If Deer Lakes School District is closed, has a delayed opening or an early dismissal, the information will be disseminated via ParentSquare (email/text), social media, the local news stations, and the Deer Lakes School District website. Therefore, you should keep your contact information up to date with your school office. This is extremely important in case of emergencies and weather notifications.

If we have a weather-related delay, dismissal, or cancellation, we will try to make the decision and call as early as possible to allow you maximum time to make alternate plans for your child.

If there is a 2-hour delay, Deer Lakes School District will operate on the following schedule: 

Curtisville Primary Center
School starts at 11 a.m.

East Union Intermediate
School starts at 11 a.m. 

Deer Lakes Middle School
School starts at 9:45 a.m.

Deer Lakes High School
School starts at 9:45 a.m. 
*Note: AW Beattie CC students are not bussed to that school on days in which Deer Lakes calls for a 2-hour delay.

• High School 2-Hour Delay Schedules

Breakfast
A modified breakfast is served during 2-hour delays. 

Bus/Transportation
If you take a bus to school, your bus will arrive at your regular stop two hours after your normal bus time. For example, if your bus pick-up time is typically 7:30 a.m., your bus would arrive around 9:30 a.m. during a 2-hour delay.

School Closings and Delays FAQ

If you are new to Deer Lakes School District, or you are planning to move into it, one of your first calls should be to your student's school office to enroll the child. The school office will then notify the Transportation Department. A school district representative will contact you with all necessary information once your student's transportation plan has been established. Expect that process to last a minimum of five school days.

Should your move in date be weeks away, please call the Transportation Department two weeks before your move in date to verify transportation services.

If you have recently moved, or are planning to move, but you already live in Deer Lakes School District, you should contact you child's building to apprise them of the address change. They will in turn notify the Transportation Department.

Curtisville Primary Center (Grades K-2) 
1715 Saxonburg Boulevard, Tarentum, PA 15084
Contact: Lori Misera
Phone: 724.265.5340
Fax: 724.265.1488

East Union Intermediate Center (Grades 3-5)
57 East Union Road, Cheswick, PA 15024
Contact: Jackie Gutowski
Phone: 724.265.5330
Fax: 724.265.1699

Deer Lakes Middle School (Grades 6-8)
17 East Union Road, Cheswick, PA 15024
Contact: Ron Petrosky
Phone: 724.265.5310
Fax: 724.265.3711

Deer Lakes High School (Grades 9-12)
Contact: Leighann Gacci
Phone: 724-265-5320x-2626
Fax: 724-265-5303

Each year, the district receives hundreds of requests to move bus stops based on a variety of reasons, e.g., parent/student work schedules, marital situations, walking distance too far, ride too long and can’t see the stop from my house. These reasons, although a concern for parents, cannot be accommodated. The current bus stops were determined based on considerations of both safety, efficiency and the Pennsylvania School Code (see link on FAQ page). All submitted requests are reviewed. However, please be advised that the district transports nearly two thousand students and must do it in an efficient manner. After review by the district, all requests will receive a letter or e-mail notice regarding determination of your request. If you are requesting a bus stop change due to moving, please contact the school building for your child and make the change. 

We ask for your cooperation in using this form to submit your request or concern. This form will help us efficiently handle the numerous requests for service. Please provide complete information regarding your child's current bus stop, your request concern, e.g., school, bus number and grade. Please fill out this form and submit it to:

Allison Swauger
Assistant Business Manager
19 East Union Road
Cheswick, PA 15024

Please email cgirty@deerlakes.net and aswauger@deerlakes.net while we make this form live for families. Thank you.

REQUEST BUS STOP CHANGE

Dear Parents and Caretakers,

Busing information for students attending A.W. Beattie Career and Technical School has been updated in the My Ride app, formerly known as Traversa Ride 360, for the 2023-2024 school year. This information will be released on Thursday, August 10, 2023.

Students who require Deer Lakes Transportation to Beattie from home in the morning have an AM Beattie stop. If your student is being dropped off at the high school to catch the Beattie bus, please have them there by 6:45. The bus will leave the high school campus promptly at 6:50 to head to Beattie.

Additionally, students should have an AM and PM bus stop for their neighborhood bus on the My Ride app for days that Beattie does not have school, but Deer Lakes does. Listed below are the dates in which A.W. Beattie does not have school. On these days, Beattie students will need to catch their neighborhood bus to school. Students will wait in the high school library until their classes start.

