Transportation

Riverside Local Schools One Community, Pursuing Greatness, and Getting Better Every Day

RLS K–12 District

Transportation

The Riverside Local School District is committed to providing the highest level of transportation possible while pledging safety as a top priority for all riders.

Our transportation service consists of 49 routes, including two pre-school and nine special needs buses, covering the 65-square miles of the District on a daily basis. The current spare fleet consists of 16 units. The Department staff includes three ASE certified technicians, two administrative assistants, one director, 49 contracted operators, 10 contracted school bus assistants, and three substitute employees.

Our current enrollment is approximately 4,200 students, 95% of which are eligible for transportation to and from District school buildings each day. Approximately 250 District students are transported each day to other buildings outside of the District.

On average, the fleet travels in excess of 810,000 miles annually.

The two Administrative Assistants and Director that operate the inner office of our Department have an accumulation of over 75 years of transportation experience. Each has the knowledge and experience to assist you with any inquiry you may have.

To view the following bus rules taken from the Ohio Administrative Code, click here.

Evan Palo
Director of Transportation
Routing
evan.palo@riversideschools.net

Amy Tepley
Transportation Coordinator
Field Trips, Athletics, and Payment-in-Lieu-of
amy.tepley@riversideschools.net

Shirley Lange
Administrative Assistant
Special Education and Pre-K
shirley.lange@riversideschools.net

Important Transportation Update

The safety of our students is our highest priority. Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, each student will be assigned one bus stop only for transportation to and from school. This stop may be either the residential parent’s address or one designated alternate stop submitted in advance (that resides in the school attendance zone).

In recent years, some students have had multiple bus stops on different days due to shared parenting schedules. While we have tried to accommodate these requests, the practice has created serious safety concerns, including:

Increased risk of students being placed on the wrong bus or dropped off at the wrong location
Confusion for drivers, students, and school staff when stops change day-to-day
Difficulty verifying where each child is supposed to be, which could delay emergency response in critical situations

By moving to one consistent bus stop per student, we can ensure that every child has a predictable and safe transportation plan that our drivers can confidently follow.

We understand that this change may require families to adjust schedules, and we appreciate your cooperation as we implement this student-safety improvement. Families with shared parenting arrangements will have the residential parent's house assigned as the student's designated bus stop. For questions, please contact the transportation office at 440-357-5571

Thank you for your understanding and support as we take this important step to protect our students and provide the safest, most reliable transportation possible.

Bus Pass Policy

To ensure student safety and maintain consistent transportation procedures, students are only permitted to ride their assigned bus to and from school. Bus passes will not be issued for students to ride home on a bus other than their assigned route. Exceptions will only be considered in cases of verified emergencies and must be approved by school administration.

Bus Stop Information

Bus stop information is available on Infinite Campus under the Transportation tab. Parents will see information about their child’s bus number, bus stop location, and pick-up and drop-off times. Bus assignments and times are anticipated to be available in mid-August 2026/2027 School Year. Parents are encouraged to check the status of the bus stop information all the way up to the start of the school year as information is subject to change.

Private/Charter School Transportation Request

Families attending an eligible chartered nonpublic or community school must first request transportation from Riverside Local Schools. After reviewing the request, the Transportation Department will determine the appropriate transportation arrangement and notify the family of the next steps. Depending on the circumstances, transportation may be provided by Riverside, arranged through another authorized transportation method, or, when transportation is determined to be impractical under Ohio law, the district will determine the type of transportation offered. To request Private/Charter School Transportation, please use the link found here.

ACC/ISTEM routes

iSTEM Transportation Request - 2026/2027

7:30 a.m. departs for ACC
(juniors and ISTEM students)

10:30 a.m. departs for ACC
(seniors)

11:15 a.m. returns from ACC
(with juniors)

3:00pm returns to LaMuth with ACC Seniors/iSTEM students to transfer to home bus. The bus does NOT return to the Riverside Campus in the afternoons.
On days where Riverside is not in session, only shuttles to/from the RHS Campus will be provided!

NDEL/NDCL routes

7:15 a.m. buses will depart ACC Media Building for NDEL & NDCL

3:15 p.m. buses will return to ACC Media Building

Contact Information

Questions, comments, or concerns? Contact our office, and staff will be happy to help or point you in the right direction!
Please note that office staff may be out on the road in instances of being short staffed. Please be sure to leave a detailed message on our voicemail, or send us an email for the most efficient response. Thank you!
Regular Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 6am - 5pm (or until last student is dropped at home)
Summer Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am - 2pm
(440) 357-5571

Field Trip Requests

Riverside Staff can request transportation for field trips by submitting the below form to their building secretary. Please be sure to read the guidelines in full.
Field Trip Request Form