QUEENS BUS ROUTES 

PLEASE FILL OUT ONE CONTRACT FOR EACH FAMILY USING PRIVATE BUS SERVICE FROM SEPTEMBER  2025 THROUGH JUNE 2026. ALL INFORMATION MUST BE FILLED IN, NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE. 

 

PART I – Terms and Conditions:

1. Definition of Certain terms used herein: 

● Aggregate Payment: total of all rider payments received by In State for the Queens Bus.

● Final Price Per Rider: allocation of total bus costs to each rider based on their service level.

● Governmental Authority: any government or political subdivision, whether federal, state, local or foreign, or any agency, department, official, court, tribunal, legislative body or instrumentality of any  such government or political subdivision, or any federal, state, local or foreign court. 

● Order: any order, decision, judgment, ruling, injunction, assessment, award, decree or writ of any  Governmental Authority or arbitrator. 

● Price Per Bus: price per bus for In State bus service for that school year.

● Rider Credits: any credit that a rider may be due (e.g., overpayment)

2. The following is the Price Per Bus for the 2025/2026 school year:  

a. Large School Bus: Large School Bus with air-conditioning, capacity: max 44 Adults/66* Children = $139,311 per bus per year including the bus, driver, matron, and pre-agreed toll. (This does not include the Central Business District CBD toll, which will be calculated and added to the payments)

*NOTE: If a route has low ridership, the In State Bus in consultation with the bus coordinators may utilize a smaller sized bus to service that route. There will be no adjustment to the price of the service if a smaller bus is utilized. 

3. The Final Price Per Rider will be determined by dividing the Price Per Bus and support costs (e.g. software) required to service the routes under contract by the number of riders, prorating accordingly for part-time ridership. Riders can opt for round-trip, one-way, three-rides or a combination of the one-way + 3 rides services. The price above includes the cost required for this contract.

4. Payments due by each rider will be the Final Price Per Rider less Rider Credits (if applicable). Payments will be made in three installments. In brief: 

a. The first payment & signed contract is due by Aug 1, 2025. 

b. The second payment is due by December 1st, 2025. 

c. The third and final payment is due by Mar 1st, 2026.

5. The Aggregate Payment due for each bus will be the Price Per Bus less total Rider Credits (if any) to be applied for the 2025/2026 school year.

BUS COMPANY’S RESPONSIBILITIES

6. For the fees described above, riders have the right to be picked up in a clean, air-conditioned bus that is driven by a qualified bus driver that meets the safety requirements established by the New York City Department of Education including, but not limited to, functioning seat belts for each seat.  

7. Riders have the right to expect their bus to arrive at, or as close as possible to, their appointed pick-up and drop-off times. 

8. In the event the bus driver believes that the bus will arrive at a particular stop more than 5 minutes past the appointed time, it is the matron’s responsibility to contact the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the rider(s) at that stop to inform them that the bus will be late. The matron will also give his/her best effort to respond to parents’ reasonable calls/texts regarding the whereabouts of the bus. Matron will update WhatsApp group on the status of the bus. 

9. If, in the bus driver’s judgment, it becomes apparent that the bus is running significantly late and will arrive  at the school or afternoon stops late, it is the matron’s responsibility to inform In State and In State will inform the parent or guardian of the status of that run. 

10. It is the matron’s responsibility to ensure that the riders on the bus are wearing their seatbelts. The Matron responsibility is not limited to making sure the children are safe but also to drop and pick up children from designated areas. She monitors children for a comfortable, safe ride. The Matron will communicate to the parents of misbehaved children in a professional manner; make necessary calls and/or updates WhatsApp group for a smooth route. If a matron is absent for any reason, In State will provide a substitute matron. In the event a matron for a particular bus is absent for more than ten days during the school year without a replacement matron, In State will credit the riders of that bus an amount of $150 for each day absent after the ten days.   

11. In the event the In State is aware of any circumstance that would affect the timeliness or comfort of the morning or afternoon rides, it is In State’s responsibility to give notice to the parent coordinators as soon as reasonably possible.

12. In State, in consultation with the parent coordinators, will provide a set of driver and matron guidelines regarding general responsibilities and behavior. E.g.: Drivers and matrons should not utilize any profane language while on the bus; they should not play/listen to any music, talk radio, podcasts that contains profanities or inappropriate content for elementary school-age children or watch videos while driving and transporting children.

13. If the permanent driver is absent, In State will provide a qualified substitute driver to perform required driver duties which include picking up and delivering children to the destination according to the schedule in a timely manner. In State will provide the substitute driver with the necessary route information, navigation tools, passes and contacts. 

14. Matron updates the stops on WhatsApp group; e.g. from Q1 bus matron “Left Stop 1”, “Left Stop 2”…  “Reached School”, etc. 

RIDERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

15. Upon signing this contract, you will be obligated for your full proportionate share of the overall  annual costs for these buses, regardless of whether you utilize this transportation for the full school  year. Payments are nonrefundable. 

