I
SHASTA COUNTY OFFICE OF
EDUCATION
TRANSPORTATION HANDBOOK
Revised 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION I -1
II. PUBLIC RELATIONS II - 2
III. PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND CONDUCT OF DRIVERS III - 4
1. PERSONAL APPEARANCE III - 4
2. FOOTWEAR III - 6
3. SMOKING III - 6
4. ALCOHOL AND DRUGS III - 7
5. EMPLOYEE CONDUCT III - 7
IV. GENERAL INFORMATION IV- 10
1. ABSENCES IV- 10
2. TIME CARDS IV- 11
3. BUS STOP CHANGES IV- 12
4. ROUTE SHEETS IV- 13
5. UNAUTHORIZED BUS STOPS IV- 14
6. DEVIATING FROM ROUTE IV- 14
7. ROUTE BOOKS IV- 15
8. KEYS IV- 16
9. BULLETIN BOARD AND ROUTE BOOK BOXES IV- 16
10. INJURY ON THE JOB IV- 17
11. DAMAGE TO BUS IV- 17
12. REPORTING INCIDENCE OF CONCERN IV- 18
IV. CONTINUED
13. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES REPORTING IV-18
1. VERIFICATION OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE
WORKERS IV-20
15. RADIO USE IV-20
16. BUS RIDE PERMISSION NOTES IV-25
17. OVERLOADING IV-25
18. USE OF SPARE BUSES IV-26
19. SPEED LIMIT IN BUS YARD IV-26
20. WAITING IV-27
21. LATE BUSES IV-27
22. LEAVING YARD IV-28
23. YARD SECURITY/EMPLOYEE SAFETY IV-28
24. EMPLOYEE PHONE USE IV-29
25. CELLULAR PHONES IV-29
26. EMPLOYEE PARKING IV-30
27. LOCKING/SECURING THE BUS IV-30
28. CURBING OF TIRES IV-31
29. TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND INFORMATION
COMMITTEE IV-31
30. SUGGESTION BOX IV -32
31. SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAM IV-32
V. REPORTS V -34
1. DAILY CONDITION REPORT FOR SCHOOL BUSES V-34
2. WEEKLY MILEAGE REPORT V-35
3. STUDENT COUNT/CENSUS FORM V-36
SPECIAL EDUCATION/COURT SCHOOL V-36
CONTRACTED DISTRICTS V-37
4. SPECIAL TRIP REQUEST V-38
LOCAL FIELD TRIPS V-38
OUT OF THE AREA TRIPS V-39
5. DRIVERS DAILY LOG V-40
VI. SAFETY AND PUPIL TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES VI-41
1. SEAT BELTS VI-41
2. ENTRANCE DOOR VI-41
3. EMERGENCY DOORS VI-41
4. DRINKING OR EATING VI-41
5. LOOSE ITEMS VI-42
6. HEADLIGHTS/TAILLIGHTS VI-42
7. HORN VI-42
8. BACKING VI-43
9. TRANSPORTING UNUSUAL OBJECTS VI-43
10. UNAUTHORIZED PASSENGERS VI-44
11. TREE LIMBS AND SHRUBS VI-44
12. ATTENDANTS STANDING ON SCHOOL BUSES VI-45
VI. CONTINUED
13. RAILROAD CROSSINGS VI-45
14. DRIVER OF BUS VI-45
15. CHECKING INSIDE OF BUS AFTER RUNS VI-46
16. BUS STOPS - MOTEL/TRAILER PARKS VI-47
17. SPECIAL DRIVING SITUATIONS VI-47
A. LANNING/LELAND STREETS VI-47
B. ADAMS STREET - MONTE VISTA AREA VI-47
18. FIRST AID KITS/COMMUNICABLE DISEASE KITS VI-48
19. RED LIGHT CROSSINGS VI-50
20. STUDENTS LATE TO STOPS VI-50
21. SPECIAL (FIELD) TRIPS VI-51
VII. BUS MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES VII-53
1. CLEANING THE BUS VII-53
2. AIR TANKS VII-54
3. WORK ORDERS VII-55
4. SHOP AREA VII-55
5. PARKING IN FRONT OF SHOP VII-55 6. DRIVING BUS FROM SHOP VII-56
7. FUELING VII-56
A. FUELING AT CARD LOCK STATIONS VII-57
8. ENGINE IDLING VII-58
ENGINE IDLING LAW VII-58
VII. CONTINUED
9. OIL/COOLANT VII-60
VIII. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES VIII-61
1. ACCIDENTS VIII-62
2. BREAKDOWN PROCEDURE VIII-64
3. EVACUATION REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES
FOR DRILLS VIII-65
4. FIELD TRIP EVACUATION TRAINING VIII-67
5. MEDICAL EMERGENCIES VIII-68
6. HIJACKING VIII-69
7. EMERGENCY SEARCH VIII-69 8. DISCIPLINARY EMERGENCIES VIII-70
IX. PUPIL MANAGEMENT IX-72
1. SCOE TRANSPORTATION POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES IX-73
1. STUDENTS IX-73
A. BUS CONDUCT IX-73
B. RULES FOR SAFE BUS RIDING IX-74
2. BUS DRIVER RESPONSIBILITIES IX-76
3. PRINCIPAL PROGRAM MANAGER IX-79
4. PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES IX-79
IX. CONTINUED
SPECIAL EDUCATION AND COURT SCHOOL
STUDENT DISCIPLINE IX-81
2. CONTRACTED DISTRICT POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES IX-82
RSD BUS RULES IX-82
CONSEQUENCES IX-83
POSITIVE REWARDS – INDIVIDUALS IX-84
POSITIVE REWARDS – GROUP IX-84
COUNTY PROCEDURES FOR RSD ROUTES IX-85
CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILING TO FOLLOW RULES IX-85
AUHSD BUS RULES IX-88
USE OF VIDEO RECORDING EQUIPMENT IX-90
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PUPIL MANAGEMENT IX-91
STUDENT REWARDS IX-92
X. SPECIAL PROCEDURES X-93
1. SPECIAL LOADING AND UNLOADING INFORMATION X-93
A. TRANSFER AREAS X-93
B. OASIS COMMUNITY SCHOOL X-94
C. NORTH VALLEY CANYON SITE X-95
D. SEQUOIA X-95
2. WHEELCHAIR EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES X-96
A. LOADING X-97
X. CONTINUED
B. UNLOADING X-99
3. AMBULATORY STUDENTS X-101
A. LOADING X-101
B. UNLOADING X-102
4. LIFTING X-102
5. STUDENT MEDICATIONS X-103
6. STUDENT PICK UP X-104
SPECIAL EDUCATION/COURT SCHOOL X-104
CONTRACTED DISTRICTS X-105
7. STUDENT DROP OFF X-106
SPECIAL EDUCATION X-106
CONTRACTED DISTRICTS X-107
8. SEAT BELTS, HARNESSES AND RESTRAINTS X-108
9. STUDENT SEATING LOCATIONS X-109
10. SEIZURE PROCEDURES X-109
11. OTHER MEDICAL EMERGENCIES X-111
12. STUDENT MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS X-111
13. HEAD LICE X-112
14. SPECIAL STUDENT CONSIDERATIONS X-113
XI. FORMS XI-115
1. DAILY CONDITION REPORT
2. WEEKLY MILEAGE REPORT
XI. CONTINUED
3. SCOE STUDENT CENSUS FORM
4. CONTRACTED DISTRICT CENCUS FORMS
5. FIELD TRIP ASSIGNMENT SHEET
6. WORK ORDERS
7. ACCIDENT PROCEDURES FORM
8. SEATING CHART
9. SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT REPORTING FORMS
10. BREAKDOWN PROCEDURES FORM
11. HOURS OF SERVICE RECORD
12. NOTICE OF UNSATISFACTORY CONDUCT
13. SPECIAL EDUCATION
14. COURT SCHOOL
15. REDDING SCHOOL DISTRICT
16. ANDERSON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
17. REDDING SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTE HOME
18. REDDING SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS PASSES
19. RSD STUDENT BEHAVIOR LOG
20. RSD STUDENT RETURNED TO SCHOOL FORM
21. INCIDENT REPORT
22. EVACUATION DRILL FORMS
23. REDDING SCHOOL DISTRICT EVACUATION HELPER AWARD
XI. CONTINUED
24. REPORT OF STUDENT INJURY
25. EXEMPLARY CONDUCT AWARD-(RSD)
26. ROUTE BID REQUEST FORM
27. TIME CARD - REGULAR EMPLOYEE
28. TIME CARD - SUBSTITUTE EMPLOYEE
29. ABSENCE AFFIDAVIT
30. EXTRA DUTY FORM
31. OVERTIME/EXTRA TIME LOG
32. SUBSTITUTE TIME LOG
33. EMPLOYEE REIMBURSEMENT FORM
34. SPECIAL INTERVENTION FORM
35. HARNESS RETURN AGREEMENT
36. SPECIALIZED INFORMATION DIRECTION CARD (RED)
37. WHITE DIRECTIONAL CARD
38. RED LIGHT VIOALTION FORM
39. TREE TRIMMING REQUEST
XII. JOB DESCRIPTIONS
1. LEAD SCHOOL BUS DRIVER
2. SCHOOL BUS DRIVER
3. SCHOOL BUS ATTENDENT
4. LEAD MECHANIC
5. VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT MECHANIC
XIII. SCOE BOARD POLICY ON CHILD ABUSE REPORTING
I. INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Shasta County Office of Education Transportation Department. We appreciate your being a member of our staff and wish you endless miles of safe driving.
This handbook has been prepared to provide uniform operating procedures for our professional transportation staff. The information presented is intended for use by ALL transportation staff, regular year, extended year, and substitute school bus drivers and attendants.
The procedures contained in this handbook are the standards for accomplishing assigned duties efficiently and in accordance with administrative requirements. This is a supplement to the rules and regulations set forth by the Shasta County Office of Education governing board policies, the California Vehicle Code and the Passenger Transportation Safety Handbook (HPH 82.7) regarding pupil transportation. Adherence to the rules, regulations, and procedures contained herein and the application of good judgement by drivers and attendants are expected.
Each employee should become thoroughly acquainted with this handbook. The contents of this publication will be kept as current as possible. In cases where immediate or temporary changes are necessary, instructions will be issued verbally or in a memorandum.
II. PUBLIC RELATIONS
As professional school bus drivers, you must be able to do more than drive your vehicles safely. You must be able to work effectively with children, parents, teachers, and administrators. You must accept the fact that you are a public employee and maintain work standards that are acceptable to everyone with and for whom you work. The attitude exhibited by drivers, their personal grooming habits, and the care they give their equipment are factors that make the driver a key person with respect to good public relations.
Practically everything you do in performing your job and the manner in which you conduct yourself while performing it contribute to the community's image of you, the transportation department and the entire school system.
Students make quick decisions about their drivers from the ride they receive. Parents make quick decisions from their observations of your driving in and around their neighborhood. A poor performance will quickly bring unfavorable remarks that will probably be distorted as they are repeated throughout the community. Professionalism, therefore, on the driver's part is a must.
If a driver or attendant has any questions or concerns pertaining to student discipline, procedures to follow or training on the equipment or student needs they should direct their concern to the appropriate Lead Driver. If a driver or attendant has any questions or concerns pertaining to routes, schedules, stops or field trips, they should direct those concerns to the Dispatcher/Scheduler or the Transportation Operations Technician. All concerns relating to policies, laws, personnel issues or any issue relating to actions of other drivers or attendants will be addressed with the Transportation Supervisor or Transportation Director.
We are sure you can see the important role you have as school bus drivers and school bus attendants. Not only do you have the responsibility of controlling several tons of metal down the road without error and controlling the students on board, but you also have the responsibility of promoting good public relations.
III. PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND CONDUCT OF DRIVERS/ATTENDANTS
1. PERSONAL APPEARANCE
School bus drivers and attendants are role models for the students they transport. They must project an image to the public of reliability and trust and be a positive reflection of the County Office of Education. Dress and grooming standards are set as guidelines to present an image consistent to job responsibilities.
Guidelines for warm weather:
Shorts may be worn if they are worn in good taste and are appropriate for the working environment. Anything shorter than mid thigh is unacceptable. Shorts should not be worn too tight. Spandex material will not be allowed.
Some tank tops may not be appropriate. Tight, form fitting tank tops, tank tops with large armholes that expose chest and back or tank tops with small (spaghetti) straps are inappropriate. Any top that exposes the midriff or undergarments will not be allowed.
Guidelines for cold weather:
Sweats and sweatsuits, spandex type tights or leggings that are form fitting are not appropriate for the workplace and do not reflect a professional image. Clothing of any type that is ill fitting, torn, dirty, or stained will not be worn.
T-shirts or hats advertising alcohol, tobacco, drugs, satanic symbols, or other inappropriate advertising will not be allowed. Common sense must be used to determine if advertising is appropriate. If there is a question about the appropriateness of an article of clothing, please address this concern to the Transportation Supervisor or Transportation Director. Consideration must be given to baggy clothes which can get caught on things resulting in injury or accident.
Ball caps worn by the driver are not permitted on any Redding School District bus.
Drivers and attendants choosing to do so may wear something special on special occasions like Halloween, keeping in mind large hats, masks, etc., may block your vision and loose or baggy clothing can be a hazard. You always need to use good taste and good judgement and keep it safe.
Transportation staff wearing inappropriate attire may be sent home on administrative leave and may return to work only when appropriate attire is worn.
2. FOOTWEAR
Drivers and Attendants (regular year and extended year staff) shall wear appropriate shoes that are slip and skid resistant and in good repair. All shoes worn by drivers and attendants shall be closed toed and closed heeled and shall completely encase the foot. No shoes with heels over 2" high will be worn. Slip resistant shoes should have soft rubber soles with grooves that prevent water from being trapped underfoot. Drivers or attendants found to be wearing non-conforming shoes may be sent home on administrative leave and may return only when the correct shoes are worn. Employees injured as a result of wearing non-conforming shoes may be disciplined according to the contract as a result of violating Shasta County Office of Education policy.
