Transportation: Arrival & Dismissal

Transporting students in a safe and timely manner is an important part of our school district's operation. To ensure the safe transportation of our Cherokee students, please review our Arrival/Dismissal Map and Procedures.

Cherokee Car Rider Arrival/Dismissal Map

Arrival

Drop Off Procedures

Student drop off will begin at 8:05 AM **Students are NOT permitted in the building prior to 8:05 AM without parent supervision.
We will have DUAL LANES waiting to enter the drop off zone.
Cars will be directed to enter the drop off zone and all cars in the zone will be unloaded at once.
Please have students ready to unload with all belongings prior to the
drop off zone.
Unless you are walking your child into the building, you MUST use the
drop off line. If you choose to park, you must walk your child into the building.
Once your child has been dropped off, please proceed immediately to the exit.
Car riders who eat breakfast will proceed to the cafeteria; those who do not eat breakfast will go to the gym.
Students are dismissed to their classrooms at 8:15 AM.
Class time begins at 8:20 AM Students who are not in their seats at 8:20 AM are counted as tardy.

Walkers

Walkers should not arrive before 8:05 AM, as we do not have supervision prior to that.
Students may not enter the building prior to 8:05 AM. Students arriving between 8:05 and 8:15 AM must report to the gym.

Dismissal

Student Pick Up

Please display your assigned car number tag in your windshield.
All car riders will be dismissed from the gym between 3:00 PM and 3:15 PM.
There will be a dual line waiting to enter the pick up zone.
A group of car rider numbers will be called and students will step to the pick up line.
IMPORTANT – If your student is not at the pick up line, you will be asked to PARK at the flag pole while we gather your child.
When exiting the parking lot you will ONLY be able to make a right turn. You will follow the roundabout to proceed left.

Afternoon Walkers

We will dismiss all walkers at 3:00 PM.
Students will exit through the cafeteria doors and head home.
Please remind students to stay on the sidewalks!

Helpful Hints to Keep the Line Moving Safely

No talking or texting on cell phones while in the school lot.
Say your goodbyes prior to the drop-off point.
On rainy days, rain ponchos are a safer choice than umbrellas.
At NO TIME should ANY child walk across the parking lot by themselves.
When at all possible, please place car seats on the driver’s side so other students may exit the vehicle quickly.
Please keep eyes ahead while exiting the drop off area, rather than watching your child enter the building.
It is imperative that all drivers plan for delays and traffic congestion the first several days. As everyone learns the new traffic patterns, delays will decrease in length.
Please be conscious of and courteous to our staff in parking/drop zones. They are there to assist with traffic flow and need everyone’s cooperation for the SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS.

In This Section

District Transportation Information

The role of Lakota's Transportation Department is to guarantee safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation of students to and from their schools.

Over the years, the district has worked with its contracted bus service company, Petermann, to regularly review bus routes in an effort to safely transport as many students as possible within the available budget.

Transportation Arrangements
Bus Safety and Procedures

Transportation Arrangements

Transportation for all students is based on the home address listed in our student database. Please note that all transportation forms are available and completed via Final Forms.

Grades K-2

Early childhood schools ask that all families complete a transportation form (via Final Forms) each school year to have on file, even if transportation is not needed.

Note: PreK-2 parents/guardians are required to be at the bus stop for drop-off. Parents may write a letter to allow the student to get off the bus without a parent present.

Grades 3-6

By default, transportation for all eligible students is based on the home address listed in Home Access Center (HAC). All alternative transportation plans are automatically cleared at the end of each school year, so please complete the online transportation form (in Final Forms) before each school year if you’ll require transportation to or from an address different than your home address.

Please DO NOT put your child on a bus or assume that the change is in effect until you have been notified of the approval. Once approved, the Transportation Department will fax the confirmation back to your child's school and you will be notified.

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Bus Safety and Procedures

To ensure the safe transportation of our students, please review the Bus Safety Brochure and other important information below.

Bus Safety Brochure

Parent/Guardian Role

Transporting children is a shared responsibility between home and school. While the district is responsible for children once they board their bus, families are solely responsible for the safety and supervision of their children to and from the designated bus stop and while students wait for their bus.

