Frequently Asked Questions

• All bus drivers and monitors take part in continuous training and testing to ensure they are equipped to safely transport students. (See https://www.ulsterboces.org/services-for-schools/management-services/transportation-training for a list of trainings).
• A minimum of 3 emergency bus drills are conducted each school year with the children.
• All vehicles undergo 60-90 minute inspections twice each year by specially trained NYS DOT school bus inspectors.
• Every vehicle carries a first-aid kit, short-wave or digital radio, fire extinguisher, and seat belt cutter.
• We want to know you! Please introduce yourself to your child’s bus driver and monitor and communicate with them regularly.
• Further information about school bus safety can be found at https://p12.nysed.gov/schoolbus/

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that children not wear a bulky coat when seated and strapped into a car seat (gov/keep-your-little-ones-warm-and-safe-their-car-seats) since they may prevent the car seat straps from being drawn snugly, allowing the child to slip down and thereby reducing the car seat’s effectiveness.
• NHTSA recommends that light jackets be worn instead of bulky coats. A bulky coat can be removed and laid over the child in the car seat to keep them warm.
• The local supervisor has been trained in car seat safety and checks car seats to ensure they are installed and used properly and are the appropriate size for each child.

• PK programs will give parents paperwork for summer transportation requests that should be submitted by early June or as per PK program instructions.
• Once paperwork is processed, you will be contacted by Prismatic with bus information and pick up and drop off
• The summer schedule may be different from the regular school year’s schedule because different children may attend the summer program.

• If your PK child is continuing or starting a PK program in September, you should be contacted by Prismatic on or about August 15^th.
• If your child will turn 5 by December and is entering a kindergarten program, you should contact your school district’s transportation department to ensure transportation is arranged.

• Generally no. Buses are not allowed onto private property without written permission from the owner.

• You may drive your child to the PK program.
• Ulster County offers parents the current IRS mileage reimbursement rate, now $0.70 per mile. (Parent Mileage Reimbursement – PMR). Parents may contact Reagan Hull @ Reagan@Prismaticservices.com to learn more about the PMR process.

• No fee is charged for PK transportation services.

• No eating or drinking on the bus. This rule prevents accidental choking and the appearance of mice and insects on the bus.
• All children must be strapped in properly and remain seated.

• Contact Prismatic Services either via phone 845.607.0331 or email, ideally, at least one hour before bus service is scheduled at Ulster@Prismaticservices.com. Prismatic staff will notify the bus company as well as your PK

• Contact Prismatic @ 845.607.0331 Staff will reach out to the bus company and confirm bus has come.  Transportation will need to provided to program by the child’s parent if the bus has come and gone on schedule without your child.

• If you move: Contact your child’s  PK program.  They will give you documentation to fill out.

Once the documents are submitted and processed, you will receive a phone call from Prismatic with the updated Bus information, pickup and drop-off times.

Temporary changes cannot be accommodated.

• Danyelle Kovacs Ulster@prismaticservices.com 845.607.0331 EXT 1
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