The Redbank Valley School District Transportation Department coordinates daily transportation to and from school and bus service for extracurricular/activity trips. 

The Transportation Administrator, Mrs. Laura Neiswonger, is available from the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  She can be reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or by phone at 814-275-2426 x400.   

At the beginning of a school year, transportation is set up to transport your students from their home to school and back again. If your student needs to go somewhere other than their residence (Due to child care issues or custody orders) you will need to fill out this form. All change requests received less than 3 weeks before the beginning of the school year may not take effect until after the beginning of the school year.  To ensure the safety of our students, all change requests require a minimum of 72 hours to process after the beginning of the school year.  Additional time may be needed if a significant change is needed to a bus or van route.

• BEGINNING OF YEAR BUS CHANGES – If a bus change is requested, the parent/guardian must fill out a Busing Request Form and arrangements will be made to honor the request as soon as possible after school begins. Until the change goes into effect, the parent/guardian will have to provide transportation or make other arrangements.
• ALTERNATE BUSING DUE TO COURT ORDERS - In the case of split custody between parents/guardians please be sure the school  your child attends and the transportation department has a copy of the written/signed court order. Both parents must reside in Redbank Valley School District in order for RVSD to comply with the request for alternating bus routes due to a custody/court order.

***Alternate busing changes DO NOT carry over from year to year. The transportation department and your child’s school will need to be contacted as to how the busing will need to be set up  EACH YEAR. Please note that busing will NOT be set up accordingly until the transportation department is contacted. ***

• BUS REQUESTS – The district does not accept requests to allow students to switch buses on different days of the week, unless an emergency arises. Students will be assigned ONE (1) a.m. bus and ONE (1) p.m. bus to provide daily transportation to and from school. Because of the large number of students transported by the district and safe schools procedures, requests such as the following WILL NOT be honored: One (1) bus on Monday, Wednesday and Friday pick-up and a different bus Tuesday and Thursday pick-up. The same holds true for your child’s return ride from school. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for pick-up or drop-off of your child when you do not want your child to ride his/her assigned bus.  
• BUS PASSES – Due to bus safety regulations, minimal changes will occur in daily bus transportation. IN EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, a bus pass request is considered for approval. The bus pass request  is obtained through the Transportation Office and must be submitted to the Transportation Office for approval. Extenuating circumstances do NOT include travel to the home of a friend. 
• KINDERGARTEN STOPS – A parent/guardian MUST be at the bus stop for pick-up of all kindergarten students. The parent/guardian must be out of their vehicle and waiting at the bus stop so that the bus driver can see who is picking up the student. If no one is at the bus stop and after the bus driver has attempted to contact guardian and has attempted to drop student off after completing their bus run, the kindergarten student will be returned to his/her school and the principal/designated staff will try to contact the parents. 
• ADDRESS CHANGES: Did you move? Call the school building where your student attends. A staff member will take the address change information and proof of residency. Because proof of residency is required for all student address changes, the Transportation Department cannot process permanent address changes for students.
• TRANSPORTATION CHANGE REQUESTS: If you would like to request a change to your child’s bus stop location or another accommodation, please complete this online form.

Transportation requests can be involved, so using the online form is the district’s preferred way to collect detailed information.  If you are unable to use the online form, then you can contact the Transportation Office at 814-275-2426 x400.

 ***For multiple children, please fill out the form for each child separately.

Transportation Changes Form (Click Here)

Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. PBIS improves social emotional competence, academic success, and school climate. It also improves teacher health and wellbeing.

PBIS is built on a foundation of expectations. When students know what is expected of them, they are more likely to behave appropriately. With that thought in mind, principals, teachers, and staff at every school in the District work together to set up behavioral expectations and subsequent rewards that are specific to their school. Expectations are reinforced and acknowledged at places like morning meetings, classrooms, and school-wide events.

Expectations are broad, and age-appropriate. Most revolve around common objectives such as being respectful, responsible, and safe. Consistency is the key to success. Each building has selected their own set of positively stated expectations. All adults and students throughout their school utilize the same expectations in all environments.

In some schools, when students are “caught being good,” they are acknowledged with tickets or points that reinforce the likelihood that the positive behavior will occur again. Opportunities to reinforce student behavior happen at the building, classroom, and individual levels. Each building has their own acknowledgment system that feature items and experiences that are meaningful to all students. Over time, negative behaviors disappear in favor of preferred positive behaviors.

Mental Health & Behavioral Support Personnel

The Redbank Valley School district has two mental health workers as well as one behavioral support personnel who will work with students in need.  A referral by a parent or teacher will allow for interactions to occur with parent permission.  Sessions can be individual or small group and will occur during the day.

In addition, the Redbank Valley School District partners with Family Psychological Services to utilize each school building as an outpatient facility for students to receive therapy within the school setting.  Most referrals come through our SAP program. 

Parents who are interested in their child(ren) receiving these services should contact the building principal.

Trauma

At the Redbank Valley School District, we understand the significant impact that trauma can have on students' lives and their ability to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. We are committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for all our students, which is why we have implemented a comprehensive approach to address student trauma.

Our approach to student trauma is rooted in evidence-based programming and is an integral part of our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. Through this framework, we aim to meet the diverse needs of our students and create a school culture that promotes resilience, healing, and success.

As part of our commitment to addressing student trauma, we have incorporated the following evidence-based programs into our MTSS framework: Student Assistance Program (SAP) and Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS). By integrating these evidence-based programs into our MTSS framework, we ensure that students receive the targeted support they need to navigate the effects of trauma successfully. Our dedicated and highly trained staff work collaboratively with students, families, and community partners to implement these programs effectively.

At Redbank Valley School District, we recognize that addressing student trauma is a collective effort. We strive to create a trauma-informed learning community where educators are equipped with the knowledge and resources to support students effectively. We provide ongoing professional development opportunities for our staff, enabling them to stay up to date with the latest research and best practices in trauma-informed care.

We are proud to offer these evidence-based programs as part of our commitment to nurturing the whole child and fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment.

If you have any questions or would like more information about our approach to student trauma or any other programs we offer, please don't hesitate to contact us. Together, we can make a positive difference in the lives of our students.