16. Additional costs, fees and liabilities: 

a. Parents hereby agree to be liable for any and all damages caused to the buses by their children.  

b. Parents are liable for a $45 fee on returned checks.  

c. A $50 late fee will be applied if payment is received 10 days past the due date. 

d. In the event if the weekly diesel gasoline prices in New York City exceed $5.15 per gallon, a fuel sur charge of $10 per bus per day (excluding weekend and holidays) will be applied.  

17. In the event of nonpayment, In State reserves the right to discontinue service  and report such nonpayment for services to credit report agencies; until such time that the non-paying family rectifies the matter. 

18. In the event you wish to discontinue service during the term of this contract AND you find a suitable replacement rider, In State will determine whether to release you from your obligations  under this contract. The determination as to whether a replacement rider is suitable and whether to  release you from this contract will be made by In State in its sole discretion following consultation with the route’s parent coordinators.  

19. The bus routes are determined with the goal of serving the overall needs of all the children on the bus and to ensure that the children arrive at school and at home, safely and in a timely manner. In State reserves the right, in consultation with the routes’ parent coordinators, to make changes to the bus route for the purpose of meeting the overall needs of the majority of riders. 

20. Once school begins in the fall, In State will finalize the route. Finalizing the route will be at the discretion of In State (in consultation with the parent coordinator) and, once finalized, no new stops will be added to the route. Parents that wish to participate in busing after the route has  been finalized, must make arrangements to get their child(ren) to a pre-existing stop on the route. 

21. Once the rider limit on a bus is reached, no new riders will be added to that bus, unless a current  rider discontinues use of the bus. The final determination of rider limit is to be made by the parent  coordinator of that bus, in consultation with the In State, driver and matron. 

22. Any parent who wishes to change their child’s specific stop or has other route related suggestions needs  to make a request to that effect to the route’s parent coordinators. The determination whether to make  the requested change will be made by In State, in consultation with the route’s parent  coordinators. 

23. Any parent of a rider attempting to change the route, their child’s specific stop, or the sequence of  the stops by directing their request directly to the driver will be suspended from the bus for 1 week. 

24. Any parent of a rider attempting to change the route, their child’s specific stop, or the sequence of the  stops by attempting to bribe, threaten or otherwise coerce the driver will be expelled permanently  from the bus for the remainder of the school year. 

25. Any parent or rider attempting to utilize the bus services beyond the services that such rider is registered for, without prior consent of the bus coordinator, may be suspended from the bus or expelled from the bus for the remainder of the school year. 

26. Children are dismissed from class by 2:50pm. If your child does not appear in the auditorium by 2:55pm or on the bus by 3:00pm and the matron/In State has not been able to make contact with you, the bus will leave and you will need to make arrangements to pick up your child from the school. 

28. Despite the best efforts of In State and the routes’ parent coordinators, the bus routes are long and many of the riders (some as young as 4 years old) will be on the bus for a long time. As a result, it is extremely important that the bus runs as close to on-schedule as possible. After arriving at a particular stop, drivers will wait 2 minutes from the designated time (according to his/her cell phone). After this 2 minute grace period, the bus will leave and you will have to make arrangements to get your child to school that day. In the event that the bus arrives at a particilar stop after the designated time, there will be no waiting period. If the bus arrives earlier than scheduled time, the bus will wait until the designated time. 

29. Parents/Guardians must inform In State and the bus driver/matron if your child will not  be on the bus. Also, do not forget to write a note to your child’s teacher. 

30. Parents/Guardians acknowlege and agree that once level of service has been selected hereunder, no requests for any reduction to level of service shall be made; with the exception that a one time request for reduction of service may be accommodated for a rider if such request is made in writing to the parent coordinators and In State at least 15 days prior to the second payment installment due date and approved, and such reduction shall take effect after the second payment installment due date. No requests for reduction of service for any rider will be honored thereafter. If any request for increase of service is made in writing to the parent coordinator and In State, such request shall be honored provided that such rider will be responsible for the cost associated with such level of service increase for the entire installment payment period during which such increase of service commenced.

CODE OF CONDUCT

31. Children need to wear their seatbelts at all times. 

 

32. Eating food on the bus may be acceptable, but your child (ren) must clean up after themselves and  remove any garbage their snacks create from the bus when they leave. However, the matron, driver  or In State  may ban or restrict eating if the children are not cleaning after themselves. 

 

33. Yelling, screaming, use of profanity and inappropriate language, playing of loud or inappropriate music  and media, or discussions of inappropriate topics on the bus are unacceptable behaviors. 

 

34. Dangerous behavior—including, but not limited to, fighting and throwing things—will not be tolerated  under any circumstances. 

 

35. A rider shall not intimidate, harass, or bully another rider through words or actions. Such behavior  includes: direct physical contact, such as hitting or shoving; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name calling; and social isolation or manipulation. 

 

36. Without prior written notice to which is acknowledged and accepted in writing by In State  representative in its sole discretion, guests (e.g., playdates) of riders may NOT ride the  bus as there needs to be a signed contract in place for each rider. 

 

37. Failure to comply with the code of conduct (i.e. the behavior standards and requirements set forth  herein or any other conduct prohibited by law) will result in a written notice to parent and In State  reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend services to the offending rider for one  day. If a rider continues to violate behavior standards and requirements following written notice to  rider’s parent or guardian, In State reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend  service for an extended period or discontinue service entirely to the offending rider. 

