On Monday, April 13, 2026, the School Board approved new plans to improve the reliability of our bus transportation. District 196 has historically provided more personalized service than required by law, which is no longer sustainable. These changes will help make sure every student has a dependable ride to school.

What’s Changing?

• Annual Bus Sign-Up: Families must now sign up for the bus each school year. All families must complete the Plan My Ride form by the last day of school this year.
   
• Address Limits: Students may have bus stops at only two locations, such as home and daycare within the school's attendance area.
   
• Updated Busing Zones: New special education zones so students receive services closer to their home schools.

• Reducing Magnet School Transportation: Creating a North/South Zone for Glacier Hills Elementary and Cedar Park Elementary. Eliminating magnet school transportation beyond the attendance area for Echo Park, Oak Ridge, Valley Middle School of STEM and Apple Valley High School. Use the School Locator Tool to determine school attendance areas. Families are asked to notify schools of resulting enrollment changes by Friday, May 15, 2026.
   
• Modifying some school start times: School of Environmental Studies will start at 7:45 a.m. and ALC will start at 7:40 a.m. during the 2026-27 school year. East Lake and Woodland Elementary will change from 9:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. start time beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

“We are working toward a system that provides reliable and predictable transportation for all students,” said Christopher Onyango-Robshaw, Director of Finance and Operations.

Efforts to Hire More Drivers:

We are working to hire more bus drivers. We increased pay and improved hiring and training practices. Since mid-March, we have not had to cancel any bus routes! Our goal is to have 230 drivers ready for the first day of school. However, with a national driver shortage across the transportation industry, recruitment alone will not solve the problem. We need to make systemic changes to reduce the complexity of our system.

How to Prepare

Starting April 16, District 196 will send out the ‘Plan My Ride’ form through ParentSquare. We need every family to complete the form. You can learn more on our website at district196.org/planmyride 

If these changes affect you, you should have received an email during the week of April 13. If you have questions, please contact your school.

We know these changes are significant and will change daily routines for some families. Our goal is to build a bus system that families can count on. We are here to help you and your family through these transitions now and in the future.