Transportation

Bus stop request forms must be completed and sent to the transportation department for processing. We will review bus stop change request forms after the third week of school. Please note that forms must be fully completed in order to be processed. Families will be contacted if stop changes/requests are approved.

Please complete this form only after reviewing our Bus Stop and Routing Criteria and determining that your situation may require special consideration.

When making your request, please keep in mind:

• Bus Stop & Routing Criteria applies to all riders.
• Buses will not travel into cul-de-sacs, private roads (i.e. apartment complexes and home associations), dead-end streets, or other areas where they cannot safely maneuver. An exception to this may be a bus that is transporting students with disabilities. All students, regardless of age or grade who reside in these areas will need to walk to the assigned bus stop regardless of distance.
• Availability of sidewalks is not part of the criteria used in establishing bus stops. Much of the Hopkins School District was designed without sidewalks.
• Buses drive by many students’ homes every day. The bus driving by doesn’t warrant adding/changing a bus stop.
• Visibility from the home to the bus stop is not part of our criteria for establishing bus stops. Bus stops are collection points in neighborhoods. If a parent/guardian is concerned about watching their child at the stop they will need to walk with them and supervise them at the bus stop. We strongly encourage parents/guardians to arrange for an adult to be at the bus stop whenever students are present.
• In order to be consistent and fair in placement of bus stops, we cannot establish stops based on personal circumstances such as employment, day care, or siblings.
• Bus drivers do not have the legal authority to make bus stop changes; doing so may result in disciplinary action up to termination. A temporary exception may be made by the driver due to inclement weather or other temporary circumstances. In each case the transportation department must be notified in advance by the driver.

No stop changes will be made or reviewed until after the first two weeks of school.

These forms are used to assess transportation needs, determine eligibility, and plan busing for students. "Daycare" includes providers and/or family members providing care at a location other than the parent/guardian's residence. If your child does not need transportation provided by the school district, please complete this form and check "Bus Not Needed."

Consistent bus stops are necessary for the safety of students. Students are not allowed to make changes regarding their pick-up or delivery bus stops. Example: riding a bus to a friend's house.

If your information changes, please notify the Transportation Department, 952-988-4115 or SchoolBus@HopkinsSchools.org. 

Special transportation arrangements may be considered for daycare students. A student may be:

• Picked up at home, attend school, then delivered to daycare
• Picked up at daycare, attend school, and delivered to home
• Picked up at daycare, attend school, and delivered to daycare.

The above transportation arrangements can be made under the following conditions:

1. Both addresses are within the attendance area of the school.
2. The pattern is regular, providing the same pick-up address and the same drop-off address every day.

Standard Bus Stops will be established where:

• School bus eight-way lights can be seen by motorists at the front and rear of the bus, at least 100 feet in a speed zone of 35 m.p.h. or less, and at least 300 feet in a speed zone of greater than 35 m.p.h.
• Bus drivers do not need to negotiate a backup turn around
• Routes are clearly visible and recognizable to bus drivers and substitute bus drivers who might not be familiar with the bus route
• For bus stops located on county roads, the school bus eight-way lights will be activated 300 feet prior to the scheduled stop location

The school district expects our drivers to arrive at the scheduled bus stop at the times specified on the driver's official route copy, within reason.  Routes may run a few minutes early or late due to unexpected traffic patterns and other uncontrollable circumstances. We ask that families have their child out at the scheduled bus stop no later than 5 minutes before the scheduled stop time and that they wait at least 5 minutes after the scheduled stop time to insure their child is at the bus stop when the bus arrives.

Hopkins Public Schools offers transportation from Minneapolis for approved students. To find out if you are eligible for this program, please call the Enrollment Office at 952-988-4003.  

More Information

The school district provides transportation for special education students according to the child's Individual Education Plan. If you have a child with special needs requiring transportation different from the regular bus services, please work with your child's special education case manager or call our Transportation Office at 952-988-4115.

Bus stop request forms must be completed and sent to the transportation department for processing. We will review bus stop change request forms after the third week of school. Please note that forms must be fully completed in order to be processed. Families will be contacted if stop changes/requests are approved.

Complete the form online or download the form in the Bus Stop Change Request dropdown in the Forms section below.