Transportation

805 North Wood Street, Burnet, Texas 78611  |  phone: 512-756-2119   |  fax: 512-715-5176
 
Director of Transportation
Jennifer Stevens, [email protected] 
 
Assistant Director of Transportation
VACANT
 
Transportation Secretary 
Lisa Bostick, [email protected]
 
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! 
 
Eligible students are allowed one pickup and one drop-off location.  Students will be transported only to addresses within the attendance zone of their assigned campus.  Students will not be allowed to ride home with friends for sleepovers, etc., and students will be required to exit the bus at their assigned stop. 
 
As a reminder, it is possible that elementary students will be assigned to a separate bus from secondary students.  
 
For students who have completed the registration process in Skyward, their route information will be available in the Stopfinder App below. Times for the first 10 days of school will fluctuate and we are grateful for your patience.  Please email [email protected] should you have any questions. Thank you!
 
 
 

Stopfinder is the all-in-one, easy to use app for viewing and sharing your student's transportation schedule.  The app allows you to view your student's daily transportation assignments, receive notifications and updates related to transportation and send private messages to the Transportation Department. The app also allows you to securely share your student's schedule with caregivers and others.

 

In order to use the Stopfinder App, you will receive an invitation from the Transportation Department. Invitations are sent out periodically to parents or guardians of students for whose Stopfinder accounts have not yet been activated. Before contacting the Transportation Department, check your email box for an invitation email with the following details:

 

The app can be downloaded to any iOS or Android-enabled device and is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

 

Please contact the Transportation Department:

  • If you haven’t received an email invitation to register for Stopfinder
  • If you have any questions regarding your student’s bus schedule

          

        

How do I login to the Stopfinder App?

You can login to the Stopfinder App with the email address where you received your invitation and your unique password. You must accept your invitation to Stopfinder to login to the app.

 

Stopfinder asks for a password, but I have not created a login, how do I create a login for Stopfinder?

Logins cannot be created for Stopfinder. Your district’s Transportation Department will send an invitation to Primary Subscribers. The invitation link will be sent to the email provided to the district. This email address must be used for the initial login to the Stopfinder App.

 

Stopfinder is saying “Email Not Found” for the email I entered when I tap “Forgot Password.”?

If you have forgotten your password, you must use the email used for your Stopfinder App invitation. If you have changed the email in your Stopfinder Profile, that email must be used when retrieving a password.

 

How do I see my student’s transportation schedule once I have logged into the app?

When you first login, you will be brought to your student’s card – this card will automatically use the current date. The student card will display the current date’s transportation schedule. To view future dates, swipe from right to left. Swipe up to view additional student cards.

 

I was sent a subscription invitation to Stopfinder but my student’s additional guardian/parent did not receive one. Why?

Your district has the ability to only send Stopfinder Primary subscription invitations. As a Primary Subscriber, you can share subscriptions with any number of sub-subscribers.

How do I share a subscription for my student?
If you are a Primary Subscriber, you can share your student’s schedule with additional Stopfinder App users. Tap the ellipses menu button on the student card for the student whose schedule you want to share. A menu will open at the bottom of the screen – tap Share Schedule. Complete all required fields and tap “Share.”

Can I share all of my subscriptions at one time?
Subscriptions are based on the individual student. They can only be shared one at a time.

Is there a limit to the number of Subscriptions I can share?
No, you can share student subscriptions with any number of sub subscribers.

I shared a subscription but now I do not want that user to have access to my student’s transportation schedule. How do I remove that access?
To edit or remove a shared subscription, tap the Settings icon in the lower right-hand side of the app and select Manage Subscribers. Click on the menu next to the shared subscription and use the Disable Access menu item to prevent the selected sub subscriber from viewing student schedule information.

The email the school used for my Stopfinder App is no longer correct, how do I change this email?
You can change the email used for Stopfinder in your Stopfinder Profile. This can be accessed from Settings, located in the lower right-hand corner of the app.

