Frequently Asked Questions

1) How safe are school buses?
According to the National Safety Council, school buses are the safest form of ground transportation. For more information, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website at www.nhtsa.gov or view the NHTSA Fact Sheet.

2) Who is driving my child?
Clinton Central School District’s bus drivers and monitors are highly trained professionals dedicated to student safety. Each driver undergoes extensive training, yearly physicals, and professional development seminars, along with regular driver assessments to ensure continued excellence. Drivers must meet ongoing federal, state, and State Education Department requirements.

Before being hired, all drivers must complete a background check, drug test, and fingerprinting. Every driver holds a Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with passenger and school bus endorsements and must maintain an excellent driving record in both personal and commercial vehicles.

During the summer, drivers attend classes on vehicle safety and first aid, and throughout the school year, they participate in ongoing safety meetings to review procedures and traffic concerns.

All drivers are also required to attend an annual State Department of Education safety meeting and are subject to random monthly drug and alcohol testing to uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

3) What is the number of people who can safely sit on a school bus seat?
Our district operates both 66-passenger and 72-passenger buses on our regular bus routes. All school buses are designed to accommodate three students per seat. We also operate four smaller, 15-passenger buses for special education or alternative school students. The passenger capacity of these buses may vary according to student needs.

4) What does Clinton CSD do to ensure my child’s bus is safe?
Our buses are maintained by the Madison-Oneida BOCES Central Bus Maintenance Team in Oneida, NY (MOB Central Maintenance), where they are not only maintained but also inspected by mechanics monthly and inspected twice a year by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Clinton is proud to hold a 0% Out-of-Service Inspection record, which means none of our buses have ever been pulled off the road during a DOT inspection.

5) Who do I contact if my child is having a problem on their bus?
You may contact the Transportation Department and/or your child’s principal directly. The principals and transportation leaders work closely—and often in conjunction with our drivers and staff—to investigate and address any behavioral or safety concerns that arise.

6) A one-hour delay/two-hour delay has just been announced on TV. When will the bus come?
The bus will arrive one hour or two hours after your regular pickup time, depending on the delay announced. However, given the conditions that typically cause delays (such as inclement weather), road conditions may slow travel. Drivers will be exercising extreme caution and may take additional time as a safety precaution.

It’s best to be at the bus stop at the adjusted time (one or two hours later than usual) but please recognize that the bus may arrive slightly later depending on conditions.

7) How do I know if there’s a closing or delay?
The district uses several methods to inform parents and community members when school is closed, delayed, or dismissing early due to inclement weather or other events. These include:

• ParentSquare alerts

• The district website

• Local television and radio stations