The Illinois State School Code sets the guidelines for the transportation of students. Under those guidelines, districts are required to transport students at no additional fee who live 1 1⁄2 miles or more from the school they are assigned to attend. The State of Illinois has also qualified specific areas under the 1 1⁄2 miles distance for transportation as well; however, these areas must have met certain hazardous criteria guidelines. Eligibility for transportation is determined using the student’s legal residence.

Multiple pick-ups and drop-offs are not permitted. There will be ONE address used for transportation to and from school. This means that a set morning and afternoon schedule, all five days each week, must be in place. Morning and afternoon addresses can be different, provided they are consistent through the entire week and both addresses are within the boundaries of the school the student attends.

We may consider making an exception in an emergency-only situation; however, this must be done only with approval from TJA. In the event a situation occurs that would require the student to come or go to a different address not normally scheduled, it would be necessary for you to provide transportation or have someone you have designated through the school office to pick up or drop off your child. In all events of transportation changes, TJA must be notified so that we can relay to the driver the whereabouts and safety status of each student assigned to his/her route.

Drivers are required to transport only the students assigned on their route sheet unless otherwise instructed by TJA. Any and all students riding must be regularly scheduled on a bus.

If your child(ren) attends a special needs program and rides a special needs route and is sick or you plan to take and/or pick up your child(ren) instead of riding the bus, please contact TJA at (815) 455-0558. If possible, please also give prior notification to the driver. This will help us greatly in timing the route for the remainder of the students who are riding the bus that day.

We begin building the routes mid-summer, and this process continues past the beginning of the school year as students register and drop from the districts in August. Bus routes can be viewed as part of a student’s profile online in mid-August via Skyward for District 155. If you do not see route information for your child(ren), please contact TJA at (815) 455- 0558 or transportation@d47.org. There are many factors that play into the time your child(ren)’s bus will arrive, such as: students who are absent or are not on time for the bus, road conditions and repairs, the number of miles covered in the route, and weather conditions. Occasionally, all of the situations mentioned could happen within one route, which will greatly affect the arrival times. If your child(ren) miss the bus, you will need to make arrangements for them to be transported to school.   We ask that you have your child(ren) outside and ready to board the bus 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time. 

Buses are considered on time if they arrive at the stop up to five minutes early or five minutes late. Weather, traffic, driver absenteeism, maintenance difficulties, and unforeseen incidents are responsible for delays in the arrival of school buses. Please know that we do everything humanly possible to have all buses running on schedule each and every day. In the event your bus does not arrive as scheduled, contact TJA at (815) 455-0558 or transportation@d47.org.

Corner Stop

• Be ready 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time
• Be courteous to other students
• Stand back 5-10 feet when the bus is approaching the bus stop
• Get on the bus in an orderly fashion, keeping hands to self

Special Needs Stop

• Be outside with your child(ren) 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time
• Any bus equipment, for those requiring it, is on the bus