The Durango School District 9-R Transportation currently operates 23 bus routes, 3 of which are Special Education routes. Most of our routes serve rural areas and outlying subdivisions. We bring 1450 students to and from school on a daily basis, covering approximately 2300 miles.
Our fleet of vehicles consists of 1 electric bus, 37 large buses, 7 mini buses, 12 trucks and maintenance vehicles, plus 3 SUVs. 3 of our large buses are reserved for out of town trips and 9 are spares that are used when route buses are being repaired or serviced. During an average school year 9-R buses log approximately 400,000 route miles and 135,000 activity miles. In addition to the CDE mandated annual inspection, each of our buses undergoes a monthly maintenance service.
Our drivers complete training in August before school starts and approximately 26 hours total training through out the school year. Our drivers are governed by Colorado Department of Education and Commercial Drivers License Rules and Regulations. New drivers complete 35 to 40 hours preliminary training and must pass a CDL test before they can drive with students. All drivers must complete a CDE first-aid certification every two years.
The primary mission of the 9-R Transportation department is to provide students with safe and secure transportation to and from school in a friendly environment that enhances the total learning process.
The National Academy of Sciences and the U.S Department of Transportation agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation for getting children to and from school.
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In the event of inclement weather, Durango 9R Schools use a variety of resources to determine if conditions exist that warrant a 1-hour delayed start or closure of schools.
If conditions pose a concern for student and staff safety, the district will make every effort to announce a decision by 5:30 a.m. to close or delay opening schools. A 1-hour delayed start or closure will be communicated in several different ways, including:
Keep in mind, you will only receive alerts if schools are closed or operating on a 2-hour delay. If schools are open and operating on a normal schedule you will not receive an alert.
If schools are open but a parent feels, based on personal circumstances, that conditions pose a safety concern for their child getting to or from school they can call the school for an excused absence.
To ride a bus to school in the Durango 9R School District, a student must be registered with the Transportation Department for the current school year. By registering, you are agreeing to be bound by our Bus Rider Infraction Policy. You will need to request transportation for each student in your household separately. We are in the process of upgrading our routing software to enhance performance and adding new features. We appreciate your patience and encourage you to check back at a later time to find bus route information.
To register your student for bus services for the 2023-24 school year, please click this link:
If you have special circumstances that cannot be accommodated through our registration link, feel free to email us at [email protected] Registration with the Transportation Department in any form means agreement to be bound by our Bus Rider Infraction Policy
Finally, it is important to know that there is no guarantee that Open-Enrolled students will arrive on time to every campus.
For the 2023-24 school year, our office hours will be Monday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Direct Line: (970) 247-5335
Email: [email protected]
We would love to be a part of your activity, sporting event, or field trip! (Only Durango 9R entities can be accommodated - unfortunately no private trips)
To request bus service from our department please fill out the Transportation Request form, which can be downloaded from our Forms and Policies section.
You may call the office at 970-247-5335 and you will be put through to the Transportation Director.
The District does provide service for kindergarten students. Kindergarten students will ride the regular route buses.
We do provide transportation services for preschool students who have been approved by the Transportation Department. To get approval for your preschool student to ride the bus, please get a Preschool Rider Form from our Transportation Forms and Policies page.
To use the fillable forms you may need to download, Adobe Reader. A free version can be found here
Computer: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Phone/Tablet:
Adobe Acrobat Reader - Free to download through your App Store
Completed forms can be emailed to the transportation department at [email protected]
Once we have received your students Preschool Rider Form, you will be contacted by the Transportation Department via email to inform you of your approval or denial, and give you stop locations and times, along with any special instructions.
For further details on the requirements for preschool students, please contact our office at 970-247-5335
Have your child arrive at the bus stop five (5) minutes before their scheduled pick up time, the driver cannot wait for late riders.
Prepare your child for longer waits in inclement weather with suitable clothing for a possible longer wait. Your child returning home after waiting only a few minutes past the pickup time, may result in him/her just missing a late running bus.
My student needs to ride to/from school with a student who is on a different bus route, is this allowed?
Yes, with a note from the parent/guardian or the school.
What do I do if student didn’t get off at their stop?
Call the Transportation office at 970-247-5335.
No, they do not have seat belts.
The National Academy of Sciences and the U.S Department of Transportation agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation for getting children to and from school.
What are the consequences for my student not behaving on a school bus?
Please refer to our Rider Rules in our Forms and Documents section located on the right side menu.
Where is the lost and found for school buses?
The item will stay on the bus for approximately a week, and then taken in to the respective school. All cell phones and electronic devices are brought into the transportation office.
