The Kelso Schools Transportation Department provides school bus transportation for over 2,000 students a day, twice a day, and is one of the safest forms of transportation. Our drivers must hold a valid Commercial Driver's License, Class B, with a Passenger endorsement, as well as an "S" endorsement as required for school bus drivers in the United States. The District maintains a fleet of 76 vehicles, including 49 buses and 27 support vehicles (vans, maintenance and grounds vehicles, etc.), and is held to the Washington State Patrol inspections standards twice a year.

Please contact your child's school to obtain busing information based on your route area. Specific transportation inquiries should be directed to our Dispatch Office at (360) 501-1352. Students riding the bus must be at their bus stop no later than 5 minutes prior to their pick-up time, and Kindergarten students must be met at the bus stop each day. The District has standard bell times throughout the schools, and each school is out early every Wednesday: Secondary at 1:00 pm and Elementary at 1:55 pm.

WE'RE HIRING!! Kelso School District Transportation Department is always looking for Bus Drivers, whether you want to work as a Substitute or as a Bid Route Driver. We offer paid training, competitive wages and a flexible schedule. No experience necessary and a school-days work schedule!! Classes starting soon!!

Current openings include: Bus Drivers, Mechanic, Paraeducators, Nutrition Services, Custodians and Maintenance. If you are interested in joining our team, click below for a complete listing of open positions available.

JOB OPENINGS - CLICK HERE TO APPLY

For Bus Driver information, click below for a checklist of items needed to complete your application. If you have questions, please contact our Driver Trainer in the Dispatch Office at (360) 501-1354. To apply for either position listed below, click on the above JOB OPENINGS link to start the process.

BUS DRIVER APPLICATION CHECKLIST

TRANSPORTATION JOB POSTING - SUB BUS DRIVER

TRANSPORTATION JOB POSTING - MECHANIC

The decision to delay the opening of school, dismiss early or close school for the day due to weather conditions is never an easy one.  Our priority is the safety of the children and staff. 

Any decision to delay opening, dismiss early or close must begin early.  Our Transportation Supervisor is out checking road conditions sometimes as early as 3:00 a.m. to determine the safety of transporting students.  After consulting weather reports and checking road conditions, the Transportation Supervisor consults with the Superintendent, and any decision to delay or close school is made around 5:30 a.m.

If there is a delayed opening but weather conditions continue to be a problem, the district will determine whether to delay further or to close school.  Decisions to delay, dismiss early or close are not taken lightly.  We want the children of the district to have uninterrupted and continuous instruction.

Announcements are posted on the main District web page, and are also made via television, radio, FlashAlert, and various social media (see Inclement Weather Plan below).  In the event that internet is not available, we also update our District Information Line at 360-501-1990 each morning and afternoon with closures, delays and buses that are on snow routes (see list below).

We are sensitive to the inconvenience to parents who must make arrangements for their children if school is delayed, dismissed early or closed but safety must take precedence over all other considerations.