Transportation

Important School Transportation Updates for 2024-25 School Year

Students continue to enroll for the school year. This may cause changes to some bus routes. We will notify families if changes might occur so you can check PowerSchool for any updated transportation information if eligible for school transportation once released.
Please arrive at your bus stop safety spot at least 5 minutes prior to your assigned pickup time.
When a high school student purchases a parking pass, the student assigned the parking pass will not be eligible for school transportation. PowerSchool will be updated when parking passes are issued.
As with the start of each new school year, school bus routes, bus numbers, pick-up and drop-off times remain subject to change based upon student ridership. Please anticipate that it normally takes 2-4 school weeks for daily bus routes to adjust. Thank you in advance for your patience and for checking PowerSchool for updates when released.

Responsibility

Transporting children is a shared responsibility between home and school. The district is responsible for children once they have boarded the bus. Families are responsible for the safety and supervision of their children to and from the designated stop as well as while they are waiting for school transportation.

The district also asks the parents to reinforce with their children the importance of obeying the bus rules. Such rules ensure the safety and welfare of all riders. If a child repeatedly violates these rules, thus jeopardizing everyone's safety, the student may ultimately be denied the privilege of riding the bus. Thus, parents support for behaving appropriately in transit is essential.

If you have any problem or concern related to the bus, you are encouraged to write the driver a note or to phone (614) 855-2033 to reach the bus garage. Please try not to interrupt the bus schedule by talking directly with the driver while he or she is on the route.

Important Information for Families

Policies & Procedures

The Transportation Department has specified the following bus procedures help to insure the safe and efficient transfer of students between home and school:

Pupils shall arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
Pupils must wait in a location clear of traffic and away from the bus stops.
Behavior at school bus stop must not threaten life, limb, or property of any individual.
Upon boarding the bus hand sanitizer will be available if a student would like to use it.
Pupils must go directly to an available or assigned seat.
Pupils must remain seated, keeping aisles and exits clear.
Pupils must observe classroom conduct and obey the driver promptly and respectfully.
Pupils must not use profane language.
Pupils must refrain from eating and drinking on the bus except as required by medical conditions.
Pupils must not use tobacco on the bus.
Pupils must not have alcohol or drugs in their possession on the bus except for prescription medication required for the student.
Pupils must not throw or pass objects on, from, or into the bus.
Pupils may carry on the bus only objects that can be held in their laps. No glass permitted.
Pupils must not put head or arms out of the bus window

Safety at the Bus Stop

School bus safety is a high priority for New Albany - Plain Local Schools. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, transportation personnel and the community all play important roles in keeping our children safe while on or around the school bus.

Please take a moment to review the following safety tips to help ensure our children arrive to and from school safely each day:

Get to the school bus stop five minutes early, to avoid needing to run across the road to catch the bus.
When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic. Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus.
Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
Never push when getting on or off of the school bus.
Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you.
Be aware – Cross with Care! Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic and the driver has given the hand signal before stepping out onto the road.

Opt Out of Transportation Services

Voluntary Opt Out

The residential parent/guardian may make a request to permanently forego school bus services for the school year by emailing Linda Honaker, Coordinator of Transportation Services, via honaker.1@napls.us. Please include student name(s), grade level(s), and registered home address.

Involuntary Opt Out Reasons

High School Parking Permit Issued

Any high school student issued a parking permit for the school year will automatically be ineligible for school bus transportation services for as long as he/she possesses a valid parking permit. You do not need to email transportation services to opt-out due to a parking permit.

2. Before and After School Child Care Programs

Any student enrolled in the Eagles Nest Childcare Program or daycare programs located in the NAPLS district will automatically be ineligible for school bus transportation services for as long as they are enrolled in that program. You do not need to email transportation services to opt-out due to enrollment in one of these programs.

Enrollment in these programs indicates the parent’s acknowledgement that they will be responsible for their child’s transportation if they choose to not attend the program on various days. A K-5 student becomes eligible for bus transportation services only if they discontinue enrollment in the above-mentioned programs.

