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.

Debbie Patterson
Started at STA - 2006
Title - Director of VISTA Transportation
Telephone: 651-683-1770
Fax: 651-454-7144
Address: VISTA Transportation
2455 Visitation Drive
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
E-mail: dpatterson@cadets.com

2009-10 VISTA Transportation Information

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 2008-09 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 2009-10 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, 2009.

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, 2009, in order to determine appropriate fees and start the routing process.

Please issue a separate check to:
VISTA Transportation
2455 Visitation Drive
Mendota Heights, MN 55120

If you have any questions, please call Debbie Patterson at 651.683.1770
or e-mail: dpatterson@cadets.com or dpatterson@vischool.org.

VISTA Transportation Contract [pdf]

Days without District Busing:

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 son(s) on the following dates:

August 31 - September 4, 2009
October 14, 2009
December 18 - 23, 2009
January 29, 2010
March 5, 2010
May 7, 2010

On late start days for Saint Thomas Academy and the Convent of the Visitation schools, all buses (District 197, VISTA: TLC and Bloomington-Lutheran) run on the regular school starting time, regardless of the schedule change.

Any questions concerning District 197 busing, please call 651-403-8320.