Transportation

The Gulf Shores City Schools Transportation Department is committed to the safe and efficient transportation of our most precious cargo — our children. Every day, our goal is to ensure students travel to and from school and school-related activities in the safest, most reliable manner possible.

Our professional school bus drivers are held to the highest standards:

They are required to attend annual safety training sessions
They must pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination
They are subject to random drug and alcohol testing throughout the year

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the school bus is the safest vehicle on the road. In fact, students are up to 70 times safer riding a school bus than traveling by car.

Safety is not just a priority — it’s our promise.
We are proud to serve the Gulf Shores community and to play a vital role in supporting student success through safe and dependable transportation.

For more information contact:
Randall Carlisle
rcarlisle@gsboe.org
Student Engagement, Safety, and Transportation Coordinator
251.968.9873

At Gulf Shores City Schools, the safety of our students during transportation is a top priority. Our bus drivers work diligently every day to ensure students arrive at school and return home safely and on time.

To help us maintain a safe and respectful environment on all school buses, we ask for the support of both students and parents:

Student Expectations

Students are expected to follow all bus rules and behave appropriately at all times.
Disruptive behavior can distract the driver and compromise the safety of everyone on board.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

Please ensure your child arrives at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
Encourage your child to follow bus safety guidelines and behavior policies.
Talk with your child about the importance of respecting the driver and fellow passengers.

Community Partnership

We strive to provide clear and timely communication regarding:

Bus stop locations
Bus numbers
Pick-up and drop-off times

We ask all community members to:

Be patient and cautious at bus stops
Obey all traffic laws, especially when buses are displaying flashing red lights
Partner with us in promoting safe and respectful behavior on the bus

Together, we can ensure that every bus ride is safe, respectful, and reliable — every day.

Large school buses offer exceptional protection for students due to their size, weight, and a range of built-in safety features, including:

Flashing light systems
Cross-view mirrors and crossing arms
High-backed, padded seating (compartmentalized seating)
Reinforced roof structures and strong body joints
High crash/crush resistance standards

All school buses must meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which mandate:

Compartmentalized seating for impact protection
Improved emergency exits
Enhanced fuel system integrity
Stronger bus body joint construction
Roof strength standards to prevent collapse in rollovers

Because of these features, school buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses are specifically engineered to be safer than passenger vehicles when it comes to preventing both crashes and injuries.

NHTSA believes that school buses should be as safe as possible, which is why their safety requirements exceed those of all other buses and passenger vehicles.

At Gulf Shores City Schools, we are proud to offer safe and reliable transportation for your child to and from school each day. To help us plan efficient routes and ensure accurate records, we kindly ask that all families complete the Transportation Registration Form for each student who will be riding a school bus.

Please Note:
A separate form must be completed for each child who will be using district transportation services.

Your cooperation helps us provide the safest and most efficient transportation experience possible for all students.

Thank you for your support in helping us plan for a successful school year!

***Online GSCS Transportation Request is now Open - ALL students riding a school bus to Gulf Shores City Schools for the 2025-2026 school year will need to complete the student bus transportation form.***

GSCS Transportation Request (Students Morning/Afternoon)

Please remind your child/children to look for our Gulf Shores City Schools Buses.

Bus Information

Bus Lists

The bus pick times are dependent on traffic flow and red lights. Parents please have students at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pick up time. Thank you so much!

Bus #15-01 Renee Feinstein (Crab)
Bus #15-02 Brandi Owens (Mermaid)
Bus #16-01 Brandon Stephens (Jellyfish)
Bus #17-01 Mike Bowman (Surfboard)
Bus #18-01 Valerie Caldwell (Starfish)
Bus #19-01 Clint Wigley (Sandcastle)
Bus #20--01 Don Smith (Shark)
Bus #20-02 Brian Parrish (Sand Dollar)
Bus #21-01 Karla Rakocy (Dolphin)
Bus #22-01 Steve Henry (Sea Turtle)
Bus #22-02 Paul Platt (Sailboat)
Bus #22-03 Paula McGrady (Seahorse)
Bus #23-01 Richard Turner (Pelican)
Bus #24-01 Kaia Williams-Helms (Whale)
Bus #24-02 Sara Shaw (Stingray)
Bus #24-03 Teresa Brewer (Clown Fish)
Bus #24-04 Austin Boyd (Seashell)

