Student Transportation (Bus)

Saint Thomas Academy and the Convent of the Visitation School, through their joint efforts, provide bus transportation for some parts of the metro area. While transportation to school is primarily the responsibility of the family and student, the schools will subsidize some of the cost of operating a bus route during the school year. Some bus routes have morning, after-school, and activity service, while others have only morning and activity service. Please call District 197 (651-403-8320) for additional information.

Mrs. Debbie Patterson
Started at STA - 2006
Title - Director of VISTA Transportation
Telephone: 651-683-1574
Fax: 651-454-0995
Address: VISTA Transportation
955 Lake Drive
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
E-mail: dpatterson@cadets.com

2010-11 Bus Information

On late start or early dismissal days for Saint Thomas Academy and the Convent of the Visitation Schools, all buses (District 197, VISTA: Sunburst Transit and Bloomington-Lutheran) run on the normal school time schedule, regardless of the change.

For the riders on the District 197 bus (Mendota Heights and parts of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights), please mark your calendars, as you will have to provide your own transportation for your student(s) on the following dates.

District 197 will not be in session on:
August 30, 31, 2010
September 1, 2, 3, 2010
October 8, 2010
November 12, 2010 (only Vis has classes)
November 24, 2010 (only STA has classes)
January 28, 2011
February 22, 2011
March 21-25, 2011
May 6, 2011

All VISTA buses still run on the regular schedule regardless of finals or late start.
VISTA buses begin on August 30, 2010
 *Please note that the TLC buses have been renamed to Sunburst Transit; current riders have been informed of the change.

Any questions regarding VISTA busing, please call 651.683.1574

District 197 buses begin on September 7, 2010

Any questions regarding District 197 busing, please call 651.403.8320

___________________________________________

Saint Thomas Academy and the Convent of the Visitation School provide bus transportation to various parts of the metro area. The Joint Cooperation Committee’s plan for sharing bus costs for the 2010-11 academic year continues to be a 40% subsidy paid by the schools and parents paying 60% of the bus costs.

Below are the current estimates for the 2010-11 bus fees. This fee is contingent upon the number of riders for each bus route and could be increased due to fuel/operating costs. The fee is per student and cannot be adjusted for part-time usage. Routes are determined by the families who deposit $400, along with a signed contract, by April 30, 2010.

Some routes have morning, after-school and activity service, while others only have morning and activity service. Bus contracts (see below) and the $400 deposit must be returned by April 30, 2010, in order to determine appropriate fees and start the routing process.

Please issue a separate check to:
VISTA Transportation
955 Lake Drive
Mendota Heights, MN 55120

If you have any questions, please call Debbie Patterson at 651.683.1574 or e-mail: dpatterson@cadets.com.

VISTA Transportation Contract [pdf]