Buses

Buses

St Andrews School runs three “Direct Resourced” bus runs. The bus runs are the Pareora, Otaio and Blue Cliffs and the Lyalldale runs. We are members of the Aoraki School Bus Network (ASTN) and the bus runs are contracted to Ritchies.

Note: To look at a more detailed map and to discuss bus collect points, drop into the school office and talk to the ‘Bus Controller’ who, at St Andrews school, is the Principal.

Who do I tell if my child is not going to be on the bus?

If your child is not on an afternoon run please phone the school before hand or inform the duty teacher looking after bus lines or the bus monitor checking names. You may also send a text message to the school before 2.30pm, to the school mobile: 027 756 3485.

Is my child a bus pupil?

The MOE provides bus funding for:

  • Children under 10 years old who live more than 3.2 kilometres away from their nearest school.
  • Children 10 years old or over, who live more than 4.8 kilometres away from their nearest school.

These children are known as eligible children.

Who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the buses?

The school’s Bus Controller is responsible for the day-to-day running of the buses. At St Andrews School the bus controller is the Principal.

The Bus Controller is responsible for informing parents of bus routes and organising bus transport on enrolment, monitoring pupil behavior, keeping bus lists up to date and monitoring the changes, keeping parents informed on bus routes, driver contact numbers and any changes that may occur from time to time. The safety of all pupils on the bus runs is of prime importance. Training bus monitors and organising the annual bus safety lesson with the Police Education Officer is also part of the bus controller’s responsibilities.

Who is responsible for setting the rules, policies routes and bus stops for the running of our buses?

The ASTN is responsible for setting the procedures and policies for the operation of the bus service. The ASTN is guided by the rules and regulations of both the Ministry of Education and Land Transport Safety Authority. 

How do I know that the buses are safe?

A&D must adhere to strict regulations on the saftey of vechiles. All buses are regularly serviced. The buses undergo the equivalent of a Warrant of Fitness every six months; this Certificate of Fitness verifies that the bus has passed all relevant safety standards.

Part of each driver’s daily duty is to undertake a visual inspection of the bus before starting the run each morning.

What qualifications do the drivers have?

All drivers hold a Class II License with Passenger Endorsement. To renew the “P” Endorsement drivers must undertake a medical examination and be police checked. In addition the A&D complete a Police Vet as part its employment process.

What is a TEZ?

TEZ stands for Transport Entitlement Zone and this is simply the midpoint (as decided by the MOE) between neighbouring schools.  Our school is permitted to operate our buses anywhere within this TEZ, however if we wish to cross the TEZ of a neighbouring school to collect children, we must obtain written permission from that school whose TEZ we wish to cross into.

Whose TEZ do we have permission to cross?

Our school borders three other school TEZ’s (Beaconsfield School, Cannington School and Makikihi School).  We have written permission from Beaconsfield School and Cannington School to cross their TEZ, however, we do not have permission from Makikihi School.

What happens if a bus breaks down?

Day to day concerns and questions can normally be resolved by the Principal acting as the Bus Controller. Please ring or talk to the Principal rather than talk to the drivers directly. If the concern is a policy issue the Principal is unable to independently make a decision; the Principal will take the matter to the Board at the next meeting and in turn to the ASTN.

 

The responsibility of the driver if bus breaks down while on the run is documented in the driver’s job descriptions. They are responsible for the safety of the children on the bus and they stay with the bus. This may mean they have to wait for a passing vehicle before being able to inform the school of the breakdown.

In the event of a breakdown A&D will dispatch a bus from there depot to complete the run of the broken down bus. This will mean that delays will occur.

Once the school is informed of the break down it is the Principal’s responsibility to notify parents of the children yet to be picked up, and arrange for the safe collection of the children already on the bus, either by the parent or by the replacement bus from A&D.

If a bus breaks down prior to the afternoon run parents will be phoned and advised of the delays to the bus run. 

Code of Conduct

Every student and parent/caregiver is required to read and sign a code of conduct for our buses.

Safety Reminder

Children using the bus need to be reminded to walk to the rear of the bus after disembarking and wait for the bus to move off before leaving the roadside. 

Bus maps