3.6 Special Education Receiving Centers   

Due to the nature of their exceptionality, some Special Education pupils require door-to-door pick-up/drop-off transportation service, as indicated by their Individualized Education Program (IEP). The Division of Transportation Services has an obligation to ensure that a responsible individual is available to receive these students at their PM drop-off location. When a responsible individual is not available at the PM drop-off site, the student is transported to one of the receiving centers established by Transportation Services.  

 

I.  Procedure

A. When the school bus driver is unable to leave a Special Education pupil at the PM drop-off location, he/she leaves a notice for the parent/guardian. This notice indicates the receiving center to which the pupil has been taken.

B. The driver notifies his/her garage supervisor of the situation by two-way radio, and continues on his/her route until he/she is able to take the pupil to the closest receiving center.

C. The receiving center notifies Transportation's Operations Room supervisor/dispatcher who attempts to notify the pupil's parents by telephone.   The supervisor/dispatcher also notifies the Office of School Safety. If the  parent/guardian is reached prior to 6:00PM but is unable to travel to the receiving center, police or a street supervisor may transport the student home.

  D. Parents/Guardians are obligated to pick up their child prior to 6:00PM. If this does not occur, the police are contacted and the pupil is taken by the police or by school district vehicle to the Department of Human Services (DHS). At that   point, the DHS must notify the parent/guardian.

E. There are three (3) receiving centers strategically located around the city, specifically in the following buildings:

1. Northeast High School

Room 160/Algon Wing

Cottman & Algon Aves.

Phone # 215-728-5022

 

2. Widener School Gymnasium   (Behind Girls High School)

Broad & Olney

Phone# 215-456-0121

 

3. C. Arthur School

Home & School Room   (Behind Auditorium)

20th & Catherine Streets

Phone # 215-875-3425

F. Each center is staffed by a bus attendant. The attendant is responsible for the supervision and support of those pupils who are released to the attendant's care between the hours of 1:00PM and 6:00PM.

G. The Division of Food Services provides emergency meals for the pupils where appropriate.

H. Each center is wheel chair accessible and has lavatory facilities.

   II. Repeat Offenders

A. When Transportation Services receives a written report from a center that a pupil has been left there three or more times, a form letter is sent to the parent/guardian indicating that the pupil is suspended from transportation service for one day. The dates that the pupil was left at the center are also highlighted. 

B. When there is a repeat occurrence after the one day suspension, and sufficient   time has lapsed for the parent to make any necessary arrangements to correct the problem, another form letter is sent to the parent/guardian specifying a two day suspension by Transportation Services.

C. Both letters serve to notify the Office of General Counsel, Office of Specialized  Services, the school principal, the Regional Office, as well as the driver, garage supervisor and Operations Room dispatcher(s) of the pupil’s suspension from the school bus.