Harford County Public Schools Releases Bus Schedules/Routes; School Year Starts Sept. 5

From Harford County Public Schools:

The Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) Department of Transportation has released bus schedules and routes for the 2017-18 school year, now available online via the web-based portal infofinder i.

Through the infofinder i portal, parents/guardians are able to:

– Locate which school their student will attend;

– Find their student’s bus number and designated stop;

– Access approximate pick-up and drop-off times; and

– Visualize the route their student’s bus will take to and from school.

Beginning Thursday, August 10, 2017, parents/guardians should follow these steps to obtain
their student’s transportation information:

1. Using an internet browser, go to HCPS’s website, www.hcps.org.

2. On the left-hand side of the homepage, click on the school/bus icon called “School & Bus
Locator 2017-2018.”

3. Users will be directed to the infofinder i portal.

4. Review the instructions and steps for navigating the portal in the “Bulletin” tab.

4. Enter the student’s full home street address.

5. View the student’s school and bus details.

Parents/guardians are urged to access infofinder i to review and verify bus information for their student(s) as many stops, routes and bus numbers may have changed from the previous school year.

If transportation information does not display for a student, parents/guardians should call the Transportation Department at 410-638-4092. If a student resides in a non-service area, infofinder i will indicate that information.

Since routes are based on estimated fall enrollments, school officials remind parents/guardians and students to expect minor adjustments in bus loads and schedules during the first weeks of school in order to alleviate any overcrowded buses.

A depot bus stop system for school bus transportation is in place for all students attending HCPS magnet programs. Students attending the Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School, the Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Edgewood High School and the Natural Resources and Agricultural Science Magnet Program at North Harford High School will be contacted by postcard with their bus information.

Harford Technical High School will utilize the consolidated bus stop system and will also be notified of their approximate pick-up time and location by postcard.

Students attending the Alternative Education Program will be notified of their transportation information via phone.

John Archer School and elementary Pre-K (for mid-day service) students will be contacted directly via phone regarding their school transportation information, as will all other students riding a special needs bus, both in-county and out-of-county.

Students should plan to be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.

Students attending the Alternative Education Program and those attending magnet programs (Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School, Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Edgewood High School, Natural Resources and Agricultural Science Magnet Program at North Harford High School) should plan to be at their bus depot at least ten minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. The student’s designated depot stop is their home high school in their attendance area or an alternate authorized high school depot stop. Students who plan to use bus transportation are encouraged to ride the bus beginning the first day of school to facilitate the establishment of the time schedule and the busload.

The p.m. return time to home for each bus may be later at the beginning of the school year to accommodate students adjusting to new school settings. Once the schedule has been established, there will be a normal drop-off time for each student.

Parents/guardians may review and/or reference transportation rules and policies in the 2017-18 Parent-Student Handbook Calendar that is distributed to each household during the first week of school.

Questions or concerns related to specific bus stops or route schedules should be directed to the HCPS Transportation Department at 410-638-4092.

Additional back-to-school information – including individual school supply lists, dates for early dismissals, and more – is available on www.hcps.org by clicking the “Back to School 2017-18” icon on the left side of the homepage.

Breakfast and lunch menus for the new school year will also be accessible from the homepage as soon as they are available.