BUS & TRANSPORTATION

How do I find out what bus my child will take to Bolden? 

Children who will be bused to Bolden will receive their bus assignment along with a Transportation Safety Rules & Guidelines pamphlet electronically via PowerSchool. Your child should carry the bus pass in their backpack at all times. Make sure your child knows the "color" of the bus route listed on the Bus Pass. School staff will dismiss students by bus color and escort them to the appropriate bus. A parent/guardian must get their child off the bus at the assigned bus stop (listed on the bus pass).

How do I get busing for my child?

If you live in an eligible area for your child to be bused, an application form must be completed each year, which is usually sent home in the spring for the next school year. For those who are new to the district or missed the form in the spring please follow the link below to the Public School Transportation Form.  

Eligibility

The Board of Education is required under N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1 to provide round-trip transportation between home and school for South Orange and Maplewood resident elementary students (grades K-8) who live more than 2 miles from their assigned school and secondary students (grades 9-12) who live more than 2.5 miles from their assigned school.

Application Process

The parent/guardian must complete the attached application each year for each student even if transportation has been provided in the past. Please note you must provide Emergency Contact information along with a phone number. Eligible students will not receive a bus pass until this form is completed and submitted to Transportation. The form is available from the School Office, the Transportation Department and the Office of Registration and on the District’s website.

Submit the completed application to:
South Orange Maplewood School District
Transportation Office
25 W. Parker Avenue
Maplewood, NJ 07040

Elementary and Middle Schools

Students in Kindergarten, 1st grade & 6th grade are assigned to attend a school based upon the Intentional Integration Initiative (III) Plan approved by the Board. Students are assigned transportation based upon Board Policy 8600.

An application form must be submitted annually for all eligible students.  Occasionally, a parent/guardian may request that a student transfer to a school outside of their home area. In this case, the district may approve the parent's transfer request for school assignment but the district will not provide transportation.

A shuttle bus service is provided between South Mountain and the Annex. Kindergarten and first grade students in the South Mountain area walk to South Mountain and are shuttled to the Annex. Students in grades 2-5 have the option to walk to the Annex and ride the shuttle to South Mountain. Students expecting to ride the shuttle must also submit an application in order to reserve a seat. Students who are not zoned for South Mountain and South Mountain Annex are not eligible for shuttle bus services.

Special Education

Classified special education students may be eligible for transportation according to their IEP.  The Special Education Department makes these arrangements.  Contact the Department of Special Services at 973-762-5600, X1840, for more information.