Daily Transportation Changes

Bus load assignments and transportation routes are based upon student ridership eligibility for school bus services (All K-5 students and students in Grades 6-12 living more than 2 miles from school). Based upon ridership eligibility and student safety, the school district does not permit non-emergency changes to an eligible student’s daily permanent transportation arrangements.

Kindergarten Release Form

The My Ride K-12 web and mobile app for Apple® and Android® devices can help ensure that your students never miss the bus again. This portal allows parents and students to access their own secure data for bus stop location, route, and pickup time. When your district’s buses are equipped with GPS hardware such as Telematic GPS, My Ride K-12 can use GPS geolocation to let users know when to expect their bus each day. This drastically reduces the number of calls placed to the transportation department by parents and guardians.

What Families Need to Know

In order to add your student(s) you will need to know their PowerSchool ID number. This can be found by logging into your Parent PowerSchool Portal.
Your student’s bus arrival time will change in the app based on the GPS location of the bus. If the bus experiences delays for any reason, that arrival time will adjust accordingly.
The transportation department will use the app to send notifications about any delays or other important information. It is necessary for parents to “allow” for notifications and to keep the app open to receive notifications. If a parent has not opened the My Ride app in 60 days, it automatically logs them out and push notifications will not occur.
Parents/Guardians have the option to “share” their student bus information with other family members, babysitters so they too can be notified of bus arrival time.

Review the parent user guide for detailed instructions on how to access the mobile application or website.

For more information or if you need assistance, please contact the NAPLS transportation department at 614-855-2033 or honaker.1@napls.us or lycans.1@napls.

Request Transportation to Non-NAPLS Schools

Select School
Payment-in-Lieu of Process, Deadlines & Waiver Form

Select School

Payment-in-Lieu of Process, Deadlines & Waiver Form

Payment in lieu of transportation is a payment made to families of students attending a non-public school whose bus route, that would otherwise qualify for district transportation, is declared impracticable by the Board of Education. Once declared impracticable, those families qualify for this payment. The amount is set by the Ohio Department of Education. If a bus route to a non-public school is not declared impracticable and transportation services are offered, families do NOT qualify for this payment.

Following is a timeline of events associated with the payment in lieu of transportation:

By June 15

Parent/Guardian submits application for payment in lieu of transportation payment and the District verifies the student lives within the NAPLS school boundary.
Once school of residence is verified then the school of attendance is contacted for student enrollment verification.
The school of attendance then verifies the student attended their school and the duration of their attendance.
Once all verifications are received from the school of attendance, student names are submitted to the Board of Education for Approval.

By August 15

Board of Education approves payment in lieu of resolution which includes student/parent names.

By August 31

Payment will be issued to the parent of the qualifying student once board approved.

If you believe you may qualify for this payment you can find the form below.

Payment in Lieu of Transportation Wavier Form

Contact Us

Transportation Complex

10160 Johnstown Road
New Albany, OH 43054
Phone: 614-855-2033
Fax: 614-855-4030

Office Staff

Linda Honaker*, Coordinator
Sabrina Lycans, Secretary
Paul Helman, Mechanic
Joe Bowles, Mechanic

*To ensure a timely response, please send same email to Honaker and Lycans.

Did You Know?

There are currently 45 school buses, seven vans and three SUV's in the fleet.

There are 37 full-time drivers, five Route Specialists, and four Route Drivers.

The fleet covers 24 Grade 8-12 routes, 25 Grade 4-7 routes, 17 Grade 1-3 routes, six Grade PK-K routes.

There are 12 other maintenance/ transportation vehicles that the transportation department maintains.

There are two mechanics that currently maintain and service our entire fleet.

Bus drivers receive mandatory in-services every year and get re-certified every six years.

Bus driver certification includes a four-part written test, physical exam, federal and state background check, driver abstract (the driver abstract is monitored nightly through the state of Ohio), 15 hours classroom training, 30 to 40 hours of on-the-bus instruction, and a two-part driving test.

User Guide & Login

My Ride K-12 Login

Parent User Guide