HOW TO USE THE SPRING HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION CHANGE REQUEST FORM
The Transportation Change Request Form is a valuable tool that helps expedite the sorting and matching process for the volunteers. The program is run as a service to Spring Hill families, and is staffed by parent volunteers. As in all interactions, courtesy is appreciated.
Even if you have used this program before, it is beneficial for parents/guardians to take a minute and review some questions and answers common to this program. Please note that we have a new form this year, so give it a close review!
| Q. | When should I use this form? |
| A. | The Transportation Change Request Form is to be used whenever your child has a change in the normal routine of
going home from school. Please use the Transportation Change Request form
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| Q. | Can I send the Transportation Change Request Form in advance of the visitation day? |
| A. | No, please send the form in only of the day of the visit, as volunteers sort the forms on a day-to-day basis. |
| Q. | Do I keep the yellow carbon copy of the Transportation Change Request Form? |
| A. | No. After the form is completed, send both the white and yellow copies to school. The white original is returned to the student after it has been approved, and the yellow is kept in the main office as an emergency back up. |
| Q. | Do I have to send in a form even if the person who is picking up my child is listed on his/her Emergency Care Form? |
| A. | Yes. Emergency Care Forms are kept on file in the office; however, they are to be used only for emergency purposes. The volunteers do not have access to these confidential documents, so they cannot be used as part of this program. |
| Q. | How can I get more Transportation Change Request Forms? |
| A. | Extra pads of 25 forms are available for purchase in the office for
$2.00. The form is also available on the school website: www.fcps.edu/SpringHillES. Click on Parent Information
(box on the left) then click the link for the form. Please be sure to send in TWO completed copies of the form. You can also print the form from the link at the bottom of this page. |
| Q. | What is the best way to complete the Transportation Change Request Form? |
| A. | Please PRINT in ink, and complete all appropriate information. Be sure to write the child's first name and last name. The form needs to be signed, dated and include telephone number where you can be reached if necessary. Be sure to include the name of your child's teacher. |
| Q. | How can I be sure my child's teacher gets the Transportation Change Request Form from my child? |
| A. | Each student is responsible for giving the Transportation Change Request Forms to his/her teacher, and students are reminded to do so by teachers and during morningannouncements. A parent reminder as your child is leavingfor school also helps. |
| Q. | I sent the Transportation Change Request Form to school with my child, but I received a phone call letting me know it was not received in the office. Why can't the volunteer get it from my child's classroom? |
| A. | VOLUNTEERS/STAFF ARE NOT PERMITTED TO GO TO, OR CALL INTO A STUDENT'S CLASSROOM TO GET A MISSING TRANSPORTATION CHANGE REQUEST FORM, even if you are sure it is in the child's backpack. This policy protects our students' instructional times. Parents/Guardians are responsible for bringing or faxing missing notes to the office before the child's class lunchtime. |
| Q. | Why do I needto get my child's missingTransportation Change Request Form to the office by my child's lunchtime? |
| A. | All Transportation Change Request Forms are sorted, matched and put into teacher mailboxes for them to retrieve at their assigned lunchtimes. This is the last time teachers check their boxes before the end of the school day. |
| Q. | What will happen if the parent of the child with the missingnote cannot be reached? |
| A. | The note will be turned over to office personnel--and handled by them. If
your child's note is missing and you cannot be reached, the activity is cancelled and your child will be sent home via
the regular form of transportation (if possible) or will be kept in the main office after school. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO USE THIS PROGRAM AND ARE CALLED BECAUSE YOUR CHILD'S NOTE HAS NOT BEEN TURNED IN, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FAXING OR BRINGING ANOTHER NOTE TO SCHOOL. WE CANNOT ACCEPT AN EMAIL OR YOUR VERBAL PERMISSION VIA A TELEPHONE CALL. When a student plans to go home with another student, the parents of each child must complete the Transportation Change Request Form and send it to school. The volunteers sort, match, and approve all matching forms. If there are any unmatched forms, the parent of the child with the missing note is called. At this point, that parent has 3 options:
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| Q. | What if I'm planning a birthday party (or any other occasion) and want more than one child to come over right from school |
| A. | You are responsible for providing the transportation for the children. On the day of the event, send in a form noting the children you will be transporting. Parents of the visiting children will need to send in a Change of Transportation form authorizing you to transport their children at Kiss and Ride. You will not be permitted to pickup a child if there is no note from the parent. |
| Q. | What about the private tutor/enrichment program in which my child is enrolled? Can I use the Transportation Change Request Forms to have him/her bused to the program location? |
| A. | No. The FCPS bus system is not responsible for transporting children to private lessons. It is the parent's responsibility to provide transportation to and from private lessons. We ask parents/guardians not to abuse the bus system and the Transportation Change Request Program. |