ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING BLANCHE A. AMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, REGARDLESS OF DISTANCE, RECEIVE BUS SERVICE
EPS OFFERS A ‘PAY AND RIDE PROGRAM‘ FOR STUDENTS AT RICHARDSON OLMSTED, EASTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND OLIVER AMES HIGH SCHOOL AS DESCRIBED BELOW
Missed Deadline: If you miss the Pay and Ride deadline, you will be placed on a waitlist and be ineligible for transportation for the first day of school.
Richardson-Olmsted (Grades 3-5)
The Easton Public Schools is offering a Pay and Ride Program on a space-available basis to students in Grades 3-5 who live within the 1.5 (one-and-a-half) mile busing limit and are not eligible for school bus service. Available seats will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis determined by the bus routes and capacity of the vehicle.
Easton Middle School and Oliver Ames High School (Grades 6-12) – [WAIT LIST OPTION]
(You should still complete the application and payment for middle school and high school if your child was eligible)
At this time, we are unable to offer a “Pay and Ride” service for students in Grades 6-12 who live within the 1.5 (one and a half) mile busing limit and are not eligible for school bus service. Eligible ridership for these buses is at full capacity.
However, we will accept applications and payments for students in Grades 6-12 who would like to participate in the Pay and Ride Program and place them on a waiting list in the order in which they are received.
In late October, when actual ridership is known, we will be able to determine if we have vacant seats on some of our buses. If, at that time seats become available, we will notify you with your child’s assigned bus number and stop. If it is determined that we are unable to accommodate your request, we will contact you and return your application fee.
Pay and Ride Fees
Fees are not pro-rated and are non-refundable once the student begins riding the bus.
| 1st Student | $175 |
| 2nd Student | $150 |
| 3rd Student | $125 |
| Per Family Maximum | $450 |
Pay and Ride Application and Payment
Parents interested in applying for the Pay and Ride Program for students in Grades 3-12 must submit a Pay and Ride Application by the due date AND submit payment online. (Up to three students may be submitted on one application.)
Payment Options
You have two (2) options for paying your bill; either by electronic check or by credit card. (Up to three students may be submitted at a time.) Registration will not be considered complete until payment is made.
***Electronic Check (Recommended)
You will need one of your checks with you when you pay your bill online in order to get your account number and the bank’s routing number from it. You will be shown where this information is on your check. There will be a $0.50 processing fee assessed per transaction for all electronic check payments.
Credit Card
UNIPAY accepts MasterCard, American Express, and Discover for credit card payments. It does not accept VISA.
There will be a convenience fee for each online payment. The credit card service provider charges the fee to your credit card. When paying by credit card, the fee amount will appear on the confirmation page and will be totaled with the amount of the tax. (See Fee Schedule)
Pay and Ride Inquiries
Email all inquiries to payandride@easton.k12.ma.us. Your patience during this district-wide process is appreciated.
STEP 1: COMPLETE THE PAY AND RIDE APPLICATION
STEP 2: PAY ONLINE
Below are DESE’s transportation policies/guidelines:
Eligibility
All children in grades kindergarten through six who reside more than two miles from the school they are entitled to attend and the nearest school bus stop is more than one mile from their residence and all children residing in regional school districts in grades kindergarten through twelve. Exceptions to this policy may be made when road conditions do not provide for the physical safety of the children and when the health of students makes this service essential.
Measurable Distances
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education policy regarding the “measurable distances” provisions set forth in M.G.L. c.71, s. 68, is as follows:
- Measurable Distances
The distance between a pupil’s residence and the school the pupil is entitled to attend or the nearest school bus stop shall be measured from “portal to portal” over a commonly traveled route. - Portal to portal shall mean the sidewalk or public way in front or nearest to a pupil’s home of residence to the entranceway of the school building the public is attending. Where there is more than one entranceway to the school building either entranceway may be used for measuring distances if both of the entrances are ordinarily accessible.
- A commonly traveled route shall mean a sidewalk or public way which, in the ordinary course, is open and accessible to pedestrian traffic.
The above definition of a “commonly traveled route” shall be used to determine and verify numbers of pupils being transported at least 2 miles from school, including instances where a school committee elects to transport pupils, because of hazardous/safety conditions, over a route other than a “commonly traveled route” as defined in our policy on “measurable distances.” A public way is considered not open and accessible when a state (excluding the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) or federal agency has officially excluded school transportation vehicles from using the route. School transportation vehicles are not required to travel in nonpublic ways (c.90). A public way is adopted and registered as such in the city or town (c.81).