I can’t see my student’s schedule for next month, how do I see this?
If your district has created schedules for the next month, you can quickly view future months by tapping on the name of the month in the upper left-hand corner. This will display a calendar – tap on the future date you wish to view. Note: this option may not display a schedule if there is not yet a schedule available for the date selected.

How do I send a message to the Transportation Department through Stopfinder?
If the Feedback feature has been enabled by your district, you can send messages to your Transportation Department. Tap the ellipses button on the student card – Feedback Messages will be associated to that student – and select the Send Message menu item.

I received a Push Notification from Stopfinder but I don’t know how to view the full message. How do I get to Announcements in the Stopfinder App?
Announcements and Feedback responses can be viewed by tapping on the Stopfinder “Stoppy” icon at the bottom of the app. A blue badge will appear with the number of unread messages.

I did not receive a Push Notification but I do see a blue badge showing I have messages – why?
Push Notifications require your device to be configured to allow Stopfinder to send Push Notifications. For iOS devices use Settings > Notifications > Stopfinder > Allow Notifications. While Android settings vary by device, generally there is a Notifications option in App Settings or press and hold the Stopfinder App icon to see more options.

How do I turn Push Notifications on or off for Stopfinder?
See above – Notifications can be enabled or disabled from your device’s settings.

Will Push Notifications appear if I do not have Stopfinder open in the background?
Yes, Stopfinder does not have to be open for Push Notifications to appear.

Will Push Notifications appear if I am in the app viewing the student map?
Yes, notifications will appear at the top of your device’s screen if you are viewing your student’s card or map. Notifications can be cleared by swiping up on the notification, or will automatically clear after 5 seconds.

There are several announcements in the Message Center. How do I view just the ones that I have not read yet?
Messages can be filtered to display “unread” messages. Tap the settings button in the Search bar to filter.

Can I delete messages?
Messages cannot be deleted, but can be archived. Swipe from right to left on the message or announcement you want to archive and tap “Archive.”

I do not see all of my students in Stopfinder, why?
Each student visible in the Stopfinder App has their own subscription. Your district has the ability to configure the Stopfinder app and subscriptions based upon district requirements and needs. It may be possible one or more students are not yet configured for the Stopfinder App.

 
Eligibility for Regular Education Bus Service
 
Transportation is available for students who live two miles or more from their assigned school campus. The distance a student lives from their assigned school is measured using the shortest route that may be traveled on publicly maintained roads between the campus and the driveway of the student’s legal residence.  Students residing within two miles of their assigned school may have transportation available if their neighborhood qualifies as hazardous under the district's hazardous transportation rating system.

Route Design
 
Bus routes are created to enhance student safety while maximizing route efficiency. Route efficiency is the effort to minimize the length of time all of our students are on a "Home to School" bus. BCISD has a goal to not pickup any student prior to 5:40 a.m. Group stops assist greatly in helping us reach this goal.
 
Students with bus stops on a major roadway (Including, but not limited to the following: Hwy 29, Hwy 281, Hwy 183, FM 963, FM 243, FM 1174, RR 261) are expected to stand a minimum of 50 feet from the roadway, if possible. It is the parent’s responsibility to supervise their children until they are safely on the bus, and to supervise them when they depart the bus in the afternoon.
 
All Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students MUST have an authorized adult present at the bus stop to receive the student. If an authorized adult is not present at the drop off location, the student will be returned to the campus at the conclusion of the route.

Loading the Bus
 
Regular transportation attempts to arrive at every bus stop on time. Due to the variances between individual clocks, weather, and traffic conditions, students are asked to arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pickup time, and wait 5 minutes after the scheduled pickup time prior to contacting Transportation to determine the location of the bus. 
 
Buses will load students and depart the stop. Regular Ed buses cannot wait at the bus stop for students. They must make their stop and proceed immediately if no students are present at the stop. Upon loading at the campus, students are expected to proceed immediately to the buses. Campus administration releases the buses from the campus. Bus drivers are instructed not to stop or open the door for late students and/or parents because of safety concerns.
 