Bus Discipline Form For Students

Bus Drivers

AAPS Fingerprinting Overview

Application For An Alabama School Bus Driver Certificate

Application For Gulf Shores City Schools Bus Driver

Application For Gulf Shores City Schools Substitute Bus Driver

Bus Drivers Handbook

CDL Manual

Physical Examine Report

Requirements to Drive A Bus For Gulf Shores

Requirements to Drive A Bus In State of Alabama

Rules and Regulations Transportation Booklet

Bus Manifest Form
Bus Safety Rules For Students

Bus Manifest Form

Bus Safety Rules For Students

GULF SHORES CITY SCHOOLS BUS RULES
Student safety and discipline on a school bus is everybody’s business. Bus drivers must maintain good discipline and set reasonable expectations for proper conduct. Before the first day of school and each day as necessary, all parents/guardians should explain the following guidelines to their students.

Students are expected to act appropriately while at the appointed bus stop.

Go immediately to the assigned seat and remain in the seat for the entire bus trip.

Remain seated and facing forward while the bus is in motion.

Talk in a quiet, reasonable tone of voice. Loud, boisterous, profane language or indecent conduct will not be tolerated.

Students may not tease, scuffle, trip, hold, hit, or use their hands, feet, or bodies objectionably.

Do not litter or throw items on the bus; this will not be tolerated.

Food, drink, candy, and gum are prohibited on the bus.

Students may be permitted to utilize electronic devices while on the school bus at the driver's discretion. Students and parents are responsible for maintaining and caring for all personal electronic devices, including correctly securing them to prevent damage and theft at school and on the school bus.

Keep the bus aisle clear of all items, such as feet, legs, book bags, instruments, etc.

Students shall be respectful of the bus driver and follow all directions given by the driver.

Students should refrain from tampering with the emergency equipment on the school bus.

Students shall treat each other with respect and follow school handbook rules.

Treat all school property with respect.

Observe the same conduct rules as expected in the classroom.

Encourage your students to alert you about problems on the bus, parents not at home, strange people/vehicles in the area, or anything unusual.

Students must be quiet when the bus stops at all railroad crossings.

Students will be released at their designated bus stop unless the school has given them prior written permission to exit the bus at another location. Once a student boards a bus, they can only exit the bus if it is at their designated bus stop.

Musical instruments are allowed on the school bus but must be held by the student during the trip. Instruments may not be stored in the back of the bus (blocking the emergency exit).

Sporting equipment must be carried in a sporting bag or protective covering and held by the student during the trip.

Students shall not leave any personal items on the bus.

Skateboards, scooters, etc., are prohibited on buses.

Students should be at their designated bus stop 5 minutes before their scheduled pick-up time. Students need to be at their stop before the bus arrives so that they will not cause the other students to be late for school. If a student misses a bus because they were late getting to their stop, the bus will not return to pick up the student. Do not chase the school bus down to put your student on the bus. If your student misses the bus, you must take the student to school.

The transportation department designates the bus stops and pick-up times for students.

Students are not allowed to transport prescription or non-prescription medications on the bus and must comply with all GSCS BOE policies regarding medicine.

Smoking, lighters, matches, drug possession, fighting, weapons, or damage to the school property are not tolerated and prohibited.

Mirrors, lasers, flash cameras, or any other light or reflective devices are prohibited in a manner that might interfere with the bus driver’s operation.

Earbuds or headphones must be removed upon entering and exiting the bus.

All students who ride the bus to and from school or any school activity are subject to these rules. Behavior that distracts the driver is a hazard to the safe operation of the bus and jeopardizes the safety of all.

 All students who ride the bus to and from school or any school activity are subject to these rules until they get off at their home, school, or other destination. Behavior that distracts the driver is a hazard to the safe operation of the bus and jeopardizes the safety of all. The bus driver and an administrator will take disciplinary action if rules are disobeyed.

District

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