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Arrival and Dismissal
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Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival and Dismissal

See also A TOOLKIT for SCHOOL SAFETY COMMITTEES

Enhancing Safety at Student Arrival and Dismissal

Geography: School Site

  • Separate bus arrival from family drop-off/pick-up and from walkers/bikers arrival/exit areas.
  • Clearly mark family drop-off/pick-up areas.
  • Post Safety Patrol members on corners adjacent to school.
  • On busy or dangerous intersections post adult volunteers.

Geography: Surrounding City Areas

  • City parking signage supports school needs.
  • Fire zones are maintained free of cars/buses at all times.
  • Post Safety Patrol Members a block out from school.
  • On busy or dangerous intersections, post adult volunteers.

Communication to Families

  • Tell families frequently about locations and procedures for student drop-off/pick-up and walk/bike routes.
  • Provide arrival/dismissal information to families in the parent handbook and on the school website.
  • Translate information into languages used within the school community.
  • Provide walk/bike maps of suggested routes and encourage walking to school.
  • Remind families frequently, especially families who drive, about arrival and dismissal rules and procedures for keeping students safe.
  • Remind families frequently about positive behavior expectations for bus behavior and encourage them to reinforce the expectations with their students.

School Staff Action

  • School leadership and staff are visible outside during arrival and dismissal.
  • Staff greet students at each entry and departure door.
  • Staff reinforce the arrival and dismissal rules and safety procendures. 
  • Staff accompany elementary and middle school students to the buses.
  • For pre-K to first grade students, staff check students’ bus tags against current electronic route copy.
  • Staff members know how to help load buses safely and remind students of positive expectations for bus behavior.
  • Staff members know walk/bike routes and encourage active commuting.
Letters to Families That Drive

Parents and caregivers who drive their children to school play an important role in enhancing safety around the school. Schools may use these letters to remind families of their responsibilities.

English word pdf
Hmong word pdf
Somali word pdf
Spanish word pdf
City of Minneapolis Public Works

The City of Minneapolis Public Works is an important part of the Safe Routes to School Team.

Do you have a safety/public works concern with an intersection on your route? Call 311. State the school. Be very specific about the issue (e.g. sight lines, lack of gaps in traffic, speed of vehicles, not enough time to cross at the signal.) Call 311 for sidewalk gaps, snow removal issues, or to request a mobile speed wagon too.

Principals make the requests through 311 for no parking signs adjacent to school grounds and for school crossing signs and crosswalks. For the City of Minneapolis to sign and paint the intersection, it must be patrolled with students or adults wearing reflective vests and carrying stop paddles or be part of a walking bus route where the adults are wearing reflective vests and carrying stop paddles.
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