Student Transport

We aim to improve services, quality, communications...

This website has been created to provide easy access to  bus route information for students attending schools within the Aoraki School Transport Network. It also clarifies rules such as who needs to pay for transport and why, and it provides a way for parents and caregivers to compliment, complain or request changes. All current fares will remain unchanged for 2011.

Metro Timetables:www.metroinfo.co.nz/timTimetables.html

Parents, you can help us by:

• Teach your child the safest route from their house to the bus stop - the route with the fewest road crossings and least traffic
• If they have to cross the road after getting off the bus, teach them to wait until the bus has moved away and they can see up and down the road clearly
• Dress them in brightly coloured or reflectorised clothing that can be easily seen by drivers.

School Transport: Application for Assistance

This form is to be completed by the caregivers of students using school buses or claiming school transport allowances. If the student travels the full distance from home to school by private vehicle, or travels more than 2.4 km to the school bus stop, he/she may be eligible for a conveyance allowance.
Students may be eligible for school transport if:

• they are under 10 years old and live more than 3.2km from the nearest school; or
• they are 10 years old and over and live more than 4.8 km from the nearest school; and
• they do not have access to public passenger service transport.

Download the: Application Transport Assistance.pdf

Once you have completed this form please post to the Principal or Bus Controller of the school the student attends

ASTN Committee

The ASTN Committee is made up of representitives from member schools. We meet once a term to discuss ASTN Governance issues.

The chiarman is Grant Merhtens.

Network Co-ordinator

Sandy McAlwee 03 612 6290

School Bus Controllers

Jeremy Marshall (Pleasant Point) and Edward Patterson (Timaru)

Aoraki School Transport Network (ASTN)

Emergency Procedures for Severe Weather Events and Road Accidents:  2011/2012

Contact Information for Aoraki School Transport Network

Bus Controller:
Phone 03 684 7039 option 4 Available 24/7

Network Coordinator:
Phone: 03 612 6290 (Evenings)
Mobile: 027 4756288 (Emergency)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.astn.org.nz
Ministry of Education website: www.minedu.nz/goto/schooltransport

Severe Weather Events

Prior to the start of the School Day:

The Bus Manager and Bus Controller will make the decision that some or all of the buses will not pick up students due to severe weather conditions (rain or snow) making routes impractical or dangerous. Announcements will be made over local radio stations: Port 98FM and Classic Hits 99FM. Schools will be informed.

During the School Day:

The ASTN Bus Manager and Bus Controller will make the decision that some or all of the buses need to be sent home early due to worsening weather (rain or snow). Schools and Bus Companies will be notified by FAX, text, email and phone if possible, that the team is investigating the current situation.
Bus Company Managers will be contacted to determine the availability of each bus.All schools, Bus Companies and Radio Stations (Port 98FM, Classic Hits 99FM) will be notified by FAX, email and PHONE (if possible),  that some or all country buses are being sent home early.

Schools should assemble their country bus students in the following places with teacher supervision and a cellphone.

Craighead Library, near Craighead Street, Timaru

• Craighead Diocesan High School
• Waimataitai Primary School

Mountainview Auditorium, near Pages Road, Timaru

• Mountainview High School
• Gleniti Primary School
• Grantlea Downs Primary School
• Highfield Primary School
• Oceanview Heights Primary School
• St Joseph’s Timaru Primary School
• Washdyke Training Farm
• Opihi Services Academy

Timaru Boys’ High School Hall, near North Street, Timaru

• Timaru Boys’ High School
• Bluestone Primary School

Timaru Girls’ High School Hall near Cain Street, Timaru

• Timaru Girls’ High School

Take 2

Roncalli Gymnasium, near Craigie Avenue, Timaru

• Roncalli College
• Sacred Heart Primary School
• Timaru Christian Primary School
• Timaru South Primary School
• Trade and Commerce
• Aoraki Alternative Education

Pleasant Point Primary School Hall, near Acton Street, Pleasant Point

• Pleasant Point Primary School
• St Joseph’s Pleasant Point Primary School

Schools must keep lists of students that travel on each bus.  In an emergency, the supervising teacher  must record which students get on each bus and which are collected by a caregiver. Schools to arrange for a teacher at the usual bus stop area so that they can  notify the supervisor of the assembled students as each bus arrives. Buses will follow their usual routes and pick up students at their usual stops at each school. The transfer system will operate as normal.

Road Accidents:

1. The driver or other person must phone the emergency services (Dial 111) immediately.
2. The driver must inform their Company Manager as soon as possible.
3. The Company Manager must inform the ASTN Bus Manager and Bus Controller as soon as possible.
4. The ASTN Bus Manager and Bus Controller will inform the schools.
5. Schools will inform caregivers of all students who may have been on the bus.
6. The bus roll is to be used by the driver/emergency personnel to account for all students who were on the bus.
7. School Counsellors will offer counselling to students and families as appropriate.
8. The Bus Controller will write a report for the Aoraki School Transport Network and the Ministry of Education.                                                                              

Ministry of Education

Useful information on the Ministry of Education Website

Who can I contact?

Information about where you can find more information on school transport assistance and who you can contact on school transport matters.

Service agent contact details

Contact details for your local service agents

School transport factsheets

The Ministry's school transport policy is now outlined in factsheets which provide further information for schools and caregivers

Eligibility

This page describes the eligibility criteria for School Transport Assistance. The application form is also available on this page.

Types of school transport assistance

Information about the different ways in which school transport assistance is provided

Special Education School Transport Assistance (SESTA)

Information on the types of assistance available for SESTA students and how they can apply. Application form also available on this page.

Transport Entitlement Zones (TEZs)

A Transport Entitlement Zone (TEZ) s the area in which a student can access his or her ministry funded transport entitlement to a school

Transport Entitlement Zone (TEZ): Alterations process guide

This page sets out the process for altering a transport entitlement zone

Bus route design

General information about Ministry-administered school bus services.

School bus safety

Information about safe practices for school buses and how the Ministry and other organisations ensure that bus services are safe

Bus Controller Allowances

Bus controllers are the main point of contact within a school for transport for caregivers and are responsible for bus route administration and safety for their school

Communicating on school transport with caregivers

Newsletter tip and hints that schools can use when communicating with caregivers on the Ministry's school transport policies

Safe Behaviour on Buses

Safe Behaviour on Buses is a voluntary programme which has been developed to help schools and bus operators work together around the issue of student behaviour on buses

Directly Resourced (DR) funding rates for 2011/12

Information about the funding rates for DR School Transport 2011/12

2009/2010 Direct Resourcing Memorandum of Agreement

This page contains the 2009/10 Direct Resourcing Memorandum of Agreement and supporting documents for both single schools and school transport networks.

Special Education School Transport Assistance (SESTA) operators

Current operators contracted by the ministry for the delivery of school transport assistance to special education students

Bus contract tender rates

Total kilometre rates paid for Ministry daily and technology bus routes

Transport assistance funding rates 2011/12 - Māori-medium schools

Information about the 2011/12 funding rates for Māori medium schools.