Quick Facts & FAQs
Quick Facts
- Approximately 6,400 students who reside in Manheim Township are transported to and from school every day. Students are bused to the nine MTSD school buildings as well as 58 non-public schools, alternative education placements, and CTC locations.
- Vehicles travel approximately 850,000 miles annually for regular routes to and from homes despite the fact that our school district is relatively small at 24 square miles. Approximately 120,000 gallons of fuel are used each year. Additional miles are driven for field trips, athletic trips, and activity runs.
- MTSD contracts with Brightbill Transportation for the provision of vehicles and drivers. The MTSD Transportation Department assigns students and defines routes. Brightbill provides MTSD with 53 buses and 18 vans daily.
- Technology on all vehicles: Digital Radios on the buses permit the Brightbill dispatcher and school personnel to communicate directly with drivers. HD cameras are used as needed to assist the driver and school personnel in helping to improve student behavior and for overall safety of the students riding in the vehicles.
FAQs
Q. Where do I find information pertaining to transportation updates and vehicle assignments?
A. Each week, the MTSD Transportation Department posts a letter to the Sapphire Community Portal indicating transportation information pertaining to each of your students. During the summer, transportation information will be posted within 1-2 weeks of the start of the school year.
Q. Does the District have a policy for Parent(s)/Guardian(s)/Caregiver(s) to be at the designated bus stop to receive a student?
A. No. If the preference is to have an adult present to receive a student, please indicate this to the driver of your student(s) so that this may be notated. Please note that if the adult is not present at the stop location, the student will remain on the bus and continue on the route while Brightbill or the school district attempt to get in contact with the responsible party. If the District is unsuccessful in contacting an adult, the student will be brought back to their school of attendance for an adult to pick them up.
Q. How are routes & stop locations established?
A. Vehicle routes and stop locations are established by the student enrollment and location of addresses. At the K-4 Elementary level, stop locations are more frequent due to age of the students. As students progress into Landis Run Intermediate School and ultimately the MS/HS, students will be asked to walk a further distance to the stop location in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. We balance equity of location and efficiency with safety to maximize route effectiveness.
Q. How far may a student be asked to walk to a school bus stop?
A. The law allows a school district to ask a student, regardless of age, to walk up to a mile and a half to a bus stop. The mile and a half is measured by public roads and does not include any private lane or walkway of the student's residence.
Q. Does the District run Transportation Evacuation Drills?
A. Yes! To ensure the safety of all students, MTSD practices vehicle evacuation procedures twice per year in accordance with Pennsylvania School Code and are conducted by Brightbill Transportation. The first drill is conducted during the first week of the school term and the second, during the month of March. Each evacuation drill must include instruction on the location and use of emergency exit doors and fire extinguishers, and the proper evacuation of the bus.