3. SMOKING
Smoking is prohibited on the school bus at all times. The use of ANY tobacco product (this includes chewing tobacco) is prohibited at all school sites and on all property owned and operated by Shasta County Office of Education. This includes the transportation office, bus yard, bus shop and in all vehicles owned by SCOE. All employees must leave the premises to use tobacco products.
4. ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
The use of alcoholic beverages or illegal substances either before reporting for duty or while on duty is strictly prohibited. Shasta County Office of Education school bus drivers will comply with federal drug testing requirements outlined in 49 CFR 382. Drug and alcohol testing shall be random, post accident, reasonable suspicion, and pre employment. All testing will be done according to board policy 4112.42, 4212.42, 4312.42. All school bus drivers will be trained in the implementation of the board policies relating to alcohol and controlled substances.
Also prohibited are any medications or drugs prescribed by a physician or purchased "over the counter" that might tend to reduce alertness, cause drowsiness or slow reaction time. If you have any doubts about the medications, get a note from your doctor and submit it to the transportation office staff.
5. EMPLOYEE CONDUCT
• Employees are expected to have the ability to perform duties and responsibilities assigned to them in an accurate and professional manner.
• Employees are expected to perform assigned work and follow the directions of their supervisor.
• Employees are expected to respect public property and operate equipment in a careful and prudent manner.
• Employees are expected to refrain from using discourteous, offensive, or abusive conduct or language toward other employees, pupils, or the public.
• Employees are expected to be honest.
• Employees are expected not to drink alcoholic beverages on the job, during lunch or breaks, or to report for work while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
• Employees are expected not to be addicted to or use any illegal or non-prescription drugs or narcotics, or any drug or narcotic offense as defined in Ed Code Sections 44009 and 44011.
• Employees are expected to adhere to all board policies and federal laws pertaining to 49 CFR 382.
• Employees are expected to be of good moral character without any convictions of any crime involving moral turpitude, conviction of a felony or of a misdemeanor which is of such a nature as to adversely affect the employee's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Employees are expected not to abuse leave provisions or have repeated unexcused absences or tardiness.
• Employees are expected to comply with rules and regulations of the employer and laws of the state.
• Employees are expected to keep current any license, certificate, or any similar requirements necessary for employees to perform the duties of the position.
• Employees are expected to come to work rested, physically and mentally, with a positive attitude, ready to perform the duties of their position.
IV. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. ABSENCES
You are expected to be at work every day. Time off while school is in session will only be granted if extreme circumstances prevail. The Transportation Director must preapprove all such requests for time off (except sudden illness).
If you need to be absent from work, notify the Transportation Office by 5:00 p.m. the previous day. This office is open from 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Transportation Office phone number is 225-0340.
When sudden illness or emergencies arise, call the Transportation Office or Dispatcher as soon as possible or no later than one (1) hour before the scheduled run.
Drivers and Attendants shall notify the Transportation Office by 5:00 p.m. the day before returning to work. Your failure to comply with this request may lead to an unpaid absence day for you.
On weekends, holidays, and evenings the Dispatchers may be called at home, if you are reporting in ill or returning to work. Do not call after 9:00 p.m. Do not call the
dispatchers at home in the early morning hours. You must call the dispatch office as close to 5:00 a.m. as possible.
If you have been under a physician's care or if your absence has been for more than three days, you are expected to bring in a doctor's release prior to returning to work.
Permanent employees are expected to fill out an absence affidavit upon your return to work, as well as show the absence on your time card.
On days that it snows, you are expected to be at work unless you are specifically instructed not to come in.
2. TIME CARDS
Time cards for permanent employees are blue in color and are turned in on the last working day of the month for payment on the last working day of the next month. An explanation on the "Extra Time" form is necessary for all preauthorized over time or extra time. Except in emergencies (breakdowns, etc.) all overtime must be preapproved. The extra time log must be initialed at the end of the work day by an authorized member of the Transportation Office staff. For drivers that return to work after hours, the log must be initialed the following morning. The driver's copy of the "Extra Time" form must be attached to the time card when turned in. If you have any questions about filling out your time card correctly, please see either your Lead Driver, the Dispatcher, Operations Technician, Transportation Supervisor or the Transportation Director for instructions.
Drivers, either permanent or substitute, that work for more than one entity (i.e.: RSD, AUHSD, SCOE and/or FG) shall turn in a separate time card for each entity and label the top of the time card appropriately. Extra/overtime logs must be turned in with each time card reflecting the work done for that entity. These logs must be approved and signed off daily by authorized transportation staff.
Time cards for substitute employees are white in color and are turned in on the last working day of the month for payment on the 10th. A "Substitute Time Log" is kept to record daily activities and must be initialed at the end of the work day by a member of the Transportation Office staff. This time log is turned in with the time card. See Chapter 11 (Forms) on samples of time cards.
3. BUS STOP CHANGES
Drivers are not to make ANY changes in bus stops or routes without specific instruction from the Transportation Office staff. Refrain from discussing the pros and cons of change requests with parents or school staff members. If they have any questions you cannot answer, direct them to contact the Transportation Office for assistance.
All District stops are preapproved by District School Boards and cannot be changed without school board approval. Please check with dispatch or your Lead Driver if you have any questions regarding a bus stop.
4. ROUTE SHEETS
It is imperative that route sheets be kept current. (i.e.: current bus stops and times) This not only helps the substitute drivers, but is essential for the Dispatchers. If a change needs to be made, go over it with your Lead Driver, the Dispatcher or Operations Technician. You will be notified when, and if, the change has been approved. County Office drivers are not to write on any route sheet (s) once route sheets become established. Keep established route sheets neat and clean. All notes should be made on directional sheets. Redding drivers may write names of kindergartners and specific directions for a student at a particular stop. District drivers are to make corrections on their route sheets, highlight those corrections, date the top of the corrected route sheet on the day it is submitted, make a copy for your binder, remove the old route sheet from your binder, and then turn in the corrected route sheet to the Operations Technician. Once you have received the new updated route sheet from the Operations Technician, please review all changes, making sure the information is correct. Do not leave old route sheets in your route binder. If a student is consistently absent from your bus, check with the Dispatcher to see if the student is a drop from your route. District drivers shall not declare a bus stop “inactive”, nor shall the driver start a new stop until the Operations Technician has approved the request.
All drivers must have a watch or a satisfactory means to ensure that they do not leave the bus yard or a bus stop earlier than their route sheets indicate.
5. UNAUTHORIZED BUS STOPS
Except for emergencies, do not make any unauthorized bus stops. Only stops listed on your route sheet are authorized. In an emergency where you need to make a stop not listed on your route sheet, contact the Dispatcher immediately for permission.
6. DEVIATING FROM ROUTE
Contract District Drivers are not to deviate from the route unless specific permission has been given to them from the Transportation Office. Radio in to dispatch for permission to go off route. County routes vary from day to day, and it is understood that those routes may deviate depending on the students that ride.
Buses are not to be taken home without the Transportation Supervisor’s or Transportation Director’s advance permission, nor used for personal errands.
7. ROUTE BOOKS
Each bus has a route binder that is in a corresponding numbered slot in the dispatch area.
Items that must be carried in the route binder are:
• Current route sheet (s) (Remove all old/outdated sheets)
• Current route direction sheets (Indicate if child can be left alone)
• Daily check out sheets
• Road Hazard sheets (color coded)
• Accident Procedures/Breakdown Procedure sheets (at least 2 each) (Accident Packet)
• Student seating information chart (Accident Packet)
• Vehicle Insurance information (Accident Packet)
• Census sheets for SCOE routes. (Must fill out after each run)
• Pen/pencil
• Specialized health care information for individual students
• Medical cards, if provided, for severely handicapped students
The following may be carried in the route binder:
• Citation forms
• Exemplary Conduct forms
• Incident Report forms
• Student Information sheets
• Red Light Violation forms
• Time log forms for substitutes
• Lined paper
• City and county maps
• Time cards and time log sheets
Route binders must go with the driver and attendant when the bus is out of the yard and returned to the correct box in the dispatch office when the bus is in the yard.
8. KEYS
Each bus has its own set of keys, including specialty keys like ignition interlocks, cleaning shed, etc. Each set of keys has a corresponding numbered hook on the board mounted in the hallway. Keys are to be on the correct hook at all times when the bus is in the yard. Other articles are not to be added to the key ring without prior authorization from the Transportation Supervisor or Transportation Director. One set of bus keys and/or notes from dispatch are the only articles to be kept on key hooks. No personal items or keys should be kept on hooks. Drivers are not allowed to have their own personal set of bus keys.
9. BULLETIN BOARD AND ROUTE BOOK BOXES
Each driver and attendant, before and after each run, will check their route book box and key hook for any special messages. Do not place personal items in route book boxes. Only route books, field trip folders, and messages from dispatch should be in boxes. Drivers and attendants are required to read the "News of the Day" bulletin board for additional instructions or information after every run. Drivers and attendants are also expected to read the section of the board that displays news for the individual group they are working with. (ie: Court and Community, Special Ed, RSD, AUHSD).
Do not post personal items on the "News of the Day" board. A bulletin board has been placed in the staff lounge for that purpose. All articles will be posted on bulletin boards, not on walls.
10. INJURY ON THE JOB
Any injury on the job must be reported immediately to the Transportation Office so all necessary forms can be filled out. If the injury is minor, you may document the incident on an incident report and indicate a claim will not be filed at this time. This incident report will be attached to the worker's compensation forms. The reports documenting the injury shall be given to the Transportation Supervisor for follow-up. The Transportation Office will forward the forms to the appropriate reporting agency.
11. DAMAGE TO BUS
Any new damage to the bus that you notice, especially during the bus safety inspection, no matter how minor, must be reported to the transportation office prior to leaving the yard. You should have someone from the office or shop inspect the damage. This not only keeps the office informed, but also demonstrates that you were not responsible for the damage. A written statement will also be required. This statement may be submitted on an "Incident Report" form and turned into the Lead Driver or Transportation Supervisor.
12. REPORTING INCIDENCE OF CONCERN
Any concern or incident regarding students, parents, or school personnel should be reported to the transportation office staff. The information is essential if a parent or principal should call on the matter. Incident report forms are provided for your
convenience. All incident reports must be turned into your Lead Driver or the Transportation Supervisor, with the exception of documenting a work related injury. Those forms will be turned into the Transportation Supervisor.
13. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES REPORTING
Child abuse is an area of concern that needs to be addressed immediately if suspected. Child abuse is a physical injury which is inflicted by other than accidental means on a child by another person. It also means sexual abuse, willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment, mental suffering or failure to safeguard a child from these injuries. It can also mean physical and mental neglect.
If you have reason to believe a child you are transporting is suffering from child abuse, you MUST follow the guidelines listed below:
1. Notify the Transportation Supervisor or Transportation Director. This notification will NOT be done over the radio airway.
2. YOU MUST notify or cause to be notified a child protective agency of the suspected abuse. A child protective agency is defined as:
A. Police or sheriff department.
B. County probation department.
C. County welfare department/child protective services.
THIS MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED IMMEDIATELY BY TELEPHONE.
3. You must file the appropriate forms with Department of Social Services within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident. Forms may be obtained from the transportation office. The Transportation Supervisor or Transportation Director will assist you in filling out the necessary forms.
ALL SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE must be communicated to the Transportation Supervisor or Transportation Director. School administrators and program directors will then be notified of all actions taken and the reporting requirements will be carefully monitored.
14. VERIFICATION OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS
If you are approached at a school site or a residence by a person who claims to be a Child Protective Services worker, the following guidelines will be followed:
1. Notify dispatch immediately.
2. Do not release the child until the following is accomplished:
• All CPS workers carry photo ID. Request to see this ID and verify with dispatch.
• CPS staff will only be on investigations in a county fleet vehicle with a county government seal on the door. Visually check the vehicle.
• Relay all information to dispatch and wait for instructions. Dispatch will verify all information with CPS before approval is given to relinquish the child to their authority.
15. RADIO USE
Call letters - KNDD-410
The following information is provided to you for correct use of the two-way radios.
1. The Federal Communication Commission regulations are very strict and must be followed. Your cooperation is critical in preserving our base station.
2. The radio is to be turned on during pretrip of the bus. Leave the radio on and volume set to receive transmissions as long as the bus is in use.
3. To set the squelch, if equipped, turn the radio on, unhook the microphone and turn the squelch knob until you hear static, then turn it back slightly until the static is no longer heard. Then reattach the microphone to the holder. This should set the radio at its optimum receiving and transmitting abilities.
4. Upon backing from your bus stall, all buses will transmit “in service and backing” and transmit “clear” when bus has safely cleared the backing area. ALL buses will announce “in service” using their bus number and route identifier (Letter or number) when leaving the yard before each run. Use “out of service” when shutting down at a school site, when fueling, or when parking in the yard. Buses leaving the AUHSD yard will announce “Anderson” before using the identifying route and bus number. This will help clarify which yard buses are leaving from.
5. Each radio has at least two modes to transmit and receive. F1 is to transmit and receive through our repeater. F2 is designed to transmit and receive only from one radio directly to another without going through the repeater. All radios are to be set on F1 unless the repeater is down or other unusual circumstances warrant using F2.
6. When calling or responding, take the microphone OUT OF CLIP HOLDER, press key in, wait several seconds, then speak clearly into the mike. When calling another party, you must identify them first, then identify yourself. For example, if you are in bus number 201 and you are calling bus number 404, you would say, "404, 201" 404 would respond by saying, "404" or "404, go ahead".
7. At the end of the transmission, the parties would clear the airway by saying " 201 clear". If you are calling the dispatch office, you would say, "Shasta, 201". The dispatch office would respond "Shasta" or "Shasta go ahead". At the end of the transmission the parties would clear the airways by saying "201 clear" and the dispatch office would say "KNDD 410 clear." The party who initiates the conversation is the one who will clear the airway. Only the base station should be using our call letters. Drivers are to use the bus number to identify themselves.
