Start’s budgeting has allowed for the upgrading of our buses to enable lowering maintenance costs and increase transportation safety for our Head Start children.