Transportation: Arrival & Dismissal
Transporting students in a safe and timely manner is an important part of our school district's operation. To ensure the safe transportation of our Freedom students, please review our Arrival/Dismissal Maps and Procedures.
Arrival
Walkers
- Due to traffic concerns on Beckett Ridge Boulevard, students will be crossed over streets by an adult. Administration prefers that students not ride bikes to school due to safety issues; however there is a bike rack in the back of the building.
- Doors to the building will open for students at 8:05 a.m. – no earlier due to supervision.
- For walkers from the north side of the boulevard: Students should congregate across the street from the school at the east side of the building to use the designated crosswalk. A staff member will assist the students as they cross the boulevard. Students are not to cross without the assistance of a staff member.
- For walkers from the south side of the boulevard: Students should wait on the west side of the back entrance until a staff member crosses them safely.
- For walkers from the south side of the building (Point of Beckett/Cherry Lane Farms, etc.): Students should congregate by the sign to the nature trail and wait for an adult to direct them to the entrance to the playground.
- After entering the building, walkers will report to the gymnasium.
Bus Riders
- If your family has bus service, it is highly recommended that your child(ren) ride the bus to and from school so that we can better accommodate those families that do not have bus service.
- Please check Home Access Center to confirm your bus information.
- Buses will enter the west (cul-de-sac) drive and will unload students on the playground.
Car Riders
- Please do not use your cell phone for phone calls or texting while in the Freedom parking lot during drop-off and pick-up.
- Please do not wave at the students that are waiting – your attention is diverted from driving.
- Please place your vehicle in park while in the drop-off and pick-up lane.
- Directions
- Traffic will enter the east (main) lot from the left side for drop-off and pick-up.
- Traffic will enter in two lanes.
- Traffic will remain in two lanes until vehicles approach the curve near the playground.
- Traffic will then merge into one lane for loading of students.
- Students can be dropped off and picked up from the single traffic lane next to the curb/sidewalk ONLY. For safety reasons, please have all students travel to and from school in the back seats of your vehicle.
- DO NOT allow your child to exit your vehicle outside of the designated pick-up/drop-off area, and especially not from the boulevard!
- Parents SHOULD NOT pull into a marked parking space to drop off or pick up students. We do not want parents or children walking through traffic in the parking lot during drop-off or pick-up times.
- When dropping off or picking up, you must wait until the entire line of cars is dismissed before leaving the area. DO NOT pull out and go around others that are dropping off or picking up children!
- Students who are being picked up will be dismissed by their family number. Individual student names WILL NOT be announced over the PA system.
- All families will be asked to fill out a Transportation/Child Care Information Form. Please print and fill out and return to school ASAP.
Dismissal
Timeline
3:05 p.m.
Walkers and daycare students (other than Latch Key) are dismissed to a designated area in the building
3:05 p.m.
The first two groups of car rider students will be called to be dismissed to the front of the building. We begin to load cars as soon as possible and cars will be dismissed once a full line is loaded.
3:07 p.m.
Bus riders dismissed to the playground.
3:10 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Buses will be released from the playground to the front parking lot to exit onto Beckett Ridge Blvd.
Walkers
- Walkers will be dismissed to a designated spot in the building for dismissal (walkers north of the boulevard will go to the gym, walkers south of the boulevard to the dining room and walkers on the south side of the building by the art room).
- Students will be escorted to the edge of Freedom’s property.
- Students will cross Beckett Ridge Blvd. at approximately 3:15 P.M., after busses have been released).
- Students walking south will be dismissed from the entrance to the nature trail at approximately 3:10 p.m.
Car Riders
- Please do not use your cell phone for phone calls or texting while in the Freedom parking lot during drop-off and pick-up.
- Please do not wave at the students that are waiting – your attention is diverted from driving.
- Please place your vehicle in park while in the drop-off and pick-up lane.
- Directions
- Traffic will enter the east (main) lot from the left side for drop-off and pick-up.
- Traffic will enter in two lanes.
- Traffic will remain in two lanes until vehicles approach the curve near the playground.
- Traffic will then merge into one lane for loading of students.
- Students can be dropped off and picked up from the single traffic lane next to the curb/sidewalk ONLY. For safety reasons, please have all students travel to and from school in the back seats of your vehicle.
- Parents SHOULD NOT pull into a marked parking space to drop off or pick up students. We do not want parents or children walking through traffic in the parking lot during drop-off or pick-up times.
- Families, children and carpools will be assigned an ID number. This number system is important to make sure your child has permission to ride home with the person picking them up. Whoever is taking your child home from school MUST display the Freedom Driver ID Card in the car’s front window (preferably on the driver’s side or middle). Once you are in the single lane for pick-up, your child/family/carpool number will be called for your child(ren) to report to your vehicle. If someone comes to pick up your child(ren) and does not have a Freedom ID Card displayed, they may be detained or have to circle around and wait until all traffic has been dismissed to ensure they have permission to take your child.
- When dropping off or picking up, you must wait until the entire line of cars is dismissed before leaving the area. DO NOT pull out and go around others that are dropping off or picking up children!
- Students who are being picked up will be dismissed by their family number. Individual student names WILL NOT be announced over the PA system.
- All families will be asked to fill out a Transportation/Child Care Information Form. Please print and fill out and return to school ASAP.
Bus Riders
- If your family has bus service, it is highly recommended that your child(ren) ride the bus to and from school so that we can better accommodate those families that do not have bus service.
- Please check Home Access Center to confirm your bus information.
- Buses will load on the playground.