Parents/guardians of preschool, kindergarten and first grade children are advised to meet and receive their children at the bus stop. Children not met by their parents/guardians will be returned to their school building.

Student Role

Family support for appropriate behaviors is essential. Parents are asked to reinforce with their children the importance of obeying the district's Student Code of Conduct and all Bus Safety Rules when riding in a school bus. Such rules ensure the safety and welfare of all riders. Thus, if a child jeopardizes everyone's safety by repeatedly violating these rules, the student may ultimately be denied the privilege of riding the bus.

How to Handle Transportation Issues

Bus routes are designed for safety and efficiency. Extended stop times impact multiple routes. We want to properly address any concerns you may have, so we please ask that you do not interrupt the bus schedule by talking directly with a driver while he or she is on the route. If a problem or concern arises related to school bus transportation, families are encouraged to write the driver a note or call (513) 755-5821 to leave a message at the Lakota Service Center. Building administrators may also assist with transportation related questions.

Consequences of Misbehavior

If a bus rider misbehaves, the following guidelines will be followed in disciplining the offender:

For a first offense, the student will be counseled by the driver as to the appropriate behavior that is expected.
If the student’s inappropriate behavior continues, the bus driver will detail the student’s actions in writing to the building administrator. The building administrator will then contact the student’s parents/guardians and explain that an official warning has been given and that further misbehavior could result in removal of the student from the bus.
If the student’s continued misbehavior warrants the bus driver submitting a second report, the student will be required to personally meet with the principal or assistant principal. Parents/Guardians may also be asked to attend this meeting.
If the student must be referred to school administrators a third time, severe disciplinary action may be taken, including suspension from riding the bus for a period of time. When a pupil’s bus privileges are suspended, the student’s parents/guardians become responsible for transporting their child to and from school.
Dangerous acts on a school bus are cause for immediate suspension from the bus.

Click here to view the Lakota bus safety brochure.

Bus Driver Training

Each driver is expected to pass all required instructional materials and to meet or exceed qualifications as outlined by local, state and federal regulations. New drivers must complete rigorous training courses through classroom and behind-the-wheel training.

The safety training program emphasizes current safety prevention tactics, proper bus inspections, student management and the extra attention our riders with special needs deserve. In order to remain qualified as one of our school bus drivers, all drivers must continue to participate in in-service trainings throughout the year.

Going above and beyond

Each year, Lakota bus drivers are well-represented at the Ohio School Bus Driver Safety ROAD-E-O competition. The annual event is open to all Ohio school bus drivers and consists of both a written test as well as an off-road driving skills test – all to promote safety, professionalism and recognition.

Over the years, Lakota drivers have done extremely well in the competition, with several drivers winning the state title.

“I’m not surprised by the success of our drivers. I often see drivers in study groups asking each other questions or practicing their off-road driving skills at 7:30 or 8 in the evening. The preparation for the event is all on their own time.”Susan Prewitt, General Manager for Petermann/Lakota

Find Your Bus Route

Attendance Zone Search

Transportation Forms & Documents

In This Section

Contact Us

WE are here to help! If you have questions regarding bus route information or the transportation of your child, please contact us.

Calls are answered in the order received. Please understand that we receive a particularly high volume of calls at the start of the school year and hold/wait times may be longer than normal.

Transportation Department
Lakota Service Center
6947 Yankee Road
Liberty Twp. OH 45011
Phone: 513-755-5821
Fax: 513-777-3114

Office Hours
5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday

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Transportation: Arrival & Dismissal

Arrival

Drop Off Procedures

Walkers

Dismissal

Student Pick Up

Afternoon Walkers

Helpful Hints to Keep the Line Moving Safely

In This Section

District Transportation Information

Transportation Arrangements

Grades K-2

Grades 3-6

Bus Safety and Procedures

Parent/Guardian Role

Student Role

How to Handle Transportation Issues

Consequences of Misbehavior

Bus Driver Training

Going above and beyond

Transportation Forms & Documents

In This Section

Contact Us

District Transportation Resources