 

38. We all understand that we are talking about children and that they will not always behave appropriately.  NEVERTHELESS, AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANY TERM OR PROVISION HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE  BUS COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT UNDER APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES TO DISCONTINUE SERVICE  TO ANY RIDER AND REPEATED VIOLATION OF ANY OR ALL OF THE ABOVE RULES MAY RESULT IN SUCH  REFUSAL OF SERVICE.

39. PART II – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I further acknowledge that, by signing this agreement, I am responsible for all of the fees under this contract,  including the fee for the bus itself (which includes the cost of a matron and tolls), and that I will remain  responsible for these fees for the entire school-bus year, unless I am released from this obligation by In State, as described above. 

 

I UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT AND NOT A CITY-RUN  PROGRAM. ACCORDINGLY, I FURTHER UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO  BUS SERVICE OUTSIDE OF THE RIGHTS CREATED BY THIS CONTRACT. 

 

I understand that I am responsible for ensuring that my child complies with the letter and spirit of the Code  of Conduct and that I have the right to expect that the other riders on the bus will behave likewise. The Code  of Conduct will be upheld and enforced by In State, the driver and the matron for the overall  safety and comfort of all the riders on the bus. The parents/guardians of riders who receive three or more  warnings within a week’s time for their child(ren)’s noncompliance with the Code of Conduct will be called  and the rider’s behavior will be discussed. In the event these discussions do not resolve the matter, In State will determine whether a temporary suspension of the rider is warranted. Although rare,  suspensions may be necessary and will be imposed to ensure a pleasant, safe and reasonably calm ride for all  of the riders on the bus. 

 

I acknowledge that I understand why a suspension may be necessary and that attempts to circumvent a  suspension by forcing my way onto the bus with my child or otherwise influencing or coercing the bus  driver or company will result in my child’s expulsion from the bus for the remainder of the year. 

 

Finally, I acknowledge that, by signing this agreement, I am agreeing to be part of a community of NEST+m  Bus parents and riders. I understand that all of our cooperation is necessary for making this private bus  arrangement successful and that we all need to contribute to upholding the rules for respect and polite  behavior, in order to ensure a reasonably comfortable bus experience for all of our children. 

Queens NEST+m Bus Code of Conduct 

(Must be signed by grade 5 and up riders; parents please read)  

1. Must wear my seatbelt at all times. 

 

2. Must clean up after myself if I eat food and remove any garbage my snacks create from the bus when I  leave. 

 

3. Must sit where the matron/driver assigns me to sit, and with any seatmate with whom the matron/driver  asks me to sit.  

 

4. Must arrive at the bus on time. If I am more than 2 minutes late, the bus will leave without me.

 

5. Must NOT yell, scream, use profanity and inappropriate language, or discuss inappropriate topics on the bus. 

 

6. Must NOT engage in dangerous behavior—including, but not limited to, fighting and throwing things -- these  behaviors will not be tolerated under any circumstances. 

 

Although this is a private bus service, I am expected to be on my best public behavior. I will remember that  there are young children on the bus who view me as a role model and I will conduct myself accordingly.  

 

Failure to comply with the code of conduct will result in a written warning to parent. After 2 warnings there  will be a full day suspension from riding the bus. If inappropriate behavior persists, I understand that I am  subject to suspension up to a full week, at In State's discretion. 

 

If I do not comply with this code of conduct, I understand that In State RESERVES THE RIGHT  UNDER APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES TO DISCONTINUE SERVICE TO ANY RIDER; REPEATED VIOLATION OF  ANY OR ALL OF THE ABOVE RULES MAY RESULT IN SUCH REFUSAL OF SERVICE WITHOUT REFUND. 

 

I have read and understand the code of conduct.  

 

Signed, 

I acknowledge that I understand why a suspension may be necessary and that attempts to circumvent a  suspension by forcing my way onto the bus with my child or otherwise influencing or coercing the bus  driver or company will result in my child’s expulsion from the bus for the remainder of the year. 

 

Finally, I acknowledge that, by signing this agreement, I am agreeing to be part of a community of NEST+m  Bus parents and riders. I understand that all of our cooperation is necessary for making this private bus  arrangement successful and that we all need to contribute to upholding the rules for respect and polite  behavior, in order to ensure a reasonably comfortable bus experience for all of our children.

Please select the level of service your child(ren) will use by writing their name in the appropriate slot below (see Exhibit A below for detailed descriptions)

Exhibit A – Transportation Options 

 

• Round-Trip: 5 days per week to NEST in the morning (AM) and home from NEST in the afternoon (PM) • One-Way: 5 days per week in one direction, either morning (AM) or afternoon(PM) • 3 Ride Special: 3 days per week in one direction, either morning (AM) or afternoon(PM) • One-Way AM + 3 ride special PM: one-way 5 daysper week in the morning and 3 days per week in  the afternoon 

• One-Way PM + 3 ride special AM: one-way 5 days per week in the afternoon and 3 days per week in  the morning