Below you will find a summary of the duties that must be discharged to ensure timely, safe, and efficient transportation. As the principal or chief executive of a school or the director of a DOE-approved program or office, you should review the material that follows and certify that you understand and are prepared to undertake these responsibilities.
In requesting OPT-provided bus service:
- I understand that our bus routes may be shared with students who attend other schools and that these students may be of different ages or genders.
- I understand that stop-to-school (GE) buses do not have attendants on board in addition to the bus driver.
- I understand that the management of discipline on the bus is the school’s responsibility.
- I understand that NYS law limits OPT-provided GE bus service to not more than 180 days and that these dates must be within the limits of the DOE calendar.
- I understand that buses may arrive up to 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after our session time and that we must have school personnel available to meet buses and assist students on and off the bus at these times.
- I understand that OPT will create our initial set of bus stops and routes, but that school personnel will have that responsibility thereafter.
- I understand that school personnel will be expected to contact our OPT Transportation Liaison or OPT’s Customer Service Unit to report transportation-related issues.
- I understand that session times submitted are subject to DOE approval.
- And I also understand that, in lieu of OPT-provided service, by submitting additional information, I may request reimbursement for bus service managed directly by my school.
Regarding students receiving OMNY cards, I understand that:
- School or program personnel are responsible for receiving and distributing OMNY cards according to each pupil’s grade and distance eligibility and for recording the serial number of each OMNY card distributed to each student in a prescribed manner.
- School or program personnel are responsible for reporting all lost, damaged or stolen OMNY cards in a prescribed manner so that they can be properly deactivated.
And, regarding all students, I understand that:
- School or program personnel are responsible for maintaining accurate transportation data for each student in a prescribed manner on a continuing basis.
And, lastly, given the implication of these requirements:
- I will identify the school or program personnel who will be responsible for these tasks and ensure that they are available to take part in transportation training workshops.
If you wish to accept the conditions listed above, you may certify that agreement by submitting a Preliminary Request for Transportation Service. If a valid Preliminary Request is received, you will receive an access code allowing you to submit a more detailed request. To receive transportation services for the start of the school year, the detailed request must be received by June 1.