• Frequently Asked Questions

     

    Q: The bus drives right past my house. Why can't it stop at my house?
    A:     The higher frequency of stops makes the motoring public impatient. This can result in people driving around the bus creating a dangerous situation. It also delays the bus by increasing the number of stops and makes the student ride time longer. Stops are designated at intersections strategically placed for efficiencies for both students and operations.

    Q: I cannot see the bus stop from my house.
    A:     It is not possible to select stops based on the personal situation of each parent when routing all students. Parents are encouraged to work together within their neighborhood to have at least one parent at the bus stop in the case of our younger students.

    Q: We live on a cul-de-sac or a dead end street. Will the bus come down our street?
    A:     Except for special circumstances, buses are generally not routed into a cul-de-sac. Buses cannot drive down a dead end street as backing up a bus when students are on board is strictly forbidden.

    Q: Why do some children have to cross the street to board the bus?
    A:     We are not able to route buses so that all children can board the bus on the doorside. We suggest if you prefer, that children wait on the side of the street where they reside. The bus will stop traffic in all directions to accommodate students that need to cross the street.

    Q: My child carries a large musical instrument and/or heavy backpack. He is the only student using the stop. It needs to be closer to our home. 
    A: Bus stops are centrally located for all students along a route. Bus stops are not changed to accommodate one or more students because that may displace other students further from their home. 

    Q: I leave for work early and can't watch my child get on the bus. Can't the stop be at my home? 
    A: In order to be consistent and equitable to all families in placement of bus stops, Maercker School District 60 is not able to establish stops based on personal circumstances.

    Q: Why is my child's bus late? 
    A: Weather, traffic, mechanical issues and unforeseen incidents are responsible for delays in arrival of school buses. We do require students to be at the bus stop at least five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled arrival of the bus in order to be prepared to board the bus when it arrives.  Please know that we do everything possible to have all buses running on schedule each and every day. In the event your bus does not arrive as scheduled, we ask that you contact First Student at 630-964-2500 for any excessive delays.  

    Q: My child is starting Kindergarten. Will the bus pick my child up in front of the house? 
    A: There are no special laws or requirements for transporting students enrolled in kindergarten. Kindergarten students are eligible for transportation services if they live more than 0.2 miles from the school. Kindergarten students will not be dropped off without a parent or authorized guardian visible to receive the student. If no one is home to receive the student, that student will be returned to the school after the bus completes its routes and the parent will have to make arrangements to pick the student up from the school.

    Q: How far can a bus stop be from the student's home?
    A:     Bus stops may be equal to distance from the student's residence up to the "Walk-Radius" designation for their school. 

    • Holmes Primary School: Walk Radius = 0.20 Miles
    • Maercker Intermediate School: Walk Radius = 0.35 Miles
    • Westview Hills Middle School: Walk Radius = 0.50 Miles