Transportation
Summit Hill School District provides student transportation services to approximately 2,000 students every school day. The Transportation Department is responsible for the daily operation for student transportation to and from school, scheduling of all field, athletic, and co-curricular trips. Contract transportation services are provided by Safeway Transportation for general education students and Lincoln-Way 843 for special education students.
Transportation routes are designed in the interest of safety and efficiency. The large number of students being transported makes it impossible to provide for house stops or special requests stops that are not related to a safety issue or medical condition. Bus stops are arranged for each route within the established state guidelines for the distance students walk from their homes to the stop. Walk to Stop guidelines are:
- 0.2 miles for students K - 4 grades
- 0.4 miles for students in grades 5 through 8
The district requires that for Kindergarten students a parent/guardian is to be present at the bus stop.
Transportation services are also provided free of charge for special education students if included in the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or as otherwise required by law. All special education students will be transported in accordance with current rules and regulations, as well as the Illinois School Code.
Transportation safety is a shared responsibility and is enhanced with the active participation of students, parents, school staff, and our school bus drivers. School bus safety training is conducted with students and staff each year.
The Transportation Department is happy to answer any questions that may arise regarding a student's transportation to or from school and school-sponsored activities.
The Transportation Department is open on school days during the regular school year from 7:30 a.m. until the last school bus completes the afternoon route sequence, generally 4:15 p.m.. Please contact the Mary Drew Administration Center at 815-469-9103 for any questions or concerns. If a bus is running late and your child’s school has not communicated its ETA, you can contact Safeway Transportation at 708-552-1026.
The District also offer parents and students the Here Comes the Bus app to download onto your phones so you can see your child's bus location in real time and route information.
Transportation Eligibility
The school district will provide free transportation for all students who reside:
- A distance of one and one-half (1.5) miles or more from their assigned schools
- Within 1.5 miles of the assigned schools, but for whom walking would constitute a serious hazard as determined by the Illinois Department of Transportation standards.
- Supplemental bussing is also available to students at a pre-existing stop and if there is available room.
Transportation Route Change Request
If you decide to send your child to Before or After School (BAS) daycare or want to transport your child to school you can click the form below to submit a Transportation Route Change Request.
NOTE: Initial bus stop location changes will NOT be honored until After Labor Day. BAS and parent pickup requests can be submitted before that time. If you had previously submitted a Transportation Change Request using our old paper form, we ask that you re-submit that request using the Transportation Route Change Request.
Before / After School Care Information
These daycare facilities have no affiliation with Summit Hill School District 161.
- Before and After School – Frankfort Square Park District
(Transportation provided by Summit Hill)
Phone: 815-469-3524 - Ivy League Kids (some services provided at Dr. Julian Rogus School)
Phone: 815-464-1265 - Children’s Country Club Too
Phone: 815-464-9820 - Triple R Child Care
Phone: 708-479-4646 - Little Blossom
Phone: 708-479-3737 - Kid’s Station
Phone: 708-479-3999 - Kinder Care
Phone: 815-806-0331 - The Learning Experience
Phone: 815-277-0305 - Kiddie Academy
Phone: 815-277-2506