Forest Hills Public Schools

All Learners Achieving Individual Potential

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Transportation Department

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Welcome to the Transportation Department

Our goal is to provide students living within our 68 square miles with safe and reliable transportation to and from school every day.  Annually, our fleet travels approximately 800,000 miles providing services to our school community.  While maintaining the highest safety standards, we continue to strive for efficiency by finding better ways to route our buses in order to reduce mileage and time.  As part of the services we provide we’re pleased and proud to provide transportation for a large number of academic and athletic  trips and perform many other behind the scenes functions for the district.  In addition, we maintain an excellent rating in the annual bus safety inspection conducted by the Michigan State Police.

Bus Reservation Forms

Not sure which form you need?
Try our Form Finder or our Step-by-Step Submission Guide!

Important Information

New! Bus Route Information

The transportation department is excited to launch a new electronic system to communicate bus stop information. Bus stop information will no longer be mailed to families. Beginning this school year, the transportation department will communicate bus stop information using the new Versatrans e-Link system. This secure link allows parents/guardians to view essential school bus information such as where their children should wait for the bus, what time the bus should arrive and other pick up and drop off information.

E-Link Instructions for Bus Route information

Login to Versatrans e-Link

New! Versatrans MyStop App

Versatrans MyStop App provides mobile access to bus information. With MyStop, parents and guardians know exactly where their child’s bus is on the route and an estimated time of arrival (ETA) at their stop. The location of the bus is automatically updated to accommodate any delays. Update frequency is dependent on a user’s data plan. The app is available for both iPhone and Android devices. When using the app, parents and guardians can choose to receive push notifications alerting them to changes in their child’s bus schedule.

You will need your E-Link login credentials to login to the Versatrans My Stop app.

Using the Versatrans My Stop App

Wanted: Bus Drivers!

If you want to be a bus driver, click here to learn more.

Rules for Riding the Bus

Parents: Please go over the following rules with your children so they know what is expected when they ride a school bus. We ask that you help them understand that riding a school bus is a privilege.

  • Politely load and unload YOUR school bus. BE SAFE, NO pushing, shoving or rushing the door.
  • Be on time to keep YOUR bus on schedule. Hurrying to the bus creates an unsafe situation for YOU!
  • Stay seated and out of the aisle for YOUR safety. “Back to back, seat to seat, feet toward the floor” AND NEVER put or throw ANYTHING out of the windows!

Be Respectful:

  • Listen and follow directions from YOUR School Bus Driver and other adults.
  • Toward your fellow passengers and others in and around YOUR school bus.
  • Talk quietly using nice and proper words.
  • Keep YOUR school bus clean! NO eating, drinking or smoking on the bus.

Electronic Devices:

  • No disruptive use of smart/cell phones or other electronic devices.
  • No picture taking or recording of others on the bus.
  • Phones should only be used for messages to your parents or in an emergency during your time on the bus.
Bus Rider Rules and Regulations

Bus Rider Rules and Regulations

The rules and regulations listed below are the result of careful study based upon the experiences we have had in the operation of a school bus system. Cooperation and courtesy in following these suggestions will permit us to better serve your child.

  1. Be at bus stop at least five (5) minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Remember if you’re late, everyone on the bus will be late!
  2. Quietly remain 10 steps back from the designated stop. Wait to load until the driver signals–no pushing, please.
  3. Remain in seat and in a sitting position when bus is in motion.
  4. Eating, drinking or smoking is not permitted on the bus.
  5. Keep head, arms and hands inside the bus.
  6. Musical instruments must be held by the owner. Do not leave them in the aisle or at the front or rear emergency doors.
  7. Keep the bus clean.
  8. Cooperate with the driver. Follow his/her directions explicitly when practicing Emergency Evacuation Drills.
  9. Be courteous. Profanity, vulgar language, fighting, teasing, pushing and shoving will not be tolerated.
  10. Leave your seat only after the bus has come to a complete stop.
  11. Except in an emergency, only enter or exit from the front door of the bus.
  12. Cross in front of the bus when crossing road. DO NOT CROSS IN BACK OF THE BUS.
  13. Any malicious damage to a school bus will be paid for by the person responsible for the damage.
Front of Bus Crossing Procedures

Front of Bus Crossing Procedures

The Forest Hills Transportation Department has adopted an approved uniform hand signal for all students who may have to cross in front of the bus. At the beginning of each school year, students in grades K-5 are taught the proper way to safely cross in front of the bus. Parents are asked to please review the following procedures with their children before school begins.

When students have to cross the roadway in front of the bus, they should:

  1. Exit the bus and always walk to the front of the bus.
  2. Be least ten steps in front of the bus before starting to cross the roadway.
  3. Wait for the approved signal (if appropriate) from the driver before crossing.
  4. Stop at the traffic side of the bus and look left, right, and left to be sure it is safe to cross.
  5. If it is safe to cross, walk across the roadway. DO NOT RUN.

Mission Statement

The Forest Hills Public Schools Transportation Department will strive to provide safe transportation to and from school. Each driver will maintain high professional standards and positive student relationships.

Contact Transportation

Forest Hills Public Schools
Transportation Department
6001 Hall Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Summer Hours: M-F, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Office is closed on Fridays in July

Phone: (616) 493-8785
Fax: (616) 493-8797

Darryl Hofstra
Director of Transportation