Bus Transportation

About the Program

VISTA Transportation is a cooperative venture between Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation School offering reliable and safe bus transportation to various parts of the metro area. We are committed to providing the best possible service at the most affordable cost. All routes offer a morning and after-school bus.

CONTRACTS FOR 2025-26 ARE DUE JUNE 1, 2025.

Metro routes offer group pick-up locations. Pick-up locations are determined by the bus company once all contracts are finalized. Minimum ridership is required.

Bus Rider Fee
● $2,150 per year
● $1,000 each additional family rider fee

The fee is per student and cannot be adjusted for part time usage.
STA and Vis subsidize approximately 40% of total bussing costs.

Bus Times
● Morning (usually between 6:30 - 7:15 a.m.)
● After-school 3:25 (VIS) 3:30 (STA)
● Late start mornings or early release afternoons, buses run on regular schedule.

Activity Bus
● Offered for the west metro, with a minimum of 15 riders needed
● $700 per rider

GPS Tracking
Transportation will include GPS data and gives parents the ability to track the student’s school bus location in real time.

Questions?
vistabusing@cadets.com

Sign-up here!

Transportation Contract

Severe Weather Procedures

Because so many of our families have students attending both schools, Visitation and Saint Thomas Academy will implement the same school closing or delay procedures. Unlike previous years, we will not necessarily follow the decision made by District 197 to close or delay school.

Should we choose to close or delay school, the decision will be communicated in the following ways:

Twin Cities television and station websites (WCCO 4, KSTP 5, Fox 9 & KARE )
Vis and STA websites, and school Facebook and Twitter accounts
Emails to all parents and employees
STA Alert Now phone message

We are aware that our students come from all over the metro area, so if road conditions in your area are difficult, we encourage families to use their own judgment regarding the commute to school.

School District Reimbursement

Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation students live in over 45 different school districts within Minnesota and Wisconsin.

If your student does not attend a school within the district in which you reside, you may be entitled to transportation reimbursement. Every district handles this issue differently; some districts reimburse while others do not reimburse (i.e., Minneapolis). Some districts send the reimbursement to your home (i.e., Eagan), while other districts (i.e., Edina) send one check to STA and Visitation (a check is subsequently issued to the family in the fall). School district reimbursements for VISTA riders will be applied toward our transportation costs, as stated in the bus contract.

Both Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation are located in District 197, which includes Mendota Heights, West Saint Paul and parts of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights.

As this is an issue fundamentally between the school district and taxpayer, it is the parent/guardian's responsibility to contact his or her respective district in order to receive any potential district transportation reimbursement. Forms should be on your public school district website.

Please be aware that STA and Visitation provide each district with a “compulsory list” of students (in the fall) plus an “attendance sheet” (in the spring) for the number of days (the academic year is 175 days) that your student attended school for the year.

ISD 197 Information

2025-26 VISTA Bus Transportation

Required

VISTA TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT 2025-26

$2,150 per year
$1,000 each additional family rider fee.

$400 deposit per rider due at time of application.

Billing for bus transportation will be added to your Blackbaud Tuition account.
District bus reimbursement, if applicable, must be submitted to VISTA Transportation in addition to the rider fee.
Bus route information will be shared with families in early August via email.
No refunds will be given unless the student formally withdraws from school.
STA and Visitation subsidize approximately 40% of total busing costs.
Please note all Visitation K-5 grade students must have prior approval from Visitation to ride the bus. Please contact Lower School Director Jessica Hallin, 651-683-1721 to confirm prior to completing deposit/contract.

Bus transportation will include TWO pick-ups:
Morning – ride to school
Afternoon – home from school

o 3:25 p.m. pick-up at Visitation
o 3:30 p.m. pick up at Saint Thomas Academy

Bus routes will be determined based on contracts received by June 1, 2025.

The Activity Bus will again be offered for the West Metro route and requires a minimum of 15 riders. Cost is $700 per rider. If enough riders register, the Activity Bus will pick up at Visitation at 5:25 p.m. and at Saint Thomas Academy at 5:30 p.m.

VISTA Transportation Coordinator - John Kenney
vistabusing@cadets.com
651-683-1516

Please select number of students and click "Add Attendee" button below.

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I have read and understand all details in the Bus Transportation Information document and agree to the above contract terms.

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I agree to abide by my school's student handbook regarding bus conduct. I understand that while riding the bus, my conduct will be such that I will not distract the driver, be loud or rude, use vulgar language, use alcohol, tobacco (chew or smoke), destroy property, or behave in a manner unbecoming of a Visitation or Saint Thomas Academy student. I also understand that any violations pertaining to behavior will jeopardize my bus ridership privileges.

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