8. Keep volume control set to clearly hear at all times. Also check to be sure the mike is not in the mike clip in a manner that would key the mike. This disrupts ALL radio transmission and puts you "on the air".
9. Keep the mike in the clip when not in use. This prevents feedback and unwanted radio disturbance and keeps your radio in proper working mode.
10. Keep transmissions short and to the point. No "goofing off". Do not use “10 codes” with the exception of 10-35 and 10-36 to call for a search. CB lingo should not be used. Professional radio use and terminology must be used at all times.
11. A driver shall not allow students to "play" with the radio equipment.
12. When an emergency situation is being handled by dispatch, do not use the radio until told that the emergency no longer exists and the airway is cleared, unless you also have an emergency. Before transmitting, always listen for other transmissions to prevent “walking on” another conversation.
13. The radio must be turned off EVERY NIGHT.
14. If the bus radio is not working report it to the transportation office and ask to use a portable radio. You must also complete a “vehicle repair” slip to initiate the repair.
15. KEYING OF THE MICROPHONE TO DISRUPT RADIO CONVERSATION IS EXTREMELY RUDE AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
If you have additional questions regarding radio use or etiquette, see the Transportation Supervisor or Transportation Director for clarification.
CALL SIGN: KNDD-410
Buses: Use the bus number and route identifier if applicable (Route letter, or number)
Transportation Office: Shasta
Transportation Director: Shasta 1
Dispatcher/Scheduler (Margie): Shasta 2
Mechanic Truck: Shasta 3
Transportation Operation Technician (Michele): Shasta 4
Maintenance Transportation Supervisor (Cindy): Shasta 5
When transporting any students, regular education or special education, do not embarrass any student by relaying a possible handicapping condition such as referring to them as “Special Needs” over the airways. In addition, drivers will not identify students by using their last name over the airways unless it is an emergency and the name is requested by dispatch.
16. BUS RIDE PERMISSION NOTES
A student who does not normally ride your bus, or a student who wishes to get off the bus at a stop which is not his/her regular stop, must have a permission note from his/her parent or guardian and signed or stamped by the school office. Permission notes are good only for the day it is written unless it is dated for more than one day. For Oasis students the note must be verified by dispatch. Students who have valid notes must get off at established bus stops listed on your route sheets.
At the end of your run, turn all permission notes in to the transportation office with the date, bus number, school site, and your initials. Redding School District and AUHSD notes will be filed in the appropriate school’s file located in the file cabinet in the transportation office.
17. OVERLOADING
Never operate a school bus with more passengers than posted on the CHP certificate. It is against the law to operate an overloaded bus and suspension or revocation of your school bus certificate can result from conviction for this offense.
Contact dispatch if you find you have more riders than the capacity of the bus. Tell those students that you do not have room for to stay at the bus stop (or school). Also tell them that other transportation arrangements will be made for them. If you have other bus stops on your route sheet, stop at each stop and tell the students you are full, another bus will be sent, and to remain at the stop.
18. USE OF SPARE BUSES
When you use a spare bus or someone else’s bus, top it off with fuel before you return it to the yard. Also leave the bus clean. If you think you are the last driver on this bus for the day, secure it. (See section “Securing the Bus”). Log all mileage on the mileage sheet assigned to that bus. Turn in the mileage sheet at the end of your day if you will not be using that spare the next day and are not aware of it being used later that week. Be sure to include the type of route that was driven in the spare bus.
19. SPEED LIMIT IN BUS YARD
The speed limit on all district school grounds and in the bus yard is 5 mph. This speed limit is for all vehicles, not just buses.
Upon leaving the yard accelerate slowly after leaving the gate. Our neighbors appreciate us not creating a cloud of dust and keeping engine noise to a minimum.
20. WAITING
When you have standby or layover time between runs, and it is practical, you will return to the transportation yard. The dispatcher will consider the various factors, such as the length of the layover and the distance from the yard to the next run when making this decision. If time does not allow, the buses will remain at the school site prior to going on their next run. Buses are not allowed to wait at unauthorized locations. Under special circumstances, instructions may be given to drivers by the dispatcher regarding waiting at school sites. When special circumstances occur, you must inform the Dispatcher of your waiting status and location. As you are in paid status during layover or standby, you are required to be available for other duties during that time. Notify your Lead Driver, the dispatch office, the Transportation Supervisor or the Transportation Director of your availability. Check with them for a list of additional duties on layover time.
21. LATE BUSES
Drivers are expected to adhere to their schedules and be on time at each of their stops. However if, due to unusual circumstances, you are running 10 to 15 minutes late on your run, you must notify the dispatch office immediately. The dispatcher will in turn notify the affected parents or schools. Notify dispatch immediately if you will be late to a school site.
22. LEAVING YARD
All school buses will leave the bus yard via Grange Street. Before backing the driver will sound the horn and transmit “in service and backing” to indicate that the bus is enroute and the radio is working properly. The driver will transmit “clear” after clearing the backing area or wash rack. Drivers leaving the bus yard that must travel south on Highway 273 (S. Market) are advised to use the signal at Angelo and Highway 273, especially during times of the day when traffic is heavy. (R on Faveretto, L on State). Buses are not to use Leland or Lanning unless picking up a student on these streets.
23. YARD SECURITY/EMPLOYEE SAFETY
Employees who are in the yard early in the morning and late in the evening need to exercise caution in their activities. Any suspicious activity around the vicinity of the bus yard or back gate needs to be immediately reported. If in doubt, use the buddy system while checking out or securing your bus. In the early morning hours, if you are assigned to drive a bus parked in our overflow parking area, notify the mechanics and ask them to move the bus into the yard to do your checkout. Buses can be moved closer to the shop to be checked out. Report all malfunctioning yard security lights immediately to the dispatch office. The Administrative Assistant will submit a work order to maintenance for repair.
24. EMPLOYEE PHONE USE
A phone is located in the lounge for drivers and attendants to use when calling parents, schools, etc. Refrain from using phones in the dispatch office area. Drivers and attendants are not to use the phone or desk in the Lead Driver’s/Administrative Assistant offices unless given permission to do so. Except during extreme emergencies, drivers and attendants are not to receive personal calls on the main office phones. Do not give out the main office phone number for personal use. Drivers should not use their personal cell phones or home phones to call parents or guardians of their students. Caller ID on the receiver will give them access to your phone number. When using the phone in the drivers room, please keep conversations short so that ALL drivers have access to the phone if needed.
25. CELLULAR PHONES
Employees are not allowed, by law and county policy, to use personal cellular phones on board the school buses. If a personal cellular phone is in your possession it MUST remain turned off at all times while on-duty on board the bus. In addition, all wireless phone accessories (i.e: ear pieces) shall not be worn while driving your bus.
26. EMPLOYEE PARKING
Employee parking for personal vehicles is provided inside the transportation yard and outside on the easement between the yard and Les Schwab Tire Center, or for the AUHSD driver’s housed at the AHS site, in the designated parking area outside the fenced bus parking area. Do not park personal vehicles in front of the office/shop area unless given permission to do so. It is recommended that you lock your personal vehicle at all times while parked at the bus yard.
27. LOCKING/SECURING THE BUS
At all times when the bus is parked and the driver is not in the driver’s compartment the bus must be secured. Securing the bus includes placing the transmission in First, Reverse, or Park (Automatics without Park may be left in Neutral), and the PARKING BRAKE SET. Keys must be removed from the ignition and remain in the driver’s possession.
Any time the bus is parked out of the yard and the driver is not in the immediate vicinity, the bus must be secured and the bus entrance door must be locked.
Buses parked in the yard between runs must be secured but may remain unlocked. The bus keys must be hung on the appropriate hook in the office. Buses parked in the center aisle facing west or backed into the stalls on the West side of the yard facing East must use chalks on the front wheels to prevent accidental movement.
At the end of the day, the bus must be completely secured. This includes closing all windows, the bus thoroughly swept out, the emergency exits locked, the two-way radio turned off, all lights turned off, the entrance door locked, the keys removed, wheels chalked if appropriate, and if applicable, the air tanks drained.
28. CURBING OF TIRES
Nothing destroys a tire faster than rubbing it against the curb at bus stops and on corners. This practice greatly shortens the useful life of the tire, because it wears out the important sidewall of the carcass. We can recap the tread when it wears, but once the sidewall is worn out, the tire must be thrown on the scrap heap.
A bus that has curbed tires projects a very poor image of the driver in it. Drivers that have scuffed a tire need to use tire dressing on it to give the tire a fresh look again.
29. TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND INFORMATION COMMITTEE
The Transportation Safety and Information Committee meets on a regular basis to review accidents, make recommendations to prevent future accidents, and discuss general safety concerns that employees may have. Any employee that has any safety concern or suggestion should get in touch with one of the committee members or the monthly safety officer so his/her concern or suggestion can be brought to the attention of the committee. Attendance is always open to all staff. In-service hours will be credited for attendance at the safety meetings. The safety meeting schedule for the current year will be posted on the bulletin board.
30. SUGGESTION BOX
A suggestion box is available in the staff lounge for any employee to make suggestions to help our department run smoother and safer. Forms are available near the suggestion box to submit your suggestion. Suggestions are reviewed at the monthly safety committee meetings and actions or recommendations are posted in the safety minutes.
31. SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAM
A Safety Incentive Program has been implemented to encourage safe working habits throughout transportation. Reducing work related injuries is a primary concern in any operation that has a high rate of exposure to risk. Each month a safety officer is selected to help identify unsafe procedures and situations. This safety officer will prepare a written report to present to the safety committee along with recommendations for improvement. The safety officer will be compensated for their work during the month with a $50.00 stipend on their paycheck. Any safety concern may be brought to the attention of the safety officer for inclusion in the monthly report. During the monthly transportation staff meeting the names of all transportation staff who have not had a lost time injury during the prior month will be entered in a drawing. The winner will receive a $40.00 gift card. By identifying and correcting hazards and rewarding good safety practices we can all work together to reduce job related injuries.
V. REPORTS
Bus Drivers are expected to fill out various forms required by the department. These forms are necessary to provide information on transportation operations. This information is used to complete various state and school district reports. The funding we receive from the state and local school districts is based in part on the information we receive from you. Accuracy is vital for a meaningful report. All reports need to be submitted when they are due.
The regularly submitted reports are:
1. DAILY CONDITION REPORT FOR SCHOOL BUSES
Drivers must perform a safety inspection on each individual bus that they drive during the day. Prior to the bus leaving the yard, the Daily Condition Report must be accurately and completely filled in. At the end of the tour of duty, this DAILY report must be turned in to the transportation office. (See Appendix A)
Should a defect be found during the safety inspection, the driver will mark the appropriate box next to the affected item with an “0”. A work order is then initiated by the driver. Work orders are available in the office at the Administrative Assistant’s desk.
(See “Work Order” section, Chapter VII, Maintenance) The yellow copy of the work order should be retained by the driver who initiated the repair. This is the driver’s documentation that a defect was noted.
Critical safety defects should be brought immediately to the attention of the mechanics, IN ADDITION TO FILLING OUT A WORK ORDER.
2. WEEKLY MILEAGE REPORT
Each driver is expected to submit a Weekly Mileage Report. Each report must be complete and accurate in order for us to charge back to districts and programs for transportation services.
Each run must be recorded separately under the “Routes” column, for example, A.M. Special Ed, A.M. Court & Community (Oasis), ROP, therapy, mid day pick up and take home, P.M. Special Ed, P.M. Court and Community (Oasis), Regular Education pickup, Regular Education P.M. take-home, etc.
Field trips are also recorded as separate mileage. If you are on a field trip make a note of the trip and associated mileage separately on this form. Do not combine field trip mileage on the same line with other trips such as swimming or middays. This field trip
mileage must be the same as on your Special Trip Request form. (See Special Trip Request).
The odometer readings will be logged in the appropriate row under the appropriate day of the week. At the completion of the week the driver will total all mileages and log in the appropriate columns.
Every bus has it’s own Weekly Mileage Report. This report is to be kept on a magnetic holder inside the bus. If you use a spare bus (or another bus), you will log the mileage on the Weekly Mileage Report for that bus. Spare buses will be equipped with a fresh mileage report weekly. Do not keep this report in your binder.
If you have any questions, please ask the Lead Drivers for assistance in filling out this important form. It is imperative that mileage is correctly captured for reimbursement purposed. (See IX. Forms) Mileage forms must be turned in at the end of the work week.
3. STUDENT COUNT/CENSUS FORM
Special Education/Court School
At the end of each month you will be given a census form from the dispatcher for the next month for your home to school students. If you have additional runs you must obtain a blank census form. You must record the students that ride on a daily basis. Drivers must count students that they pickup at home in the morning and count the students that they drop off at home in the afternoon. A count must be done for each run, i.e. A.M. to school, Mid Day to or from school, and P.M. from school. Please be certain that the type of run is clearly identified on the census form.
Drivers need to write in the name of any students that are added to the route during the middle of the month, at the bottom of the census form. (See IX. Forms) If the student is no longer in the transportation system do no cross out his/her name. Fill in a “0” for the remainder of the month. Census sheets are to be totaled and turned in on the last working day of the month. Census sheets are to be filled in after each run and kept in the driver’s route book binder. The census sheets must be available to the dispatchers at all times when the bus is in the yard. It is imperative that the sheets are current if a parent or school should need verification of a student riding the bus.
Contracted Districts
Four times per year you will be required to count the students that ride your bus. This information is vital for routing and scheduling. This count must be done for each run.
Log in the appropriate totals and turn the census sheets in to dispatch at the end of the week.
4. SPECIAL TRIP REQUESTS
Field trips are charged to school programs on the basis of the driver’s time and mileage. Therefore, it is important to accurately log your time and mileage on the driver’s copy of the trip request. Time is to be recorded to the nearest ¼ hour. Record your time in the space provided on the trip request. Total your mileage and record that total in the space provided. Trip sheets must be turned in at the end of the work day that the trip was taken.
