TRANSPORTATION
We offer paid bus ridership as well as free buses for students that live more than 1.5 miles from their home school.
The cost to ride the bus is $300 per student each school year. For example, a family with two students riding the bus would pay $600 per year to transport both of their students.
To sign up for paid bus service, you will indicate this when you complete registration for your student(s). You can call Linda McKeague in our transportation office at (847) 789-5580 to sign up and have your student(s) routed. You can make payment with your school's building administrative assistant.
Only students with the following criteria will be offered free Bus Services:
- Students that live more than 1.5 miles from their home school
- Students who qualify due to an approved safety hazard
- Students who qualify for Special Education Transportation
STUDENT SAFETY
Traffic Safety and Our Schools
The Des Plaines Police Department has worked with each school and its neighbors to implement a traffic flow plan. The success of this plan depends on the willingness of parents to adhere to signs and follow traffic laws.
As many schools are located in residential areas, morning arrivals and afternoon dismissals bring congestion to our smaller streets. Double parking, sign violations, blocking crosswalks and driveways all impede the flow of traffic and create a dangerous situation for our children.
Suggestions, Comments, and Reporting
The Des Plaines Police Department is dedicated to traffic safety around our schools. During the pick-up and drop-off time traffic sergeants will be monitoring traffic flow until school is dismissed for the summer.
Parents who drive their children to school are asked to obey all traffic regulations. Please contact the Des Plaines Police Department at (847) 391-6129 with suggestions or comments.
For assistance with crossing guards, please contact the Des Plaines Police Department at 847.391.5408.
Student Ridership and Contact Tracing
For K-12 parents and caregivers, we understand the importance of a stress-free school commute. FirstView, First Student’s easy-to-use GPS-based vehicle tracking mobile app, allows you to plan your day and stay connected with your student’s trips, regardless of the type of vehicle your student travels in.
How FirstView will benefit you
- Real-time vehicle tracking & activity
- Follow your student’s trip in real-time on the map using GPS technology. See the direction it’s moving, where the vehicle is, and when it’s close to arriving—no more guessing or waiting outside too early.
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Vehicle & trip information at your fingertips
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Quickly access your student’s trip schedule, including school arrival times, on the map and in the student details. Get instant updates about delays, changes, or unexpected events.
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Get notified when the vehicle is arriving
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Get alerts when the bus is up to 2 miles away from your notification zone. Add up to 3 customizable distance notifications for each trip so you and your student are always ready.
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- Keep the whole family in the loop
- Easily add caregivers, grandparents, or babysitters to get the same updates and alerts via email. Everyone stays informed—no matter who’s on pick-up or drop-off duty.
- Simple & secure access to tracking
- FirstView requires a password-protected account and a district code for setting up tracking for your student(s). All required codes and student information are provided to you by your district/school.
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Dedicated in-app customer support
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Have a question or need help? Our friendly, bilingual support team is just a tap away. Reach out anytime directly through the app for assistance with app-related questions or to share feedback about the app.
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FirstView is designed to provide parents with a better guideline for the vehicle’s location and alerts when the bus is getting close to their stop. Students should still be at their assigned bus stop 10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time.
Learn more about getting started with FirstView at myfirstview.com.
Connect with your school to find out when FirstView vehicle tracking will be available at your student’s school and what information you’ll need to register and track your student’s vehicle.
Let's Get Started with FirstView!
introduction to rfid
Radio frequency identification, also known as RFID, provides real-time data transmission for student ridership and contact tracing.
When your student's bus arrives at a scheduled stop, they will scan their district administered card at the onboard RFID reader and are marked as loaded on the tablet. When the bus arrives at a drop off stop or school, students scan their cards before off-boarding and are marked as unloaded.
Transportation FAQ
- What determines if my student is a paid or free rider?
- Who should I call if the bus does not arrive on time?
- What are the hours of operation at Transportation?
- Will my child have the same driver everyday?
- Can the driver stop at my house to pick up my student?
- To whom do I report my address or telephone change?
- I have a question regarding a bus stop or pick up/drop off time. Who should I call?
What determines if my student is a paid or free rider?
Who should I call if the bus does not arrive on time?
What are the hours of operation at Transportation?
Will my child have the same driver everyday?
Can the driver stop at my house to pick up my student?
To whom do I report my address or telephone change?
I have a question regarding a bus stop or pick up/drop off time. Who should I call?
Contact information
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 6:30am-6:00pm
For more information please contact:
Linda McKeague
Office Phone: (847) 789-5580
Cell Phone: (847) 343-0242