Student Seating
 
Bus Drivers are required to have assigned seating for each student. Students should sit youngest to oldest from the front of the bus to the back; however, this can be adjusted based on student management needs and at the discretion of each campus.
 
Boys and Girls are not allowed to sit together and this includes male and female siblings.
 
All Elementary School students up through the 5th grade are required to sit three (3) students per seat beginning in the front going toward the back of the bus.

Middle School students may sit two (2) students per seat, but in some cases will be asked to sit three (3) students per seat.

High School students may sit two (2) students per seat, but in rare cases may be asked to sit three (3) students per seat.
 
 
 
How do I find out my students' route information?
Beginning in August, parents will be able to utilize the InfoFinder I link on this page to find your students information. Simply click on the link, type in your address, and click search.  You will either see the stop information, or a message to call BCISD Transportation for more information.

How do I sign my child up for Bus Service?
When completing the student registration process in Skyward, you completed the necessary paperwork for your child to ride the school bus. Should your selection change, please contact your child's campus or the Transportation office at 512-756-2119.

Can my younger student walk home with their older sibling from the bus stop?
Transportation must have written documentation from a parent or legal guardian stating that a younger child will be released to an older sibling.  Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade MUST have an approved adult or approved sibling at the stop.  All approvals must be in writing and will not be accepted via phone calls. The sibling release form may be found on this web page or at the BCISD Transportation Department.

Why are the buses late the first few weeks of school?
Loading at the campuses takes additional time for teachers, school staff, and bus drivers to get familiar with the students.  During this time, there is increased traffic around all campuses and our first priority is to get your students home safe.

Can my student ride the bus to his or her workplace?
We do NOT transport students to their workplace. They are only allowed to be transported to their designated stop.

Can my student ride home with another student on another bus?
Unfortunately, our buses operate near capacity for maximum efficiency, so this is not allowed.

Who do I contact in the event of an emergency when I need my student dropped off at a different location?
The campus where your student attends.  Once the bus has left the campus, the student can only be dropped at their designated stop or returned to the campus.

Can the bus stop and allow my student to use the restroom while on route?
Buses are not equipped with restroom facilities. Buses are not allowed to stop while on route to allow students to use the restroom. All students are encouraged to use the restroom prior to loading the bus.

Why does my student get off the bus hot when the bus has air conditioning?
The air conditioner in a school bus does not cool like the air conditioner in your home or vehicle.  The bus is not insulated as your home and vehicle are.  Also, the door is opened and closed between 40 and 50 times per route, so the cool air goes out the door.

Can my student eat or drink on the bus?
Students may bring a bottle of water that has a lid on the bus.  Students may not eat on the bus due to an increased choking hazard, as well as the possibility that any food may be shared with a student that has an allergy to the food.

What time does my student need to be at the bus stop?
Students should be at the bus stop five (5) minutes prior to the stop time.

If I am not at home, will my student be dropped off?
Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students MUST have an authorized adult present at the bus stop in order to be released.  If an authorized adult is not present, the student will be returned to the campus at the conclusion of the route.  Students that are 2nd grade and above may be dropped off without an adult present. 

If I cannot meet my child, can I send someone else to meet the bus?
The only people that a Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade student will be released to are people that are authorized to take the student home.  This authorization comes from paperwork filled out with the campus.

Can my student have a blanket and pillow on the bus?
To ensure the safety of all students on board, blankets and pillows are not allowed on General Ed buses.

Do I have to stop when a bus is loading or unloading students on a 4 lane highway?
Yes. If there is not a solid concrete or landscaped divider, you are required by law to stop.

Do I have to stop when a bus is stopped at a Railroad Crossing?
The law only requires school buses, charter buses, and vehicles transporting hazardous materials to stop at Railroad Crossings. However, all vehicles should proceed across Railroad Crossings using caution.

 

Bus Service  Registration 

  • Bus Rider Eligibility Request Form must be filled out completely and returned to the campus your child attends or to Transportation