Lake Ridge transportation coordinator details bus schedules, safety measures and rules for homeless and foster students

Chris Arroyo, the transportation coordinator for Lake Ridge New Tech Schools, described how the district manages routes, student safety and special transport obligations as the new school year begins.

"So far this school year, it's been hectic like any school year," Arroyo said, and added that by the fifth day PM dismissal was about an hour and 15 minutes faster than last year as crews gain efficiency. He urged parents to be patient during the first weeks of school, saying, "we just gotta make it to September" when routes typically stabilize.

Arroyo described his daily routine: the office opens about 7:30 a.m., some buses begin radioing in as early as 6:15 a.m., and he sometimes follows routes in the morning to observe stops and address problems. High‑school pickups start earliest (about 6:15–6:30 a.m.), followed by middle school (roughly 7:10–7:20 a.m.) and then elementary routes, which helps ensure students arrive before the bell.

On special‑education and mandated transport, Arroyo said the district runs dedicated buses for students educated in‑house and participates in outside special‑education routing (identified in the program as "NYSEQ"). For McKinney‑Vento (homeless) students and some foster‑care placements, the district provides transportation to preserve school stability: Arroyo said the district must transport in‑district homeless students who remain at their school, and will transport foster children when it is "in the best interest of the student," noting there is no fixed distance limit for such placements.

He recounted a recent case in which a foster placement proposed by child‑welfare officials would have required about 3.5 hours on the bus each way; after review the department agreed that the placement was not appropriate and a nearer school placement was needed.

Arroyo reviewed operational protocols for missed drop‑offs: if no adult is present the driver waits briefly, radios the coordinator and the coordinator or school office calls guardians; if staff cannot reach family, the student is returned to school and held until contact is made.

For extracurricular trips, the district uses mini buses called "Warrior Wagons" that seat about 14 passengers plus a driver and are free for school use; larger trips requiring all team equipment are chartered at cost.

On safety and behavior, Arroyo said buses are equipped with four cameras (two front, one middle, one rear) that record video, audio and night‑vision; footage is used in investigations and discipline is handled by school principals, who can bar a student from bus service if warranted. He encouraged parents and students to wear reflective clothing or carry a flashlight during darker months to increase visibility at stops that lack sidewalks or street lighting.

Regarding phones, Arroyo said Indiana's ban on communication devices during school hours is handled so phones must be put in lockers during the school day, but phones are allowed on buses and can be used to call parents; he asked students to keep volume low so drivers and other students are not disturbed.

Arroyo gave a direct contact for parents with routing questions or to arrange bus service: (219) 989-7805, and asked listeners to leave voicemail when office lines are busy. The program closed with a recap of the topics and contact information.

The segment provides practical guidance for parents and clarifies the district's transport obligations; no formal policy changes or board votes were announced.