Local Field Trips
Begin your odometer reading at the transportation yard. If you have a trip that begins immediately after your drop at a school, the trip odometer reading would begin when leaving this drop, before proceeding on the trip.
If you are dropping a group at the end of a field trip and immediately going onto a home-school run, the ending odometer reading for the trip will be at the school where you dropped the field trip students.
If you find yourself on a trip that has a run between the trip drop and pickup times, the ending odometer reading needs to be recorded at the trip destination. Once you have completed your home-school route and have returned to the trip destination, you will write the beginning odometer reading for the return trip.
Your time that is logged on and off a field trip will follow the same guidelines as the odometer reading.
Out of the Area Trips
Mileage and driver’s time are recorded the same way as a local trip. Out of the area trips are offered to drivers on a rotating basis according to seniority and licensing requirements. Contract District field trips will be offered to driver’s following the protocol outlined for that District. You may be asked to drive a bus you are not familiar with. The transportation office will make every effort to ensure you are assigned equipment you are proficient in. It is the driver’s responsibility to let the transportation office know if they need additional training on the assigned equipment before leaving on the trip.
Occasionally an out of the area trip may impact your legal hours of service. It is the driver’s responsibility to track “on duty” status, “driving” status and hours “off duty” to comply with the law. (See Drivers’ Daily Log).
If you have any questions regarding proficiency or hours of duty, please see your Lead Driver, the Transportation Supervisor or the Transportation Director for clarification. For any other unusual circumstances on a field trip, check with your Lead Driver, the Dispatchers, the Transportation Supervisor or the Transportation Director.
(See IX. Forms)
5. DRIVER’S DAILY LOG
Each day every driver must record their on and off duty time in the “Driver’s Daily Log” book located in the driver’s break room. If the driver has another employer, that time must also be logged. After every weekend, after all holidays and time off, drivers must verify that they had no other employment during that time. All drivers must verify all time for 7 days prior to the driving assignment. This log MUST be kept current and all time logged must be accurate. If you work at a location other than transportation, i.e. maintenance during the summer or another job for another employer, you must be aware of the following legal requirements:
1. The time you first report to work for any employer to the time you end work for any employer must not exceed 16 hours. This is defined as a “work period”.
2. You may drive for a total of 10 hours within a 16 hour work period.
3. You must have at least 8 continuous hours off duty from ALL employers between work periods.
4. You may not drive any commercial vehicle after working 80 hours in 8 consecutive days.
Any questions regarding hours of service should be addressed to the Transportation Supervisor or the Transportation Director.
VI. SAFETY AND PUPIL TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES
1. SEAT BELTS
Drivers shall wear their seat belt at all times while the bus is in motion.
2. ENTRANCE DOOR
Drivers shall keep the front entrance door closed at all times while the bus is in motion.
3. EMERGENCY DOORS
All emergency exits shall be unlocked at all times while the bus is in motion. All emergency exits shall be locked at the end of the day.
4. DRINKING OR EATING
Drinking or eating by the driver or attendant is not permitted when the bus is in motion. No porcelain or glass cups are to be carried on the bus.
5. LOOSE ITEMS
Items such as plastic coffee cups, purses, clipboards, or other loose articles are not to be
stored on the dashboard. Sudden vehicle movement could cause these items to move, distract the driver and result in an accident. Loose items should not be stored under the driver’s seat. In case of a sudden stop, they may lodge in the brake or throttle pedal and cause an accident. Items should be stored in a secured area.
6. HEADLIGHTS/TAILLIGHTS
Headlights and taillights are to be on at all times while the bus is in motion. Drivers driving vehicles equipped with “automatic” headlights must pull the headlight switch to the “on” position to activate the headlights at full intensity. This also activates the taillights on the bus. Operating a school bus with the lower intensity automatic headlights on and no taillights does not comply with the law.
7. HORN
Use common sense when checking your horn in the morning. Tap lightly when you check it and when you are ready to back out of your parking stall. Do not honk the horn repeatedly in the early morning hours. Do not test air horns in the bus yard. Our neighbors will appreciate your consideration.
8. BACKING
Backing is a dangerous maneuver. Never back unless it is absolutely necessary. Always honk the horn , activate your hazards, and check all mirrors prior to backing.
Always announce “in service and backing” before backing out of your stall in the bus yard, identifying yourself by using the bus number and route letter or number if applicable. Be aware of other buses that are already waiting to back out. Clear yourself on the airway when you clear the wash rack.
At bus stops where a turn around is required, the following procedure must be used for safety of the students. When picking up students, they must be on board the bus prior to backing. When unloading students, they must remain on board until after the backing maneuver is complete.
Backing on school grounds will only be done with the help of adult supervision at the outside rear of the bus. At school sites backing should NEVER be done unless absolutely necessary.
9. TRANSPORTING UNUSUAL OBJECTS
In addition to items listed in state regulations, drivers shall not transport objects that may
be a hazard. Items that are considered hazardous are: balloons (either blown up or deflated), glass or ceramic containers, knives, live insects, etc. Drivers are to use their best judgement to determine whether any other items would be hazardous to transport. If there is any question, call Dispatch for assistance.
10. UNAUTHORIZED PASSENGERS
Unauthorized passengers are not allowed to ride the buses or district vehicles. Authorized passengers are pupils or employees of Shasta County Office of Education or Redding School District, Anderson Union High School District, or French Gulch-Whiskeytown School District Unauthorized passengers include your spouse, your own children, grandchildren, friends, etc. If there is any doubt, contact the transportation office. Parents or guardians of students, or students that normally don’t ride your bus, are only allowed to ride buses with written approval from the school or transportation office; providing there is sufficient room on the bus. Drivers will notify dispatch if they have any questions and /or inform them of any new rider that may want to board their bus. This needs to be done even if the rider has an approved note from the school.
11. TREE LIMBS AND SHRUBS
Limbs and other hazards on your route should be reported to the proper authorities. Forms are provided for your use. After you complete the form turn it in to dispatch to be faxed to the correct department or agency.
12. ATTENDANTS STANDING ON SCHOOL BUSES
Attendants should not, as a matter of routine, stand on the school bus when the bus is in motion. They should do so only when handling a problem or when authorized by the driver. Continuously standing when the bus is in motion can be very dangerous for the attendant and very distracting to the driver.
13. RAILROAD CROSSINGS
ALL BUSES, LOADED OR EMPTY, WILL STOP AT ALL RAILROAD CROSSINGS AND FOLLOW ALL PROCEDURES AS REQUIRED BY THE COUNTY OFFICE AND LAW FOR CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS.
14. DRIVER OF THE BUS
Bus drivers will not allow substitutes, trainees, or other unauthorized persons to operate their bus without prior approval from the Transportation Supervisor or Transportation Director.
15. CHECKING INSIDE OF BUS AFTER RUNS
At the end of each school’s route, A.M. and P.M., before beginning your next
school’s route and again upon returning to the bus yard, the driver shall check the bus to assure that there are no students left on board who may have fallen asleep. Also, drivers need to check for students’ belongings that may have been left between school runs and also should check their bus for vandalism. (i.e.: damaged seats, graffiti, garbage, etc.)
If a driver finds a student that has been left on board, he/she must radio the dispatch office immediately for instructions. The driver will need to obtain the students’ name, school, and bus stop to relay to the Transportation Office. The student may be disoriented and frightened, consequently the driver must be reassuring.
Drivers that find student belongings should keep the items on board the bus and return them to the student or to the school the next day. Drivers should also inform Dispatch that they have found an item in case a parent has called looking for it. Do not bring items into the office or break room unless the dispatcher asks you to.
16. BUS STOPS – MOTELS/TRAILER PARKS
Without approval from the transportation office, buses will not enter trailer parks, apartment complexes, or motel parking lots for any reason.
17. SPECIAL DRIVING SITUATIONS
A. LANNING/LELAND STREETS
Do Not Drive down Lanning or Leland streets unless you have a student that needs to be picked up or dropped there. Both streets, as well as all streets in the Parkview neighborhood are extremely congested and there are many small children in the area. DO NOT EXCEED 20 MPH. Please be sensitive to the problems engine noise and dust creates.
B. ADAMS STREET – MONTE VISTA AREA
Drivers are not to exceed 20 mph on the section of road from Adams and Shirley to and from Monte Vista School.
18. FIRST AID KITS/COMMUNICABLE DISEASE KITS
Regulations require each bus to be equipped with a complete first aid kit of the appropriate size. Drivers are to inspect this kit during your daily vehicle inspection. If you find some items missing, replacement items can be obtained from the transportation office. Items must be replaced before leaving on your route.
Each school bus is supplied with a Communicable Disease Kit. The contents of these kits are as follows:
• 3 plastic zip lock bags
• 3 pairs of disposable gloves
• 1 germicidal pad
• 8 antiseptic wipes
• 1 protective face mask
• 1 CPR pocket mask with valve (may have multiple valves for use by attendants)
• 8 paper towels
In the event a driver, attendant, or vehicle comes into contact with the excretion of any bodily fluid (e.g. vomitus, blood, excrement, urine, saliva, running sores), this is the procedure you are to follow:
• Glove up
• Apply any necessary first aid measures, and if needed, clean up the student.
• Prevent the spread of fluids to any other student and other parts of the bus.
• Put used tissues, towels, etc. into a plastic bag, seal it and double bag. De-glove and put the used gloves into the second plastic bag. Seal the second bag without contaminating your hands.
• Clean hands with antiseptic wipes. Dispose of the used wipes in the second plastic bag. Do not touch any parts of your body and do not eat, drink, or smoke until you have thoroughly disinfected your hands.
• Take student to school or home per office instructions.
• Finish your route.
• Dispose of the bag with the contaminated items.
• Clean hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Proceed to clean bus.
• Re-glove
• Obtain stringent solution from the shop.
• Clean bus. Concentrate on all areas the driver has touched. Also clean entire area contaminated by student.
• Dispose of cleaning solution. Put any sponges, cleaning cloths into a plastic bag, seal and double bag. Dispose of contaminated items. De-glove.
• Clean hands thoroughly.
• Restock kit with disposable gloves, bags, etc. Obtain these items from the Transportation Office.
If a driver or attendant has been directly exposed to bodily fluids on bare skin or has been bitten or scratched by a student, he/she must report this exposure immediately to the transportation office. Appropriate procedures will then be followed to protect the staff member from possible diseases transmitted through blood borne pathogens.
19. RED LIGHT CROSSINGS
All students, regardless of age or grade level, with the exception of Anderson Union High School District students, that must cross the roadway to board or exit the bus will be escorted by the driver only. The driver must get out of the bus and operate the red flashing lights pursuant to Vehicle Code 22112. Red crossover lights must be operated with the override switch and not by the entrance door.
Any student not crossing the road shall be instructed by the driver to stay on board until he/she returns from escorting other students.
20. STUDENTS LATE TO STOPS
When a driver arrives at a bus stop and finds that a student needs to cross the roadway to board the bus, the driver must follow standard loading procedures, get out of the bus, and escort the students under the protection of the flashing red light system.
The driver needs to talk to the student and advise him/her that he/she needs to be at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the bus arriving. The driver will not issue a Notice of Unsatisfactory Conduct at this time. However, the driver will report the student’s name and his/her school to their Lead Driver through an incident report The Lead Driver will, in turn, call the school and/or parents to advise them of the pickup time and the safety concerns involved. If the problem persists, the driver should continue to notify their Lead Driver and follow up with a Notice of Unsatisfactory Conduct.
21. SPECIAL (FIELD) TRIPS
Drivers will on occasion, be assigned a special trip. When a trip assignment is made, the driver should:
• Confirm the location and times of the trip and research driving directions if necessary.
• On the day of the trip drivers are expected to arrive at the pickup location 5 minutes prior to leave time unless prior arrangements have been made with the Dispatcher or the Operations Technician, or the Lead Driver.
• Drivers will introduce him or herself to the person in charge and verify leave times, destination, other stops, return times etc.
• Drivers are not to deviate from information indicated on trip sheet without approval from the transportation office.
• Once students are loaded, prior to departing driver will explain emergency evacuation procedures. The instruction must include the location of emergency exits, the location and use of emergency equipment and the responsibility of those seated at the emergency exits or assigned as helpers.
• When the driver returns to the yard, all paperwork for the field trip will be completed and returned to the transportation office or to the Lead Drivers in-box. The trip sheet must be filled out according to directions given in Chapter 5, Reports, Special Trip Requests.
• Drivers who are assigned a trip of 100 air miles or more will be required by law to keep a log book. Log book forms will be available through the transportation office or your Lead Driver. Additional training on filling out the required forms will be given to those drivers by the Lead Driver, the Transportation Supervisor, or the Transportation Director.
VII. BUS MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
1. CLEANING THE BUS
Each driver will thoroughly sweep his/her bus daily. Brooms will be returned to the wash area and hung up on the racks. Drivers may store their own brooms on the bus as long as they are kept in the luggage compartment or hung in the bus with an appropriate hook.
Mopping the inside of the bus with a damp mop is acceptable. Do not use soap or wax on the inside floor. Use water only. DO NOT HOSE OUT a bus without permission from the transportation office staff.
Once a week buses must be washed. This should be done between runs, during lag time or stand by time. However, if a driver does not have any standby time, he/she is still expected to spend one hour per week cleaning and washing the bus. If drivers do not have a one hour block of time in a day, the bus may be washed over a two or three day period as standby time permits. The sign up sheet for bus washing is on the bulletin board. Driver’s are expected to sign up in the time slot they intend to use, and should NOT wash their bus in a time slot that has already been reserved by another driver. If for some reason you are unable to wash your bus during the time signed up for, please erase your name from the sheet so that other driver’s can utilize that time slot.
No buses will be washed before 7:00 a.m. Only wash necessary windows before your morning route.
All buses will be washed at the wash area and will be centered over the waste water collection grid in the middle of the wash pad. Buses may be washed with the power sprayer or hose and brush with soap or a combination of the two. Before using the power sprayer you must receive training on its use by the Lead Mechanic. AT ALL TIMES WHILE USING ANY WASH EQUIPMENT ON THE WASH AREA YOU MUST WEAR APPROPRIATE EYE PROTECTION. Appropriate eye protection includes safety goggles, sunglasses or regular glasses. When you are finished using the wash area, all cleaning materials will be returned to their correct places including hanging the hose. The wash area must be left clean and organized.
Do not leave your bus parked on the wash rack unless you are washing your bus.
During the daily bus safety inspection drivers are to ensure that the dashboard is wiped clean. Also to ensure safety, the windshield and mirrors are to be kept clean at all times.
2. AIR TANKS
Air tanks are to be drained daily at the end of the last run to allow moisture to be drained out of the system. Open the drain valves and leave them open overnight.
3. WORK ORDERS
During the daily bus vehicle inspection if a defect on your bus is noticed, A WORK ORDER MUST BE FILLED OUT TO INITIATE THE REPAIR.
Work order forms are located in the transportation office. Fill out the form completely. Place the completed work order in the appropriate basket for jobs pending.
Critical safety defects should immediately be brought to the attention of the mechanics IN ADDITION TO FILLING OUT A WORK ORDER.
4. SHOP AREA
DRIVERS WILL REFRAIN FROM BEING IN THE SHOP. The only time drivers should be in the shop area is to report a mechanical defect on their bus. Smoking is not permitted in the shop at any time. Drivers entering the shop should be especially cautious of wet floors and other hazards. All drivers should enter the shop through the man door located on the west side of the building, by the shop office.
5. PARKING IN FRONT OF SHOP
Do not park your bus in front of the shop area for repairs unless directed to do so. Keys are to be returned to their proper hook in the transportation office. The mechanics will have their own set. If you have permission to leave your bus by the shop, notify the mechanics after parking it.
6. DRIVING BUS FROM SHOP
Only mechanics the Transportation Supervisor, or the Transportation Director are to drive buses in and out of the shop. This will ensure that drivers are driving buses that the mechanics have approved to leave the shop. Buses that are parked outside the shop should not be driven unless the driver has checked with the mechanics first to be sure all work has been completed.
7. FUELING
Fueling should be done when you are on standby time or at the end of your morning route. If you are near the fuel location at the end of a run, fueling should be done then. Be courteous. Other drivers waiting for fuel may be on a run and may need to fuel before you. If this is the case, let them fuel first.
Drivers are to insure that there is an adequate amount of fuel prior to the start of any run. The bus engine must be turned off while fueling. The driver is responsible for continuously observing and staying in the IMMEDIATE vicinity of the fuel nozzle at all times. The nozzle of the fuel hose shall be in contact with the fuel intake of the fuel tank throughout the entire time of refueling. This will reduce the possibility of creating a spark by ensuring the nozzle is grounded. When fueling a gas engine, all passengers must be off the bus. This includes the bus attendant. Do not transmit with your two-way radio. Sparks can be emitted from the antenna. Smoking or lighting matches is not permitted within 50 feet of any fuel pump. Never use a cell phone at any fueling station.
A. FUELING AT CARD LOCK STATIONS
Fueling of all vehicles, gas and diesel will be done at one of the distributors of CFN (Commercial Fueling Network). All buses will use the CFN station located on Hwy 273 near the bus yard whenever possible.
Each driver will have a fuel card assigned to them. Each fuel card has its own PIN number that must be used with that card. Buses do not have individual fuel cards assigned to them. You may use the card assigned to you to fuel any bus or SCOE vehicle. Be sure to enter the correct data asked for to identify which bus or vehicle you are fueling. Drivers are responsible for fuel cards assigned to them and must keep cards in their possession at all times.
At stations with an exterior computer cardlock, insert the card into the computer and follow the instructions as indicated on the electronic screen. Be prepared to enter the PIN number, bus number, odometer reading, and the pump number. If you are fueling at a station without an exterior computer cardlock you will need to go inside and give them your card. After the fueling is complete replace nozzle which will shut the system off. Be sure to replace the fuel cap.
8. ENGINE IDLING
During the bus safety inspection the bus engine should be idled only during the time it takes you to complete the safety inspection. Do not leave your bus running unattended. If you return to the office, shut the engine off. This procedure will reduce fuel use, extend engine life, and prevent the potential of an engine “run away.”
When you leave the transportation yard, accelerate gradually during the first 3 to 5 miles to bring the engine up to operating temperature.
ENGINE IDLING LAW
The following lists out the requirements under Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations as it pertains to school bus idling:
Idling Control Measure
A driver of a school bus:
(a) must turn off the bus engine upon stopping at a school or within 100 feet of a school, and must not turn the bus engine on more than 30 seconds before beginning to depart from a school or from within 100 feet of a school; and
(b) must not cause or allow a bus to idle at any location greater than 100 feet from a school for:
1. more than five consecutive minutes; or
2. a period or periods aggregating more than five minutes in
any one hour.
Exceptions
This section does not apply for the period or periods during which:
a) idling is necessary while stopped:
1. for an official traffic control device;
2. for an official traffic control signal;
3. for traffic conditions over which the driver has no control, including but not limited to: stopped in a line of traffic; or
4. at the direction of a peace officer;
b) idling is necessary to ascertain that the school bus is in safe operating condition and equipped as required by all provisions of law, equipment is in good working order, either as part of the driver’s daily vehicle inspection, or as otherwise needed;
c) idling is necessary for testing, servicing, repairing, or diagnostic purposes;
d) idling is necessary, for a period not to exceed three to five minutes (as per the recommendation of the manufacturer) to cool down a turbo-charged diesel engine before turning the engine off;
e) idling is necessary to operate a heater or an air conditioner of a bus that has or will have, one or more children with exceptional needs aboard;
f) idling is necessary to operate defrosters, heaters, air conditioners, or other equipment to ensure the safety or health of the driver or passengers.
9. OIL/COOLANT
During the daily bus inspection, the level of the engine oil and coolant are checked by the driver. Drivers do not add oil or coolant to the buses. Contact a mechanic to add the fluids for you. Mechanics then log amount of oil and or coolant, date and bus number for their records.
VIII. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
The transportation department is founded on the concepts of safety and accident prevention. We, as a department, will do everything within our power to provide safe, dependable transportation for the students we serve. Of primary concern is the prevention of any accident. Our Transportation Safety and Information Committee has classified preventable accidents as:
Any accident which results in property damage and/or personal injury in which the driver in question failed to do everything he/she reasonably could have done to prevent the occurrence.
Conversely, a non-preventable accident is defined as:
An accident which resulted in property damage or personal injury that could not have been prevented through any reasonable action or caution by the driver.
Drivers must be familiar with the definition of a school bus accident as specified in the California Highway Patrol passenger Transportation Safety Handbook (HPH 82.7).
Any bus driver involved in an accident, NO MATTER HOW MINOR IT MAY BE, YOU MUST REPORT it IMMEDIATELY to the transportation office. This shall include such things as hitting a tree branch, street sign, mailbox, etc, whether or not there is any damage to the bus or the fixed object. (This also includes animals.) The transportation office will make the necessary calls to the appropriate agencies, and will direct the driver on what to do.
All other drivers shall refrain from any non-emergency radio transmission until the dispatcher notifies them that the current emergency no longer exists, and subsequently clears the airways.
Keep in mind that a top priority in an accident is to assist any injured pupil. All binders shall be equipped with accident packets, outlining procedures to follow and containing all forms needed at the scene.
1. ACCIDENTS
If you are involved in an accident, the procedure outlined below must be adhered to:
• Stop immediately at the accident scene.
• Radio the transportation office REGARDLESS OF HOW MINOR THE ACCIDENT IS. Be specific. Give your bus number, name, and exact location. Also, indicate WHETHER AN AMBULANCE IS NEEDED. The office will in turn make any other necessary phone calls.
• Assist injured persons, if any.
• If radio contact to the transportation office cannot be made, ask a responsible person, designated by you to telephone the transportation office. Fill in the Accident Procedures form found in the bus route book and give it to this designated person. (See IX. Forms)
• Protect the scene from further accidents and injury. Set red reflectors out if needed. Reflectors will be used only if the bus is in the roadway, a hazard to other motorists, or at night if parked within any part of the traveled portion of the roadway.
• Radio in to dispatch the arrival times of all emergency personnel.
• Keep students on the bus unless fire or other hazards dictate otherwise. Release students only to their parents or other school officials after permission from dispatch, CHP, the Transportation Supervisor, or the Transportation Director.
• Make a list of names and seating locations of each student on your bus. Refrain from giving student information over the radio unless specifically directed to do so.
• Exchange only driver’s license information, vehicle registration, and insurance information with the other driver. Usually the investigating officer or transportation office personnel will secure this information from the other party.
• Do not discuss the accident with anyone other than law enforcement, our insurance agent, the Transportation Supervisor, or the Transportation Director.
• Secure name, address, and phone number of any witnesses.
• Do not move the bus until the investigating officer or transportation personnel instructs you to do so, unless it presents a SEVERE road hazard.
• Radio the transportation office when released by the investigating officer.
• If you are involved in an accident at a time when the transportation office is not open,
notify the California Highway Patrol and telephone the Transportation Supervisor or the Transportation Director at the phone numbers listed on your emergency contact numbers card.
• Upon return to the transportation office, obtain and fill out the Vehicle Accident Report forms.
Every accident is different in severity and nature. Drivers need to use common sense when dealing with an accident. Instructions for managing an accident are in your emergency packet in your route book.
2. BREAKDOWN PROCEDURE
When a bus develops trouble on the road, the driver is to:
• Stop the bus in a safe location. Protect the bus from an accident. Activate four way flashers or set out red reflectors if needed.
• Radio the transportation office and give them your exact location.
• When possible, attempt to determine the specific nature of the problem. The driver may need to visually inspect the engine compartment or the area where the trouble is
suspected. The better the mechanics understand the nature of the problem, the quicker he can be dispatched with the necessary tools and parts.
• Advise the transportation office of the number of students, etc. in case another bus is needed to cover the route.
• Keep students on board the bus unless fire or other hazards dictate otherwise.
• Do not release students to anyone except their parents or other school authorities. Any request to release students must be approved by dispatch. Note the names of any students who are released to their parents in your route book.
• If you do not have a radio or you cannot establish radio contact, enlist the help of two separate passersby. Provide each passerby with an Emergency Breakdown Procedure form (See IX. Forms) and request that each of them telephone the transportation office for you. These forms will be in your emergency packet in your route book. If you must send students for help, send two of your most reliable students. Be certain to write down specific information on the Breakdown Procedures Form. If no students are on board the driver may leave the bus to obtain help.
• Notify the transportation office when you return to service.
Every breakdown is different therefore drivers need to use common sense when dealing with a breakdown.
3. EVACUATION REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR DRILLS
Education Code 39831.5 requires all pupils in public and private elementary and secondary schools to receive instruction in school bus emergency procedures and passenger safety. SCOE conducts bus evacuation drills once a year at each school.
Students are required to evacuate the bus they normally ride with their regular driver if possible. As part of the instruction, pupils must evacuate the school bus through the emergency exit door (s), not the entrance door. When performing a bus evacuation drill the following procedures will be followed:
1. Stop at the prearranged location and secure the bus (see “securing the bus” Chapter IV.)
2. Stand, facing the students and get their attention.
3. Give location and a brief explanation of the following equipment:
a. Parking brake
b. Two way radio
c. Ignition
d. Fire extinguisher
e. First Aide kit
f. All emergency exits
g. Pop out windows
h. Red reflectors
4. Go to the emergency door to be used and instruct the assistant to open the door, hop from a sitting position and take a position next to the emergency door.
5. Instruct the 2nd assistant to hop out and take a position facing the 1st assistant next to the emergency door.
6. Have the leader stand in the doorway to lead the rest of the pupils off the bus to a position 100’ from the bus.
7. Face the students and instruct them as to the order the bus will be evacuated. Remind them to remain seated until it is their turn to leave. Have them zip their coats and leave all personal belongings on board the bus.
8. Face the doorway students will evacuate from and move between seats to clear the aisle. Command the leader to exit the bus using correct procedures and assume a position 100’ from the bus.
9. Evacuate the bus, clearing seats from right to left, front to back from the exit until the bus is empty. Stay near the emergency door to prevent any shoving or pushing. Be sure each student clears the landing area before allowing another to hop out of the bus.
10. When last student has exited, walk to the front of the bus and check to ensure that everyone is out.
11. Go out the front door and join the waiting pupils.
12. At completion of the drill fill out the School Bus Evacuation Information Form and return to your Lead Driver.
Anderson Union High School District does not require home to school students to perform evacuation drills.
4. FIELD TRIP EVACUATION TRAINING
Education Code 39831.5 requires safety instruction on evacuation be given to all students (regardless of age) prior to departing on a field trip. Training must include location of emergency exits, location and use of emergency equipment, and responsibilities of students sitting by emergency exits. This safety instruction shall be noted on the driver’s copy of the field trip sheet.
5. MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
If you have a medical emergency on board your bus the following procedure will be adhered to:
• Stop your bus immediately at a safe location
• Immediately radio dispatch giving the following information:
✓ Exact location of the bus including cross streets.
✓ Name of the student involved.
✓ Nature of the emergency including severity.
• Assist student.
• Maintain access to your bus radio at all times during emergency. If you are giving CPR or involved with a critical situation, assign a reliable student to relay information for you over the radio.
• Continue to assist student until emergency support personnel arrives or the emergency no longer exists.
• Radio dispatch when emergency personnel take over the situation.
Emergencies of all types are very stressful on you as well as your passengers. Be reassuring, calm and professional. When the emergency no longer exists, radio dispatch that the bus is back in service. If you are delivering students home, dispatch will have already notified parents that the bus will be late. Do not release ANY personal information about other students to parents. If a parent questions you about the bus running late it is permissible to tell them you were dealing with a medical emergency but not the nature of the emergency unless it involved their child. Any further questions should be directed to the transportation office.
6. HIJACKING
Hijacking is a very serious and dangerous situation. It is extremely important to STAY CALM. Listen closely to the instructions of the hijacker. If he/she allows you to use the radio, follow the instructions exactly. Attempt to relay exact location of the bus and
number of students on board. If the hijacker will allow you to follow procedure to relay student names, dispatch will guide you through that process.
It is critical to maintain control over your emotions. The calmer you remain, the calmer the situation will be. Do nothing to agitate or anger the hijacker. Be calm and reassuring to your passengers and do exactly as the hijacker instructs. DON’T TRY TO BE A HERO!
7. EMERGENCY SEARCH
Drivers or attendants on occasion may suspect contraband is on their bus. Such contraband may be drugs, paraphernalia and/or weapons. If you request a search the following procedure will be followed:
• Keep the search confidential and the message short to minimize the risk of warning the student (s).
• Use the 10 code to alert dispatch of the need for the search.
35. requests backup (general search)
36. requests backup urgent (search with suspicion of weapon)
The following is an example of the radio transmission that will be used:
Driver needs a general search and will arrive at Oasis in 10 minutes.
“Shasta, 701, 10-35 (pause) 10 minutes”
Dispatch will respond and confirm arrival time.
“Copy, 701 (pause) 10 minutes.”
The same code will be used for all schools including Redding School District schools. Dispatch will notify schools of the intended search and appropriate staff will be requested to conduct the search. Do not allow students to leave the bus until directed to do so by school staff.
After unloading students, notify dispatch that emergency no longer exists.
8. DISCIPLINARY EMERGENCIES
If a student is out of control and the driver or attendant cannot regain control the following procedure will be adhered to:
• Stop your bus immediately at a safe location.
• Immediately radio dispatch the following information:
✓ Exact location including cross streets.
✓ Nature of the emergency including student names.
✓ Support personnel you are requesting.
Do not threaten students with actions you cannot carry out. Returning a bus full of students to school may or may not be the correct solution to an out of control bus. Look for the catalysts and move them to the front of the bus. If necessary those students will be removed from the bus at the scene by law enforcement, school personnel, or the transportation staff. Refer to Chapter 9 – Pupil Management for more information on disciplining students.
After you have called for assistance DO NOT LEAVE THE SCENE OR CONTINUE ON YOUR ROUTE until school staff or law enforcement arrives and releases the bus.
Upon return to the bus yard, follow through with required paperwork and documentation procedures.
IX. PUPIL MANAGEMENT
The establishment of a good relationship with the students on your bus is perhaps the most difficult part of driving a school bus successfully. The primary reason for good pupil management is SAFETY. A school bus driver must use tact, have patience, exercise understanding of all students and mostly, use common sense. It is important to talk to your students with respect, trying to redirect inappropriate behavior in a positive manner. Drivers should ask their Lead Driver for advice on handling difficult student behavior; they may know the student and have strategies for dealing with them. Another tool that drivers must use is to implement assigned seating, provide individual student counseling (do not do this in front of other students), and issue warning notes to parents before writing formal citations.
If a situation requires more than a quick verbal warning, pull the bus safely to the side of the road rather than trying to drive and discipline at the same time.
No driver shall eject any student from the bus enroute to school or home unless the pupil is given into the custody of a parent or any person designated by the parent or school.
Only in cases of emergency conditions should a driver or attendant make physical contact with a student and this would be to prevent injury to themselves or others or loss of life. Remember: HANDS OFF POLICY. Unless directed otherwise by the School Site Administrator or the transportation office staff, students who are transported to school shall also be transported home.
Drivers and attendants will have the responsibility of controlling student behavior on their school buses. The Shasta County Office of Education has board policies and
regulations in place to assist the driver and attendant in this task. The following bus regulations have been developed and distributed to all concerned parties.
SHASTA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
TRANSPORTATION
POLICIES/PROCEDURES
BUS REGULATIONS
I. STUDENTS:
Bus Conduct
The County Superintendent shall provide bus transportation for Special Education and Court and Community School students within the area in accordance with the law. Such transportation will be extended as a privilege and right; however, only insofar as the individual student continually and habitually displays good conduct and behavior while preparing to ride, riding, or after disembarking from the bus.
Failure to comply with the rules and regulations for bus riders shall be sufficient reason for a pupil to be denied transportation after all appropriate steps have been taken by the driver of the bus.
Rules for Safe Bus Riding
These regulations apply at all times when children are riding on a County Office bus. This includes field trips and all special trips. It is the responsibility of all school personnel, parents, and the children themselves to see that these regulations are followed.
The following list of students’ actions constitute violations of the established rules and regulations:
1. Abusive body contact (slapping, hitting, poking, shoving, pulling hair, etc.) in or when loading or unloading bus.
2. Fighting on the bus or at the bus stop.
3. Any improper bus stop procedures (not lining up, rock throwing, playing in streets, any property damage at bus stops, continuous late arrival to the bus stop, etc.)
4. Using profane language or obscene gestures.
5. Putting any part of body out of bus window at any time.
6. Any movement out of seats while bus is in motion.
7. Legs, feet, and objects obstructing aisle, or facing to the rear in seats.
8. Creating excessive noise.
9. Any type of damage or defacing of bus.
10. Lighting of matches, cigarettes, smoking or chewing tobacco on bus.
11. Unauthorized opening, closing, or tampering of any kind with bus door, windows, emergency exits.
12. Throwing any object in, out of, or at the bus.
13. Littering of any kind.
14. Transporting live animals, including fowl (i.e. chickens), reptiles, or insects on the bus.
15. Eating, drinking or chewing gum on the bus.
16. Using other than the student’s regularly designated bus stop.
17. Unauthorized exit from emergency doors or windows.
18. Tampering with radio or bus controls.
19. Failure to remain quiet at all railroad crossings and school loading zones.
20. Failure to obey driver or attendant.
21. Disrespect to the bus driver or attendant.
22. Failure to give proper identification when requested by driver.
23. Skateboards, balloons, or any breakable object (glass, ceramics, etc.) are NOT allowed on the bus.
24. Transporting sports equipment unless contained and/or secured in an enclosed bag.
25. Any use of electronic equipment (i.e. radio/cd players , games, camera’s, I-pods or cell phones, etc.) unless specifically authorized by the transportation office.
26. Other unauthorized or unsafe actions.
27. Failure to properly secure the passenger restraint system.
II. BUS DRIVER RESPONSIBILITIES:County Drivers & Contract District Drivers
In accordance with Section 14103 Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, the County Office of Education places the responsibility of students’ conduct on school buses directly with the driver.
When a rider is guilty of misconduct, the rider will be reported to the Lead Bus Driver.
1. The rider and his/her parent or guardian will be given written notice and warning of misconduct.
2. Upon subsequent offense, the rider may be denied transportation services for a period designated by the Principal/Director and the Transportation Supervisor or Lead Driver.
3. The bus driver will not remove a student from the bus at the school site without notifying dispatch and school personnel. The incident will then be documented on the appropriate form.
4. If a student has been absent for three consecutive days the driver will not stop at the student’s bus stop until the parent/guardian has notified the
Transportation Department that the student is ready to return to school.
(This procedure is NOT done on any regular home to school Redding School District or Anderson Union High School District route.) The Transportation Department phone number is 225-0340. If the student returns to the bus a.m. or p.m., the driver will resume transportation without notification from parents.
5. Drivers provide guidance and assistance to authorized personnel for the loading and unloading of students on their buses at school. The exception to this would be loading and unloading students in wheelchairs which is the sole responsibility of the bus drivers.
6. Drivers will not leave buses unattended if students are on board.
7. Children should get in and out of buses with as little assistance as possible.
8. The Transportation Director or designee, in conjunction with the Principal/Director, determines the method of handling and transporting medication required by the student. (See Chapter X for clarification of transporting medications.
9. Students must board buses at designated stops determined by the Transportation Department for the Superintendent of Schools. Drivers shall at no time pick up or deliver students at other than assigned designated stops unless previously authorized by Principal/Director and approved by the Transportation Department.
10. Students are to ride on buses to which they are assigned. Any changes must be approved by the Transportation Department in coordination with written approval from school administration. Permitting students to be picked up or dropped off at stops other than their own will depend on available seating on the bus.
Court school students may ride to school on another bus without written approval provided the driver call into dispatch to confirm that the student is in the data base and has not had his/her riding privileges suspended.
11. All changes of student transportation schedules are initiated through the Program Administrators and coordinated with the Transportation Department.
12. The driver, attendant, Principal/Director and transportation department office staff are all responsible for determining the need for special restraints. The driver will identify each student by name, and outline specific instructions for their transportation needs; this information needs to be in their route binder. Drivers must ensure that the appropriate restraint or belting equipment is available for the student. Special belting will be installed in the bus involved if necessary
III. PRINCIPAL/DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Principal/Director will work cooperatively with Transportation personnel, teachers, parents and students to facilitate safe and efficient transportation and when disciplining a student for school bus rule violations. A Principal/Director may suspend a student from riding the transportation system. A suspension from
transportation is not a suspension from school. The Principal/Director will notify the parent of a bus suspension. It is the responsibility of the student’s parent/guardian to transport the student to and from school when suspended from transportation. Student’s non-attendance as a result of being suspended from the bus is “truancy”. If a student is suspended from one bus, they are suspended from ALL buses.
IV. PARENTS:
The parent shall assist the Principal/Director, teacher, transportation personnel, and the student in following the bus rules. If a student is suspended from transportation, it will be the responsibility of the parent to transport the child to and from school.
A child will not be dropped at home without adult supervision unless written permission to do so has been obtained from the parent/guardian. The bus driver will follow procedures in the event the child is not dropped at home:
1. Notify the transportation office of the situation.
2. Transport the child to another facility (i.e. school site, County Office ) as directed by the Principal/Director. District students will be returned to the school site.
3. Document on an incident report form.
The Principal/Director will:
1. Attempt to contact the parent/guardian or, in an emergency, contact and arrange for the child to be picked up.
2. If no one can be contacted by 5:00 p.m., the Principal/Director will contact the appropriate law enforcement agency and request the child be placed in a receiving home situation.
3. The Principal/Director will attempt to contact the parent/guardian and notify them of the action taken.
When a Notice of Unsatisfactory Conduct on a school bus (bus citation) is executed, it must be done as soon as possible so proper action can be taken. The Notice of Unsatisfactory Conduct on a school bus (bus citation) should be filled out neatly and completely in ink, indicating all actions the driver has taken prior to issuing the citation. Be specific when explaining the situation. Exact wording is important if obscene language was used by the student. This enables the Site Administrator and parents to deal more effectively with the student. Completed citations will be turned in to the Lead Driver for processing.
Special Education and Court and Community School Students Discipline
Court and Community School student citations are handled directly through the school by
the Lead Driver. The Lead Driver for Special Education will fax and/or mail those citations to the program director who initiates the disciplinary process. The transportation office is then notified of the action taken by the school or program director. Students that have had their bus riding privileges suspended will have their name on the suspension list posted on the Bulletin Board in the section that applies to that program. It is the drivers and/or attendants responsibility to check the student suspension list daily.
The discipline given to a student will depend upon the program the student attends. Drivers of special education students may follow a different procedure in dealing with discipline or behavioral problems than students in other programs. Drivers must be aware of the policies and procedures for the different programs.
SHASTA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
TRANSPORTATION
POLICIES/PROCEDURES
REDDING SCHOOL DISTRICT / ANDERSON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
REDDING SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS RULES
1. The driver is the authority on the bus; follow their directions the first time they are given.
2. Keep your hands to yourself. No pushing, fighting, playing rough, or throwing objects.
3. Use inside voices at all times. Stay quiet at all Railroad crossings and School zones.
4. Stay in your seat, facing forward, with your feet on the floor, and your backs to the back of the seat.
5. No eating, chewing gum, drinking, or littering while on the bus.
6. Do not damage the bus in any way.
7. Keep all body parts inside the bus at all times.
8. Do not swear, use rude gestures, or tease anyone on the bus.
9. State Law requires that if you cross the roadway, you must be escorted by the driver. You must cross in front of the bus, and the students remaining on the bus shall stay in their seat.
10. You must get on and off the bus at your designated stop only. An exception will be made if you have a note signed by your parent or guardian, the note must also be signed by the school
11. You need to be at your bus stop 5 minutes before your pick up time. You must be respectful of the property and of others while waiting for the bus to arrive.
12. Cell phones, cameras, I-Pods, or any other electronic device that may cause a disturbance are NOT to be used on the bus. You must turn cell phones off before entering the bus.
13. All sports equipment must be enclosed in a bag.
14. No skateboards, balloons, or any breakable objects (i.e.: glass, ceramics, etc.) are allowed on the bus.
15. A severe infraction on a bus citation is one that causes a severe safety hazard to you or to others.
CITATION CONSEQUENCES
(Severe infractions could mean bypassing some of these steps)
1. Note home that should be returned to the driver.
2. Formal warning from school and transportation department.
3. 2 day bus suspension
4. 5 day bus suspension
5. 30 day bus suspension. A mandatory meeting at school is necessary before getting back on the bus.
6. Removal from the bus for the remainder of the year.
✓ Steps may be skipped according to severity, age, and repeated offenses
SEVERE INFRACTION – The bus will be stopped immediately and the driver will radio in for assistance. Student may be removed from the bus by an Administrator. Bus riding privilege will be suspended.
POSITIVE REWARDS – INDIVIDUALS
1. Praise
2. Good Conduct Award
3. Formal award at school
4. First on/off bus
5. Coupons for fast food, passes at local businesses
6. Student of the week/month – Post on dashboard – free seating, special awards.
POSITIVE REWARDS – GROUP
1. Praise
2. Play radio (Sequoia only)
3. Coupons for fast food, passes at local businesses
4. Notification to school – Principal on bus to praise group
5. Free seating
Redding School District Students are Safe, Responsible, and Respectful
County Procedures for RSD Routes:
CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILING TO FOLLOW THE RULES
Parents shall be sent a copy of the bus rules each year, and the following procedures will
be observed if pupils fail to follow the above listed rules:
1. The driver shall keep a daily log of verbal warnings. Except in severe cases, prior to issuing a written citation, the driver will:
a. Verbally warn the student the first time any rule is broken.
1. Kindergarten through fifth grade students will receive a verbal warning the second time a rule is broken.
b. Proceed with one or more of the following the next time any rule is broken:
1. Have a conference with the student. ( hold over on the bus.)
2. Direct the student to move to an assigned seat.
3. Assign special tasks (driver to receive prior approval from the site administrator and the Lead Driver to use this option). This can only be done with prior parent notification and/or approval before assigning tasks. The Lead Driver will make contact with the school and parent and notify the driver of approved actions.
4. Driver to discuss implementation with site administrator and Lead Driver. Driver must provide gloves and face shield prior to any cleaning.
a. Pick up papers on the bus.
b. Clean windows.
c. Sweep bus.
d. Etc.
5. If these measures do not eliminate the misconduct, issue a “Note Home” to the parents informing them of the behavior.
2. Upon the next infraction by the student, the driver will issue the student a written warning, describing the situation and informing the student of the consequences of further misbehavior. The copy of the citation will be delivered to the site administrator no later than the morning following the incident. Transportation will notify the parents of the incident by mailing a copy of the citation to the student’s mailing address.
3. Once the driver has gone through steps #1 and #2 above, the next infraction will result in a second citation being issued and denial of bus riding privileges for two days as determined by designated Transportation Staff. Transportation will notify the parents of the restriction. If requested, a conference shall be held with designated Transportation Staff, parent, student, driver, and school administrator.
4. Once the driver has gone through steps #1 - #3 above and issues a third citation, the student will be denied bus riding privileges for five days and communicated to the student, parent, and driver. If requested, a conference shall be held with designated Transportation Staff, parent, student , driver, and school administrator.
*Note: If the student’s misbehavior is persistent, the driver will issue the third and fourth written citations without proceeding through steps “1-a” and “1-b” (more verbal warnings).
5. A fourth or higher written citation will result in the student’s denial of bus riding privileges for 30 days, or up to the remainder of the school year as determined by the Transportation Director, Transportation Supervisor, the Lead Driver and School Administrator. Upon being informed that a fourth citation is being written, the Lead Driver shall immediately contact the parents concerning the disposition of the matter. The duration of the restriction shall be communicated at a conference held with the site administrator, Transportation Director, Transportation Supervisor, or the Lead Driver, parent, student, and driver. The student will not be transported until this conference has taken place.
6. Any disagreement over the implementation of the above procedures will be resolved by the superintendent or his designee.
ANDERSON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL BUS BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES
It is expected that all Anderson Union High School students respect themselves, respect others, and respect both school and private property. In order to guarantee the safe transportation of all students, behavior and discipline guidelines are in place.
The following is a list of behaviors that are unacceptable and will be dealt with according to the disciplinary process.
1. A Violation of any safety procedure.
2. Failure to obey the driver.
3. Eating, drinking, or littering on the bus.
4. Out of seat while the bus is moving.
5. Obscene gestures or unacceptable language.
6. Inappropriate display of affection.
7. Gang related behavior.
8. Harassment-including racial or sexual.
9. Physical or verbal aggression towards another person.
10. Throwing or shooting any object.
11. Being disrespectful towards the driver, or any other person on the bus.
12. Use of tobacco or any controlled substance.
13. Lighting of matches or any flammable material.
14. Tampering with, vandalizing, or damaging bus equipment or property.
15. Excessive noise, distracting the driver.
16. Possession of any dangerous objects or weapons.
The first offense for any of the above infractions will result in the following:
Pupil warning, parent notification, possible Saturday school, possible suspension of riding privileges, possible parent conference, and/or possible suspension from school.
The second offense for any of the above infractions will result in the following:
Parent notification, suspension of riding privileges for 5 days, possible parent conference, possible Saturday school, and/or possible suspension from school.
The third offense for any of the above infractions will result in the following:
Parent conference, loss of riding privileges, possible Saturday school, and/or possible suspension from school.
Discipline may include any or all of the listed consequences. Suspensions may range from 1 to 5 days depending on the severity of the offense, and past disciplinary infractions.
Disciplinary action taken by school officials is merely a consequence or result of the action already taken by the student. Students should be aware of all consequences whenever making decisions, and are responsible for their own behavior.
USE OF DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING EQUIPMENT
In order to ensure the safety of passengers, many of our school buses are equipped with digital video recording equipment. The following rules are established to regulate the use of digital video recording equipment:
1. Video recordings may be used by the bus driver to support the issuance of a written citation. Video documentation is not required for issuance of a citation.
2. Video recordings supporting a citation may be saved for review. Bus suspensions implemented for Redding School District students must have video back up to support the citation.
3. Video recordings will not be used for training staff or students or for any other public use.
4. Parents or guardians may request to view a video that supports a citation issued to their child. Such viewing will be limited to those frames containing the bus rule infraction on which the citation was based and will be viewed with school administrator and transportation staff.
5. Each school bus will be equipped with prominent notice of the use of video recording equipment.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PUPIL MANAGEMENT
The following tips for pupil management were developed by Shasta County Office of Education drivers.
• Be consistent.
• Make eye contact.
• Never lose your temper.
• Dress professionally.
• Be fair. Never show favoritism.
• Don’t argue with the student.
• Don’t exchange “wise remarks”.
• “Hands off” policy
• Keep your sense of humor.
• Keep your bus clean.
• Give your students time to react.
• Don’t judge misconduct by your own personal values.
• Never give an order you do not mean to enforce.
• Give commands to stimulate action. Suggest an action which can be successfully obeyed.
• Show respect for your students and their feelings.
• Don’t try to discipline a whole group.
• Never hold a grudge.
• Project a positive image of yourself.
• Clearly establish a set of “standards of behavior” on your bus.
• Look for good qualities in your students.
• Seek council with your Lead Bus Driver for further assistance.
STUDENT REWARDS – ALL BUSES AND PROGRAMS
Drivers are encouraged to reward their students for positive behavior. There are many ways to reward students, such as food certificates from participating food chains, stickers, etc. Reward plans are usually established in conjunction with the Site Administrator or teacher. No food rewards of any kind shall be given to students.
X. SPECIAL PROCEDURES
2. SPECIAL LOADING AND UNLOADING INFORMATION
Drivers will remain in the immediate vicinity of their bus at all loading and unloading zones, while students are on board. Students are never to be left unattended either on the bus or out of the bus. Drivers must be able to observe any and all activity by the students and take immediate corrective action if necessary. You may solicit help from another driver or attendant who may be parked next to you to help supervise your students. Everyone working together as a team ensures student safety and makes everyone's job easier.
As a regular practice, drivers or attendants will not exit bus at a student's residence to hand deliver the student to his/her door. Drivers or attendants will NEVER enter a student's residence to receive or deliver a student.
A. TRANSFER AREAS
At all school sites buses will pull in next to the bus in front of them when possible. If this is not possible, they will then park behind the bus in front of them. Buses are not to drive behind and around other buses to get to a vacant slot.
Each bus should pull up as far as is safe to ensure adequate parking for everyone. The purpose of the bus parking arrangement is so that, when students are loading or unloading, they do not have to walk in front of other buses. The students are always to stay behind the buses. Pulling out will be done with the utmost caution and never when students are exiting or entering other buses. Buses will park in this manner even if you are the only bus at the school site. Additional buses may be ready to pull in behind you.
B. OASIS COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Students who attend Oasis Community School are under constant supervision, therefore, students will be dropped at Oasis school in front of the main office and only when school staff is in attendance. Students may not be dropped any earlier than 8:00.
Students that transfer from one bus to another should remain on the original bus until the transfer or home to school bus arrives.
Oasis staff will dismiss students one class at a time to the bus loading area. If you have questions about loading at Oasis School, please address those concerns to the Lead Driver. Be sure to leave the bus yard on time to arrive at Oasis on schedule.
During the process of loading students at Oasis, the windows will remain closed on the school side (passenger side) of the bus. As with any departure from a school site, you are NOT TO LEAVE prior to the scheduled time. (Your route sheet will show what that time is.) Oasis staff will alert drivers when it is time to leave by walking the bus line and telling drivers it is OK to leave.
NEVER back your bus on school grounds unless emergency conditions dictate and only with an adult OUTSIDE your bus as a spotter. All buses will be shut down during loading. (See VII – 7 Engine Idling Law)
C. NORTH VALLEY CANYON SITE
See the Special Ed Lead driver for specific directions for loading and unloading at this school site.
D. SEQUOIA
Sequoia bus loading and unloading area is behind the student services center at the north end of the campus. Entrance to the bus loop is at the end of Placer Street. Buses will proceed past the student services center and enter through the iron gates. In the morning only four buses at a time will unload students. This will be done at the end of the loop to ensure constant supervision from school staff. If more than four buses are at the school, additional buses must hold their
students until they can move up into position to unload. After unloading, move immediately out of the loading zone.
In the afternoon, southbound buses will enter the loop on the left side. All southbound buses will park in the loop with the front bus up to the driveway at the end of the loop. The northbound buses and the westbound French Gulch bus will remain at the corner, next to the curb to load. The front bus will park close to the corner to allow all buses to have room to park. Buses will not be allowed to leave until all students are boarded. The first bus in the loop will transmit to the other buses that they are ready to leave the school loading area. No buses should pass any other bus in the bus loop. Be patient if the bus in front of you is seating their students.
Southbound buses will continue around the loop and exit via Placer Street. After the last bus has cleared the corner the northbound buses will proceed around the loop and exit the school. No left turns on Sequoia Street will be permitted.
NEVER back your bus on school grounds unless emergency conditions dictate and only with an adult OUTSIDE your bus as a spotter. All buses will be shut down during loading.
3. WHEELCHAIR EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
Drivers are required to be familiar with the equipment they are assigned, including all aspects of wheelchair lift operation.
Drivers must be knowledgeable in manually operating the various lifts in the event of failure of the hydraulic or electric mechanisms of the lifts. Caution must be taken when operating the lifts to ensure the electric cord does not become pinched or caught when the lift is being folded or unfolded.
Only Shasta County Office of Education school bus drivers who have had wheelchair lift training may operate the wheelchair lift. Bus Attendants, School Staff, and Parents should not be allowed to operate the lift at any time.
When loading or unloading wheelchairs, the following procedures will be followed:
A. LOADING
• Secure bus at loading or unloading zone.
• Exit bus, open lift door, securing it open, and lower lift from outside of the bus.
• Before loading wheelchair, check student and chair to ensure student is properly secured in the wheelchair. In addition drivers will visually and physically check the chair to ensure the chair meets legal requirements for transportation i.e. brakes, stability, equipment properly fastened down, etc.
• Place wheelchair on lift so student faces outward.
• Secure wheelchair brakes. Electric wheelchairs will have power shut off.
• Connect belt across the front of the chair.
• The driver will ride the wheelchair lift with the student if at all possible.
• As soon as the lift clears the ground, check the toe lift guard to ensure it is in the proper position and locked.
• Upon reaching floor level, back the student off the lift and move pupil to position on the bus. Lift stations are designed for wheelchairs to face either forward or face the passenger side (curbside) of the bus.
• Set wheelchair brakes.
• Secure wheelchair to the bus using tiedowns and securing devices provided. The wheelchair tie downs must be placed on three separate points on the wheel chair frame and secured to three separate points on the floor of the bus. Do not attach the tiedowns to the chair and bring them together to a common point on the bus floor. This may cause the chair to tip over. Buses equipped with the Kinedyne tiedown system or any system installed in a bus manufactured on or after January 17, 1994 will transport wheelchairs in the
forward facing position and the chair will be tied down at four separate points (two locations in front and two locations in the rear). Each tiedown must be attached securely to the wheelchair frame in a location to insure ensure that the tiedown will not slip or shift. Tiedowns shall never be attached to a wheel spoke, across a brake line, or to an accessory on the wheelchair.
• Larger electric wheelchairs may need the special “S” hook tiedowns to properly secure them. See the Lead Bus Driver for instructions.
• Exit bus, raise the lift and close outside doors.
• Replace lift cover. THE LIFT COVER/PADDING MUST COVER THE LIFT AT ALL TIMES, EXCEPT WHEN USING THE LIFT.
B. UNLOADING
• Secure bus at loading or unloading zone.
• Remove lift cover.
• Exit bus, open lift door, securing it open, and unfold lift from the outside of the bus.
• Check toe guard to ensure it is in the proper position and locked.
• Belt is connected across the end of the lift ramp.
• Reenter the bus and release wheelchair from tiedowns and securing devices.
• Release wheelchair brakes.
• Place wheelchair on lift with student facing outward.
• Secure wheelchair brakes.
• The driver will ride the wheelchair lift with the student if at all possible.
• Lower lift to ground level.
• Release wheelchair brakes and remove chair from lift.
• Release student to an adult in attendance. NEVER LEAVE STUDENT UNATTENDED.
• Raise lift to full up position.
• Close outside doors.
• Reenter bus and replace lift cover. THE LIFT COVER/PADDING MUST
COVER THE LIFT AT ALL TIMES EXCEPT WHEN USING THE LIFT.
When wheelchair tiedowns are not in use, they will be kept in a secured box or storage container provided in the bus. Tiedowns will be inspected by the driver for wear and operation of the release mechanism. Additional or replacement tiedowns can be obtained from the shop. Drivers should see the Special Ed Lead Driver for any questions relating to wheelchair equipment or replacement tiedowns.
Wheelchair students must never be left unattended. Drivers must use both hands on the handles of the wheelchairs and walk at a slow steady pace while physically escorting them to and from the bus. Drivers should NEVER attempt to push more than one wheelchair at a time. If it becomes necessary for the wheelchair to be taken over a curb or uneven section of pavement, the driver should turn the wheelchair around and pull the
wheelchair over the obstacle backwards. Drivers should be sure to ROLL, NOT LIFT the wheelchair.
At all times, when the wheelchair is parked and the driver does not have direct physical contact with it, THE WHEELCHAIR BRAKES SHALL BE SET.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAFELY LOADING AND UNLOADING WHEELCHAIR PASSENGERS RESTS WITH THE DRIVER.
4. LOADING AND UNLOADING AMBULATORY STUDENTS
Drivers and attendants should give special attention to students that have difficulty walking, especially when entering or exiting the bus. When students are using the steps they should be encouraged to help themselves whenever possible. This helps develop self esteem and independence. The driver or attendant can help a student enter or exit the bus if needed.
When physical assistance is needed by the student to load or unload the bus, the following procedure will be followed:
A. LOADING
• The driver or attendant will exit the bus and stand behind the student during entry.
• If necessary, physically support the student, either by holding student under the arms for stability, or by holding on to the student's harness, etc.
• Encourage student to use the safety handrail, or place the student’s hands on the safety handrail to encourage independence and safety.
• Upon entering the bus, the driver or attendant will assist student to his/her seat and attach the seat restraint if necessary
B. UNLOADING
• The driver or attendant will assist the pupil in removal of the seat restraint if necessary.
• The driver or attendant will assist student down the aisle when appropriate.
• The driver or attendant will exit the bus in front of the student and physically assist the student down the bus steps if necessary, by holding student under the arms for stability, or by holding on to the student's harness, etc.
• Encourage student to use the safety handrail or place the student’s hands on the safety handrail to encourage independence and safety.
5. LIFTING
Drivers and attendants should avoid lifting students whenever possible. Know your physical limitations and use common sense when lifting. If you feel a child's weight is too much for you, obtain assistance. Always use assistive devices if possible.
If it becomes necessary to physically lift a student, the following procedure will be followed:
A. LIFTING STUDENTS (Only to be done in an emergency situation)
• Face the student if possible to avoid twisting your body.
• Assume a stable stance with feet apart and one foot slightly in front of the other.
• Hold abdominal muscles tight to protect the lower back.
• Bend down from your hips and knees in a slow and steady manner.
• Before beginning the lift, test the child's weight before attempting the lift.
• Make certain that you have a good grasp of the student to provide maximum control during the lift.
• Use the muscles of the legs to perform the lift and keep your back straight. It is not necessary to keep your spine in a vertical posture during the lift; in fact
it is more advantageous to bend over the student slightly in the lift.
• Hold the student close to you, as near to your waist height as possible. It may help if the student can hold on to you for support.
• While carrying the student, avoid twisting movements. Always turn your entire body to change direction.
• To lower student, assume a stable stance, hold your abdominal muscles tight, avoid twisting motions, and then bend your hips and knees in a slow and steady manner.
6. STUDENT MEDICATIONS
Medication should never be dispensed by transportation personnel, with the exception to medication that has a specific protocol in place (ie: Epi-Pin, inhaler, glucose gel, etc.) This includes over the counter type medications such as aspirin, cough drops, nasal sprays, etc. Student medications will NOT be transported to North Valley School.
Medication transported with the student on the bus shall be kept in the driver’s possession until relinquished to school personnel or parent. If student has a specialized health care procedure in place, such as Epi Pin, driver will inspect the medication before the student is allowed to ride, assuring the medication or device is in good working condition and the potency has not expired. Medication or device will remain in the driver’s possession until relinquished to an adult at either the school site or home. This includes students who self inject their Epi Pin.
7. STUDENT PICK UP
Special Education/ Court and Community School
Drivers must follow their schedule when picking up students. The driver may find that some students are absent which could result in arriving at the next scheduled stop early. In such cases the driver may have to wait until the student is ready to board the bus. DO NOT have the dispatcher phone parents to inform them that the bus will be arriving early. If you know you will be arriving early, find a safe spot to pull over and wait your time instead of pulling up to the stop early. Arriving early to a stop could cause students to run across the street thinking you might leave without them.
In some cases the driver may sound the bus horn to alert parents that you have arrived at their bus stop. Each driver is expected to use their common sense when honking the horn. Many a.m. runs have pickup times that are very early. We do not want to unnecessarily annoy or disturb surrounding neighbors.
Drivers need to work closely with the parents to avoid any misunderstandings on pick up time. Drivers should never have to wait more than 2 minutes past the scheduled pickup time for the student to board the bus.
If a student has been absent for THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS, the driver will not stop at the student's bus stop until the parent/guardian has notified the transportation office that the student is ready to return to school. Upon return to the yard the driver will
notify the dispatcher when students are absent for more than 3 days. It is not necessary to radio dispatch on a regular basis if a student doesn't ride unless specific instruction has been given to you to radio in absences. If the student returns to the bus a.m. or p.m. the driver will resume transportation without notification from parents.
Contract Districts
Contract district drivers will adhere as close as possible to route times. AT NO TIME will a driver leave a bus stop earlier than stated on the route sheet. If on approach to a bus stop you observe students walking to the stop, YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THEM. California state law defines your responsibility for a student at a point where you recognize them as your rider. Therefore, you will wait for the student to board, escorting them across the roadway if necessary. After the student is safely on board the school bus, talk to them about arriving to the bus stop on time. If the situation persists, talk to your Lead driver and begin the disciplinary process to correct the situation.
8. STUDENT DROP OFF
Special Education
A student will not be left at home without adult supervision unless written permission to
do so has been obtained from the parent/guardian and is on file in the transportation office. A notation should be made on the left and right directional sheets in the route book whether a student can be left alone or if they must be met by an adult. Bus drivers will follow the procedures outlined below in the event the student cannot be left at home.
• Check the drop off time on the schedule to be certain that you are not running early. You may have to wait a few minutes until the scheduled drop time to allow parents to return home if they are out. Do not have the dispatcher phone parents because you are arriving early.
• Drivers may sound the bus horn to alert the parents that the bus has arrived at their child's bus stop. Each driver is expected to use common sense when sounding the horn.
• If no adult comes out to receive the student, radio the transportation office and advise them of the situation. The transportation office will attempt to telephone the parents. If contact cannot be made with the parents, the driver may be instructed to return after delivering other students home.
• If, on the second attempt to deliver the student the parent is not home, the driver will receive instruction on where to deliver the student from the dispatcher.
Contract Districts
Drivers shall adhere as close as possible to assigned route times. All pre-k through 8th grade students who must cross the roadway, shall be escorted by the driver under the protection of the crossover lights . Caution must be taken when leaving young riders at bus stops. All kindergarten students will be met by a parent/guardian at the bus stop. The only exception will be if the child has an older sibling to walk home with them. If there is no one to meet them at the stop, radio to dispatch for instructions. Never leave a young child alone, regardless of the grade level, who is afraid or unsure of the location of their residence. It is a good idea to write kindergarten names next to the bus stop they are utilizing, and special instructions on who is designated to receive them or if there is a sibling on the bus that walks them home. This makes it easier for a substitute driver to identify them. Drivers should document anytime a student has been returned to school.
9. SEAT BELTS, HARNESSES, AND RESTRAINTS
Drivers must direct students to use seat restraints if the bus is so equipped. Regular Ed or Alt Ed students refusing to wear restraints should be issued a written warning; repeat offenses will warrant a formal citation. Consequences for this behavior may not be a bus suspension. The Lead Driver will work with school administration to implement consequences for the students behavior. Drivers may use specially made seat belt type restraints (harnesses) to keep a student in his/her seat with permission from the Lead Bus Driver. Information on harnessed students should be written on the directional sheets.
Harness type restraints will only be used to hold students in their seats with the approval from the parent and the transportation office. If you feel the need to harness a student you may initiate the process by obtaining necessary forms from the Lead Bus Driver. A parent/guardian signed release form must be on file before requiring a student to wear a harness, these forms can be obtained from the Special Ed Lead Driver. (See “Forms” section of this book) When a harness is utilized for a student, all students behind the harnessed
students will be secured either in another harness or a seat belt. If this is not possible, place the harnessed student in a back seat.
Other restraints that restrict hand movement will only be used with the approval from the transportation office. Transportation office staff will work with the School Site Administrator and parent/guardian in determining whether this type of restraint should be used.
10. STUDENT SEATING LOCATIONS
Drivers who transport both Special Education students and Court and Community students on the same bus should use every effort to separate these types of students from each other. This will go a long way in helping you maintain order on your bus. Some drivers have assigned student helpers to sit with special needs students. This information should be clearly marked in the route book with a current seating chart.
Redding District drivers shall place young riders in the front of the bus. This will help eliminate intimidation by the older students and help ensure young children get off at their correct stop. All kinder students shall be seated in the front seats.
11. SEIZURE PROCEDURES
Seizures are different in their intensity (grand mal, petite mal, etc.), and duration. Therefore common sense must be used when following the procedure outlined below:
• Keep calm. The student is usually not suffering or in danger. Most seizures are of short duration.
• Locate a safe place to pull off the road, stop and secure the bus.
• Advise Dispatch of the situation immediately. Let them know your location, the student’s name, and the time the seizure started so that they can refer to the medical protocol for that student.
• The floor is usually the safest place for the child while the seizure is in progress. DO NOT restrain his/her movements.
• Loosen tight clothing and turn him/her on his/her side. Protect from injury.
• DO NOT force a hard object between his/her teeth.
• Be reassuring to other students on board. Keep other students in their seats and away from the child having the seizure.
• Monitor student carefully for signs of cardiac or respiratory distress.
• Stand by until student has fully recovered consciousness and from the confusion which sometimes follows a seizure.
• Notify Dispatch immediately if the situation changes or the condition of the student does not improve.
• When seizure has dissipated, notify Dispatch that you are back on your route and give the estimated time of arrival to the school or students residence. The Dispatcher will notify the school administrator or the student's parents if the child will be delivered home.
• Release student to parent or directly to school personnel.
• Verbally notify the teacher (when delivering at school) or parent (when delivering at home).
• Prepare an incident report upon returning to the transportation office.
12. OTHER MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Not all medical emergencies can be anticipated. These situations may arise and drivers and attendants need to use common sense in dealing with them. Some students have special medical procedures that are very specific to that student. A medical binder is available in the dispatch office with information on individual students. If drivers or attendants have any questions concerning special health information on students that ride their bus, they should see the Dispatcher, Operations Technician, or Lead Driver for access to this binder. As needed drivers and attendants will be given specialized training for students they are transporting. Due to confidentiality laws, drivers and attendants that have information on a student's medical condition must keep that knowledge in the STRICTEST OF CONFIDENCE. Written medical procedures will be kept in the route book. A red card should be filled out and placed in the route binder for any student that requires specialized care; the card should list the students name, and any information a driver would need to know about the students needs, if medical protocol is available for a student, a copy should be placed in the binder as well.
13. STUDENT MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS
If you are asked by a parent to observe a child due to a medical condition or to give a child food or juice, etc. for a medical condition, you MUST advise the parent that they need to contact a school nurse. This does not mean that you quit communicating with the
parent, since that interaction is encouraged. As usual you would report to the parent if their child was sick on the bus or had a seizure. Upon returning to the yard, drivers will notify dispatch and their Lead Driver of the situation. An incident report should be completed as well. The Lead Driver may follow up on the incident report with a call to the parent.
14. HEAD LICE
Students that are diagnosed by school authorities as having head lice will be transported home by the parents or school personnel if possible.
In special cases, schools may not be able to contact parents, parents may not have their own transportation, or school personnel may not be available to take students home. In such cases, students will be put on your bus to be taken home. This would be done only as a last resort. You may not even know that a student on your bus has been diagnosed unless a school official tells you. Students that have lice are not permitted to return to school until all nits are out of their hair. However, you may find the student at your bus stop to go to school the next day. Unless you have been give specific instruction not to transport, you will transport them to school. It is not your responsibility to ask students if they are eligible to return to school nor is it your responsibility to deny transportation for them. Upon arrival at the school site, discreetly report these situations to school
officials. These situations should be handled so as not to embarrass the student. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will any information regarding head lice be relayed over the radio airway.
14. SPECIAL STUDENT CONSIDERATIONS
Many of our students have special procedures in place to ensure their safe transportation. Frequently those students will have specific written protocol that MUST be followed. These procedures are established during the student's IEP (individualized education plan) and are signed by the IEP team. All parts of the signed IEP are legal binding documents. If you have written protocol on a student it must be placed in your route book on a red directional card along with the medical protocol. The driver will make a note on their route sheet and again on the directional sheets that a written protocol is in place on that particular student. This will alert anyone who is driving your bus to look for the protocol. Examples include: Epi Pin administration, special medical alerts such as diabetes or severe seizures, students required to be restrained, and students who are runners.
Students who do not have a formal written protocol may have special procedures that the driver has implemented. This may be special seating arrangements, bus stop information, or something as simple as one identified student who likes to close the bus windows for the driver. These procedures should also be noted in the route books. Substitutes
will take the extra time to review all material in the route book of the bus they are assigned to drive. By communicating all information necessary on the driver's part, the substitute's bus route will be easier and the ride will be safer for the students.
XI. FORMS
XII - JOB DESCRIPTIONS
XIII. SCOE BOARD POLICY ON CHILD ABUSE REPORTING
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related searches
- how do i sell stocks i own
- i ask or i asked
- synonyms for i believe or i think
- i choose or i chose
- i think i found the one
- i bet or i ll bet
- humss cw mpig i 11 humss cw mpig i 12 humss cw mpig i 13
- i took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart i am i am i am
- i feel like the things i should say are the things i can t say
- i have loved words and i have hated them and i hope i have made them right
- i looked and looked at her and i knew as clearly as i know th
- i e 577 02 9006 yah shua 577 02 9006 holy spirit i i e yah shu