2024-2025 Bus Routing Plan

Dear Fremont Community,

In order to maintain our own transportation department in Fremont District 79, we are implementing new bus routing guidance starting in the 2024-2025 school year.

We recently completed an audit of our District bus routes for the first time in over 10 years, a process that is standard practice for school districts. As part of this audit, we acknowledged the impact of the bus driver shortage and the expansion of routes due to new subdivisions. A transportation task force consisting of District administrators, parents, and bus drivers examined our bus routes and bus stops for improved efficiencies and to reduce accident-prone cul-de-sac stops.

When examining the District’s bus routes, the Task Force reviewed best practices published in Illinois Department of Transportation: School Safety Busing and Illinois School Board of Education School Bus Safety. Safety was at the forefront, along with local considerations. The resulting Transportation Guidelines, which the FSD79 Board of Education unanimously approved at its January meeting, will result in increased neighborhood group bus stops and a reduction in accident-prone cul-de-sac stops. By reducing the number of door-to-door stops, significant routing efficiency is achieved.

Routing is a complex process that requires information from our families collected during the registration process. Therefore, routing for next year begins in July. Bus route assignments for the 2024-2025 school year are expected to be communicated by August 5, 2024.

What can families expect from the revised bus routes?

• Preschool students continue to receive door-to-door pick-ups and drop-offs

• Kindergarten students continue to be required to be accompanied by an adult or sibling at their stop

• More neighborhood group bus stops and fewer door-to-door stops

• Greater reliability in bus routing by reducing unexpected “go down” routes, where multiple routes are merged with little notice

• More special transportation routes serviced by Fremont drivers

• More bus availability for middle school extracurricular activities

Please refer to this FAQs document for answers to questions that you may have. We encourage our families who want to learn more to participate in a webinar on Tuesday, March 19, at 6:00 p.m. It will be recorded for future reference. We also have this form available to submit questions not addressed in the FAQs document. We will do our best to add to the FAQs and address them in the March 19 webinar.

While we realize that these updated guidelines will represent a change for some, they ultimately are for the long-term benefit of our families and the Transportation Department. This District has been aggressive in addressing our bus driver shortages, including providing market adjustments, offering a sign-on bonus, paid training, and advertising via a variety of outlets (see our new recruitment video here). If you or someone you know is interested in driving a school bus for Fremont School District 79, please click here for more information.

We thank you and appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Ivy Fleming

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations

Vicki Burback

Director of Transportation