• Monday, October 14, 2024
• Friday, January 17, 2025
• Thursday, January 23, 2025 (District Tour-no classes)
• Wednesday, January 29, 2025 (District Tour-no classes)
• Friday, March 7, 2025
• Tuesday, May 20, 2025
• June 2, 2025 through June 5, 2025

The dates listed below are days that Deer Lakes School District is not in session in the 2023-2024 school year. On these days, students will be picked up by the A.W. Beattie buses in the AM. The buses will stop at the high school and pick up any students who are dropped off at Deer Lakes High School. Deer Lakes Transportation on ONLY the dates listed below will transport A.W. Beattie students home after their classes are finished at Beattie.

• Tuesday, August 20, 2024
• Wednesday, August 21, 2024
• Monday, November 11, 2024 - Deer Lakes Act 80 Day
• Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - Deer Lakes Spring Break
• Friday, May 23, 2025

Senior A.W. Beattie students will be picked up by Deer Lakes Transportation and driven to Beattie on the dates listed below. All other students must either ride their neighborhood bus to school or be dropped off on these dates.

• April 29, 2025, April 30, 2025, and May 1, 2025 - NOCTI Testing (Only Seniors Attend A.W. Beattie)

If you have any questions about the contents of this email, please reach out to Allison Swauger at aswauger@deerlakes.net.

District kindergarten programs are full-day programs. Transportation is provided in the morning and afternoon.

My child is starting kindergarten; will the bus pick my child up in front of the house?

There are no special laws or requirements for transporting students enrolled in kindergarten.

Am I required to be at my kindergartener’s assigned bus stop for discharge?

Yes, if no adult is present the bus driver may return the student to the child’s school and the parents will be contacted to pick up their child.

If I am required to be at my kindergartener’s assigned bus stop for discharge, what if I am late or unable to be at the stop at the designated time?

The bus driver is not permitted to discharge kindergarten students unless an adult is at the stop to receive the student. If no adult is present, the bus driver may return the student to the child’s school and the parents will be contacted to pick up their child. Habitual lateness may result in loss of transportation service.

It is imperative to follow our safety guidelines and procedures to best ensure a happy and safe transportation experience.  With that in mind, we encourage our students and their parents to take a moment to review the following transportation safety tips:

1. Please be sure that your child is visible and at his or her assigned bus stop at least 10 minutes early. Schedules can vary depending on student ridership, road conditions, traffic, construction delays, and a host of other factors. 
2. When waiting for the bus, always line up at least 10 feet away from the curb or the roadway to avoid traffic. 
3. Never run after the school bus if it has already left its stop. It is never a good idea to be rushing towards a moving vehicle. 
4. Never walk alongside a moving school bus. 
5. Never push another student when getting on or off the school bus. 
6. Always cross at least 10 feet in front of the stopped school bus so that the driver can better see you. 
7. Before crossing a road to board the bus, wait until the school bus driver has activated the red flashing lights and engaged the crossing arm. Also, make sure that all traffic has come to a complete stop in both directions.  
8. Once on the school bus, remain in your seat facing forward, especially when the vehicle is in motion. Also, never put your head, arms or hands outside the window. 
9. Talk quietly; do not distract your school bus driver. 
10. If your school bus crosses railroad tracks, remain calm and quiet so that your driver can listen for a train. Always obey your school bus driver’s instructions, so that he or she can make the best safety decisions for all concerned.  
11. Never play with the emergency exits.  
12. Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block the aisle or emergency exits. If there is an emergency, please listen to the driver and follow his or her instructions to the letter.  
13. When exiting the school bus, make sure that all drawstrings and other loose objects are secure to ensure that they don’t get caught on the handrail or the door. 
14. If you leave something on the bus or drop something just outside of the bus, never go back for it. The driver may not see you and may have begun moving the vehicle.
15. Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into a stranger’s car.

Please email cgirty@deerlakes.net and aswauger@deerlakes.net while we make this form live for families. Thank you.

Click here for the Shared Custody Transformation Form.

Please email cgirty@deerlakes.net and aswauger@deerlakes.net while we make this form live for families. Thank you.

Click here for the Alternative/Childcare Transportation.