Dean Santiago, Transportation Manager
Send the Transportation Department an Email

The large bus routes are posted. Please note, minibus routes are not posted due to privacy considerations.

Individualized emails were sent to all families of all students who qualify, have updated contact information, and have opted into HPS messaging.

Please note that exact drop-off and pick-up times will evolve throughout the school year. We try, whenever possible, to minimize disruptions to the current schedule. However, since students continue to enroll throughout the year--especially at the beginning of the year, we need to examine bus routes to ensure that 1) we have the right number of students on each bus, 2) students are not on the bus too long, and 3) the timing between bus stops is accurate. We also share buses across schools with different start times, so that we spend our limited resources as efficiently as possible.

Families of students who ride a full-size bus should expect some small changes as the student lists and routes are refined. Families of students who ride minibusses should expect more significant changes due to the specialized nature of the transportation and changing student lists. Select high school students who qualify will receive PVTA passes the first week of school.

If you have questions, please contact your child’s school or send the Transportation Department an email.

• Students should arrive at the bus stop at least ten minutes prior to the time listed and may wait up to 10 minutes after the time listed. This includes students with door-to-door transportation transportation on their IEP. All students are expected to be waiting outside for their bus. Bus arrival times may change due to traffic and weather conditions.
  

• Students in Pre-k through 1st grade must be met by a parent or authorized adult. Bus drivers will not drop off Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st-grade students without an authorized adult present. Authorized adults should be able to present a picture I.D.If an adult is not present at the bus stop, the student will be brought to the Enrollment Services office located at, 57 Suffolk Street, 1st floor. Call (413) 534-2000, option 1 to reach enrollment or transportation staff. Families notified that their children are waiting for them in the Enrollment Services office should pick them up within 30 minutes.

Families can track the location of their child’s bus. Click here for directions on how to download the app.

Students are eligible for transportation if they live further than the following distance from their home to their assigned school:

• PreK: Not eligible

• K-5th: 1 mile or greater

• 6th-8th: 1.5 miles or greater

• 9-12th: 2 miles or greater

– Students with an IEP that includes transportation services are eligible for transportation regardless of whether they meet the distance criteria or if they are attending a school outside of their zone.

– In order to ensure safe walking routes, we may also provide transportation to students who live closer than the distances listed above due to designated hazard zones assigned by the Holyoke Police Department. We also provide crossing guards at some places to ensure safe crossing of busy streets.

– If a family has put in an appeal to attend a school other than their home or assigned school, the child is not eligible for transportation.

Families with questions regarding their bus stop can contact their child’s school or send the Transportation Department an email. To contact the bus company directly, Durham School Services, call 413-315-4119.