- Buses will depart Freedom by 3:15 p.m.
Special Office Pick-Up Procedures
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We understand that, on occasion, you may need to coordinate pick-up for your student who normally rides the bus (for an appointment or lesson, etc.). Office pickup is limited to these such circumstances. Please contact the office to arrange special end-of-day pickup.
- Anyone coming into the office to sign out a child who is sick, has an appointment, or is leaving early for any other reason:
- Must be on that student’s emergency list (exceptions can be made only by a written request from the parent/guardian)
- Be buzzed in
- Must come into the office to sign the student out
- Must be able to present photo ID to office staff
In This Section
District Transportation Information
District Transportation Resources
The role of Lakota's Transportation Department is to guarantee safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation of students to and from their schools.
Over the years, the district has worked with its contracted bus service company, Petermann, to regularly review bus routes in an effort to safely transport as many students as possible within the available budget.
Transportation Arrangements
Transportation for all students is based on the home address listed in our student database. Please note that all transportation forms are available and completed via Final Forms.
Grades K-2
Early childhood schools ask that all families complete a transportation form (via Final Forms) each school year to have on file, even if transportation is not needed.
Note: PreK-2 parents/guardians are required to be at the bus stop for drop-off. Parents may write a letter to allow the student to get off the bus without a parent present.
Grades 3-6
By default, transportation for all eligible students is based on the home address listed in Home Access Center (HAC). All alternative transportation plans are automatically cleared at the end of each school year, so please complete the online transportation form (in Final Forms) before each school year if you’ll require transportation to or from an address different than your home address.
Please DO NOT put your child on a bus or assume that the change is in effect until you have been notified of the approval. Once approved, the Transportation Department will fax the confirmation back to your child's school and you will be notified.
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Bus Safety and Procedures
To ensure the safe transportation of our students, please review the Bus Safety Brochure and other important information below.
- Parent/Guardian Role
- Student Role
- How to Handle Transportation Issues
- Consequences of Misbehavior
- Bus Driver Training
Parent/Guardian Role
Transporting children is a shared responsibility between home and school. While the district is responsible for children once they board their bus, families are solely responsible for the safety and supervision of their children to and from the designated bus stop and while students wait for their bus.
Parents/guardians of preschool, kindergarten and first grade children are advised to meet and receive their children at the bus stop. Children not met by their parents/guardians will be returned to their school building.
Student Role
Family support for appropriate behaviors is essential. Parents are asked to reinforce with their children the importance of obeying the district's Student Code of Conduct and all Bus Safety Rules when riding in a school bus. Such rules ensure the safety and welfare of all riders. Thus, if a child jeopardizes everyone's safety by repeatedly violating these rules, the student may ultimately be denied the privilege of riding the bus.
How to Handle Transportation Issues
Bus routes are designed for safety and efficiency. Extended stop times impact multiple routes. We want to properly address any concerns you may have, so we please ask that you do not interrupt the bus schedule by talking directly with a driver while he or she is on the route. If a problem or concern arises related to school bus transportation, families are encouraged to write the driver a note or call (513) 755-5821 to leave a message at the Lakota Service Center. Building administrators may also assist with transportation related questions.
Consequences of Misbehavior
If a bus rider misbehaves, the following guidelines will be followed in disciplining the offender:
- For a first offense, the student will be counseled by the driver as to the appropriate behavior that is expected.
- If the student’s inappropriate behavior continues, the bus driver will detail the student’s actions in writing to the building administrator. The building administrator will then contact the student’s parents/guardians and explain that an official warning has been given and that further misbehavior could result in removal of the student from the bus.
- If the student’s continued misbehavior warrants the bus driver submitting a second report, the student will be required to personally meet with the principal or assistant principal. Parents/Guardians may also be asked to attend this meeting.
- If the student must be referred to school administrators a third time, severe disciplinary action may be taken, including suspension from riding the bus for a period of time. When a pupil’s bus privileges are suspended, the student’s parents/guardians become responsible for transporting their child to and from school.
- Dangerous acts on a school bus are cause for immediate suspension from the bus.
Bus Driver Training
Each driver is expected to pass all required instructional materials and to meet or exceed qualifications as outlined by local, state and federal regulations. New drivers must complete rigorous training courses through classroom and behind-the-wheel training.
The safety training program emphasizes current safety prevention tactics, proper bus inspections, student management and the extra attention our riders with special needs deserve. In order to remain qualified as one of our school bus drivers, all drivers must continue to participate in in-service trainings throughout the year.
Going above and beyond
Each year, Lakota bus drivers are well-represented at the Ohio School Bus Driver Safety ROAD-E-O competition. The annual event is open to all Ohio school bus drivers and consists of both a written test as well as an off-road driving skills test – all to promote safety, professionalism and recognition.
Over the years, Lakota drivers have done extremely well in the competition, with several drivers winning the state title.
“I’m not surprised by the success of our drivers. I often see drivers in study groups asking each other questions or practicing their off-road driving skills at 7:30 or 8 in the evening. The preparation for the event is all on their own time.”Susan Prewitt, General Manager for Petermann/Lakota
Transportation Forms & Documents
In This Section
Contact Us
WE are here to help! If you have questions regarding bus route information or the transportation of your child, please contact us.
Calls are answered in the order received. Please understand that we receive a particularly high volume of calls at the start of the school year and hold/wait times may be longer than normal.
Transportation Department
Lakota Service Center
6947 Yankee Road
Liberty Twp. OH 45011
Phone: 513-755-5821
Fax: 513-777-3114
Office Hours
5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday