Bus Pass Registration for 2023 -2024 | North Reading Public School District

March 29, 2023

Dear North Reading Parent/Guardian:

It is that time of year to enroll in the bus pass program. The District is now officially accepting bus applications for the 2023-24 school year.

Due to a variety of factors which have significantly increased the cost of bus transportation over the past several years, the District will be increasing the bus user fee next school year. The bus user fee has not increased since the 2016-17 school year, six years ago. Since that time, the District has seen the rates of school bus transportation increase by 20%, which has put more and more of a strain on the school operating budget. The increase is the result of a variety of factors including: the cost of fuel, shortage of qualified bus drivers resulting in prevailing wage rate increases, and significant inflationary increases in the cost of equipment and vehicles. The District has made every effort to keep next year’s increase as low as possible to cover the direct one-year increase for next school year. Unfortunately, this is a challenge that we will continue to face as the projected increases in future years appear to be significant. The Administration and School Committee plan to research all options to minimize the impact of increases in the future. For next school year the cost of an individual bus pass will be $425 up from $400 and the family cap will be $700 up from $650.

So that the District can be as prepared as possible, we strongly encourage families desiring a pass to enroll as soon as possible. We will continue to have the Middle and High School bus runs be combined however, every effort will be made to have the younger children in grades 6 and 7 sit at the front of the bus, and older children in grades 11 and 12 will be seated towards the rear of the bus.

Space may be limited on certain bus runs depending on bus enrollment. The District will have a first come, first serve wait list for those buses that are full. We will make every effort possible to avoid a waitlist and to try to accommodate all families, however, please keep in mind that this could be a possibility. Should space open up, we will contact the families on the waitlist. We will continue to have the twelve buses to help with space issues.

We will once again be offering the convenience of online registration through FamilyID (www.familyid.com). FamilyID is a secure registration platform that provides you with an easy, user-friendly way to sign school policies, such as handbook agreements, media releases, and acceptable use policies, and helps us to be more administratively efficient and environmentally responsible. When you register through FamilyID, the system keeps track of your information in your FamilyID profile. You enter your information only once for each family member for multiple uses and multiple programs.

Please note a separate application must be submitted for EACH CHILD no later than the May 8, 2023 deadline or you will incur the $25 late fee.

Process for Students in Grades K-6

All students who wish to ride a school bus must acquire a bus pass. If your child(ren) are in grades kindergarten through 6 and resides more than two miles from your school the pass is free but you still must sign and return the bus user fee application. If your child(ren) resides less than two miles from your school, the full year fee is $425 per student with a $700 family maximum. If your on-line registration is processed after MAY 8, 2023, the fee is $450 per student with a $725 family maximum.

Process for Students in Grades 7-12

All students enrolled in grades 7 through 12 who wish to ride a school bus must purchase a bus pass. Distance from the school has no bearing on the fee. The full year fee is $425 per student with a $700 family maximum. If your on-line registration is processed after MAY 8, 2023, the fee is $450 per student with a $725 family maximum.

Families who are eligible for free or reduced lunch will have their bus fee waived, if they qualify. Please remember that free and reduced lunch applications are due annually. Applications for free and reduced lunch for the 2023-24 school year are not yet available. They will be posted on the link below as soon as possible, typically by the end of June. Please do not submit 2022-23 forms for the upcoming 2023-24 school year as we will not be able to accept them.

https://www.north-reading.k12.ma.us/district/food-services/pages/free-an...

Below is the process for registering with Family ID. Other bus information including the bus rules and regulations and the Bus FAQ’s are located on the District website. If you have any questions on this process you may contact Rosaly MacKillop, Bus Transportation Coordinator, at 978-526-5252 or rmackillop@nrpsk12.org, Monday through Friday.

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

A parent/guardian should register by clicking on this link:

https://www.familyid.com/north-reading-public-schools-transportation

Follow these steps:

To find your program, click on the link provided by the Organization above and select the applicable program either the Grades K-6 registration link or the Grades 7-12 registration link.

Next click on the blue Register Now button and scroll, if necessary, to the Create Account/Log In blue buttons. If this is your first time using FamilyID, click Create Account. Click Log In, if you already have a FamilyID account.

Create your secure FamilyID account by entering the account owner First and Last names (parent/guardian), E-mail address and password. Select I Agree to the FamilyID Terms of Service. Click Create Account.

You will receive an email with a link to activate your new account. (If you don’t see the email, check your E-mail filters (spam, junk, etc.).

Click on the link in your activation E-mail, which will log you in to FamilyID.com

Once in the registration form, complete the information requested. All fields with a red* are required to have an answer.

Click the Continue button when your form is complete.

Review your registration summary.

SUPPORT:

If you need assistance with registration, contact FamilyID at: support@familyid.com or 781-205-2800 x1.

Support is available 7 days per week and messages will be returned promptly.

Bus stops and routes will be updated throughout the summer and will be finalized the last week in August and posted on the District website. Bus routes will also be published in the North Reading Transcript on or about the last week in August. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Michael Connelly

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations